The Wemrock Brook School in the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District has been awarded a $2,000 Sustainable Jersey capacity building grant funded by the PSEG Foundation.
Five $10,000 grants and 25 $2,000 grants were awarded to elementary through high school public schools and school districts across New Jersey, according to a press release.
The grants fund sustainability and capacity building projects such as sustainable food production programs, waste reduction and recycling initiatives, health and wellness programs, outdoor classrooms and more.
The “Say No to Plastic!” grant will help fund a plastic reduction campaign targeted toward the use of disposable water bottles. It will fund the installation of a refillable water bottle station. The installation of the water bottle station will be partnered with a campaign to educate pupils about the importance of access to drinking water, according to the press release.
“We are proud to be able to support these important projects and look forward to hearing more from each grantee about how they make a difference in schools across New Jersey,” said Randall Solomon, executive director for Sustainable Jersey.
“These grants will add momentum to solving our sustainability challenges while helping to ensure our future well-being,” Solomon said.
The PSEG Foundation has contributed $2.2 million in funding to the Sustainable Jersey Grants Program for municipalities and schools, according to the press release.
Proposals were evaluated by an independent Blue Ribbon Selection Committee. The Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants are intended to help school districts and schools make progress toward a sustainable future in general, and specifically toward Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification, according to the press release.
Currently, 351 school districts and 965 schools have registered to work toward Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification.
In other news, during the June 9 meeting of the Board of Education, an “Evening of Appreciation” was held to recognize recent retirees from the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District.
The following individuals were recognized: Antoni Andrychiewicz, 16 years, will retire Aug. 1; Andrea Bolton, 26 years, retired Jan. 1; Donna Clemente, 21 years, will retire July 1; Francine Collins, 19 years, retired Feb. 1; Lynn Cross, 12 years, retired Nov. 1, 2019;
And, John D’Amato, 6.5 years, retired Aug. 20, 2019; Patricia Dailey, 23 years, was planning to retire June 1, 2020. Dailey passed away April 4, 2020; Margaret Garrett, 25 years, retired Jan. 1; Zenun Haskovic, 17 years, retired June 1; Stefanie Karp, 31 years, retired Sept. 1, 2019.
Also, Stephen Leviton, 34 years, will retire July 1; Kathleen Lugara, 21 years, will retire July 1; Pilar Mancini, 34 years, will retire July 1; Kathleen Maglione, 20 years, will retire July 1; Laura McKenna, 18 years, retired July 1, 2019; Lisa Miller, 16 years, will retire July 1; Rhonda Prosetti, 14 years, will retire July 1;
And, Alba Ramirez, 15 years, retired July 1, 2019; Rozanne Regino, 20 years, will retire July 1; Ellen Saffer, 25 years, will retire July 1; Timothy Schmidt, 29 years, retired Nov. 1, 2019; Joy Silver, 29 years, will retire July 1; Robin Slobotsky, 32 years, will retire July 1; Teresa St. Angelo, 21 years, retired July 1, 2019;
Also, Patricia Wahlsten, 22 years, will retire July 1; Kathleen Whitney, 20 years, retired Dec. 1, 2019; Karen Widener, 23 years, retired April 1; and Robert Williams, 26 years, retired Jan. 1.
