Clean City Commission

School Pride in Action Minutes 1.12.23 Meeting ● Welcome/Roll Call Virtual: Crystal Britt-Smith (Asbury ES), Jennifer Chafin (Kraft ES), Michelle Ferrel (Kilgore Gifted Center) In person: Missy Powell-Riedl (Burbank), Ashley Ault (Hampton HS), Theresa DeBusk (Bethel HS), Sheryl McLaughlin (Jones Ms), Sally Lewis (Kecoughtan HS), Wendy Iles (HCCC), Betsy McAllister (HCS) ● Approval of November 10th, 2022 Minutes approved ● New Business ○ Guest Speaker Carolyn Heaps-Pecaro (City of Hampton Resiliency Officer) ■ What is resilient Hampton? ● Localities in the region met with experts from the Netherlands and New Orleans to look at predicted sea level rise in Hampton Roads. The initiative is called, “Living with Water” and it has been approved by the City Council. ● Plan for how the community can embrace water and mitigate challenges such as flooding. ● An interdepartmental team from across the City has been working on this. There are three main components: ○ 1) develop plans - they have a framework plan and watershed level plan ○ 2) project implementation- these come from the development plans – Lake Hampton, Big Bethel Blue Way. The purpose is to store more stormwater. ○ 3) education and engagement - brainstorm with others about their role in working together as participation from the entire community is needed. The vast majority of city property is privately owned, so will require everyone to help.  ■ education is a key mission of Resilient Hampton ■ opportunities for engagement – city manager and superintendent work together at high level to engage students with projects on school grounds by increasing youth input in the planning process ● Missy Powell-Riedl (Burbank) asked about the use of their two retention ponds for educational purposes. They are unable to get the key from Parks and Recreation as it presents liability issues for the city. The project to build the retention ponds was very controversial – lots of strife between the city and school division. Carolyn said that relationships need to be rebuilt between the city and school division and that would best happen through co-designed projects that would have educational benefits, be safe, and require no fencing. Retrofitting the retention ponds to make them safer would require money and a stormwater engineer. ● Sally Lewis (Kecoughtan HS)– When the science wing project is completed, Kecoughtan will have two retention ponds. Science faculty wants to have a pond accessible for environmental programs and dual enrollment. Carolyn said the retention ponds will likely have fencing around them. Sally recommended that a project at Kecoughtan could be a pollinator garden since the school division has pulled theirs out several times. ● Sheryl McLaughline (Jones MS) asked if funding for joint projects would come from the city. Carolyn said there is no funding specifically set aside for projects. Funding would come from capital improvement funds or grants. A co-developed and agreed upon conceptual design would be needed before applying for grants.  ● Sally Lewis (Kecoughtan HS) suggested that projects co-developed with high schools could be used as demonstration sites. ● Ashley Ault (Hampton HS) suggested that these would be great for using with project-based learning. National Science Honor Society and other groups are always looking for ways students can earn service hours. ● Sheryl McLaughlin (Jones MS) said that the National Junior Honor Society students are always in need of service hours. ● Carolyn said the city might not be the ideal partner, but she can help facilitate connecting schools with appropriate partners. She said her department doesn’t really have volunteer opportunities because they don’t have the staff. She said she would be happy to reach out to Betsy to share grants and opportunities with the group. Carolyn said she is always happy to come out to talk with students as her schedule allows. She shared her business card with those present (Carolyn Heaps-Pecaro, 757-728-5221, carolyn.heaps-pecaro@hampton.gov). ● Carolyn said the city has a community plan – a long range plan for the future of the city. The city will be having a mid-process checkpoint meeting on 2.15.23 at the Mary Jackson Center (time TBD). The plan has 8 groups, each with strategic priorities. Caroly asked whether the school division could use Peachjar to share a flier with parents. Betsy will check on this. ● Carolyn said the city has developed a partnership with Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District and the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program to provide financial incentives for homeowners to install living shorelines on their property - up to $30,000. ● Carolyn’s department produces a monthly newsletter. To sign up: www.hampton.gov/ResilientHampton ● Old Business/Updates ○ Reminder of the shared folder with all of our documents. ○ Report on Environmental Arts Contest Committee Meeting ■ Ashley Ault (Hampton HS): The committee met in December to plan for an environmental-inspired art show. Art would be produced by all grade levels. It could feature the environment or use recycled materials or upcycle materials, could be either 2- or 3-dimensional, and there would be a size restriction. ■ Earth Day is now at Mill Point Park and part of a larger event called the Mosaic Festival that encompasses the International Children’s Festival, Heritage Festival, and Earth Day. Mill Point Park provides no place to house the art collection. City Hall is not available in that time period. Wendy will email Luci Cochran and ask about displaying the winners in the Great Hall at the Hampton History Museum. Ann Bane is working on securing some prizes. Kelly Dee, Ai Choo Ashe, and Ann Bane want to be sure that what is displayed is quality artwork. It was decided that individual art teachers would determine the items they would like to submit for judging. Potential judges include Joe Griffith (Phoebus Neighborhood Commission), Vivian Griese (former HCS Fine Arts Curriculum Leader), Anthony Wardrett (Jones MS security officer) and Ai Choo Ashe (Fine Arts Teacher Specialist). Ashley will email Ai Choo Ashe who will let teachers know about the contest. Ashley will suggest that all entries be completed prior to spring break. The Where and when the winners will be displayed is to be determined. Ashley has display boards and can borrow from other art teachers.  ○ Recycling Update: Betsy will get with individual schools to request that they be a part of the pilot recycling program. Betsy will send a list of participating schools to Public Works. Public Works will prepare individual maps of where each school should place its gray rolling totes for pick up and the correct recycling day for each school. Betsy will work with Public Works and the schools to get the rolling totes delivered. Tentative start date would be mid February. Being a part of the pilot simply means that Public Works will check the toters before pick up to see if materials are contaminated with non recyclables. ○ Earth Day April 22nd at Mill Point Park now a part of the Mosaic Festival that also includes International Children’s Festival and Heritage Festival. ○ Blue Bird Gap Farm/Kecoughtan HS Trash Bash Update: Betsy said that we need schools to collect #1, #3, #5 plastic, clean it, and strip labels. The plastics will be donated to Kecoughtan HS. ○ Acorn Project Update: Betsy reported that we are still working on germinating acorns. ○ Great American Cleanup: March 24th and 25th. Consider conducting a school grounds cleanup. ○ Grant Opportunities: ■ KidsGarden Grant https://kidsgardening.org/ (deadline 2.10.23) ■ Robert F. Schumann Foundation Grant (deadline 2.28.23) https://www.wellsfargo.com/private-foundations/schumann-fo undation/ ● Next Meeting: March 9th, 2023 ● Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 5:28.