D65 Sustainability Update: Jan 25

Sharing our D65 new tree planting improvements in our refreshed D65 collaboration & approval process. Our intention for these process improvements is to relieve pain points around reviews and decisions on new tree planting requests at our Schools.

Noteworthy improvements include:

• New seasonal deadlines for new tree planting requests:
• Spring Planting requests by December 31 (for this transition period our deadline will be January 31, 2025)
• Fall Planting requests by May 31
• Refreshed request form with refined questions for new tree plantings along with keeping our new native plantings & school food garden requests.
• This school year, we'll be developing maps of our school grounds identifying recommended locations for new tree plantings.
• Enhanced district collaboration with a 6-week review timeline on new tree planting requests with School Leaders, Buildings & Grounds and Sustainability. D65 will evaluate all requests to ensure that donations meet a need at the school site, are located where they do not interfere with underground utilities, use of school grounds, or safety and the planting type is appropriate for the location and need.
• District communication on all new tree planting decisions / approvals for each request received. D65 approval is required prior to planting.
• Recommend both rabbit and kid fencing around new tree plantings. Periodically check on fencing and protections for trees, annually remove weeds between trees and fencing.

We appreciate the insights and feedback from Natural Habitat Evanston, Village of Skokie Forester and ETHS as we are developing these tree planting process improvements.

Next Steps: If you're interested in planting new trees this Spring, reach out to Natural Habitat Evanston (naturalhabitat@climateactionevanston.org) to coordinate on new tree plantings while following our refreshed process. Make sure to submit the request by January 31 for D65 review. D65 approval is required prior to planting.

One of our sustainability focus areas for this school year is to develop guidelines for Native Plantings on our D65 school grounds. Our goal is to establish clear guidelines and expectations for native plantings being stewarded at our schools, consistent designation of native planting areas across all our D65 schools for our landscapers, and creation of maps to identify where native plantings are along with who is stewarding each area at our schools.

We appreciate your feedback and engagement in November - December on our draft native planting guidelines. Our D65 team synthesized the feedback we received (survey and zoom meeting) and enclosed are our final Native Planting Guidelines on D65 School Grounds.

Next Steps:

1. By February 14 for your school: update the Maps of Native Plantings on D65 School Grounds to identify existing native plantings on your school grounds including contact names / emails / phone numbers for the person / team stewarding each native planting area.
2. By February 7 for the following schools (Bessie Rhodes, Dewey, JEH, Kingsley, Lincoln, Lincolnwood, Orrington, Park and Walker): email Karen Bireta (biretak@district65.net) the # standard "do not trim" signs you will need to designate your existing native planting areas. This signage is required so our landscapers will not touch any areas designated with this signage. D65 will pay for signage in established planting areas for this initial roll out. Any new plantings, the team planting will pay for the required standard signage.

The 4th annual District 65 PTA One Fund Native Plant Sale is live! Select from a wide variety of native plants, shrubs and trees and order by Friday, February 21. Proceeds from this district-wide plant sale helps fund every District 65 school via the PTA Equity Project's One Fund Initiative.

Pre-order pick-up will be held on Saturday, May 10 from 10am to 1pm in the Chute Middle School courtyard (1400 Oakton St., Evanston). A limited number of plants, shrubs, and trees will also be available for sale.

To view the items available and make a purchase, please

Visit https://go.rallyup.com/2025nativeplantsale/Campaign/Details. Donations to plant wildflowers and trees on D65 school grounds are also accepted.

Our working group has completed 5 team meeting since kicking off in October. Our progress so far includes developing our Vision of Sustainability, Categories of Focus for our plan, our Guiding Principles and we're underway building our plan including Goals and Recommended Strategies to Achieve the Goals.

Our working group will continue building the plan through the end of February. In March, stay tuned as we will seek feedback on the draft plan.

SAGE is pleased to partner with Anton's again in 2025 to provide affordable garden seedlings to Evanston school gardens. Attached is an order form. Please note all orders must be submitted and paid for by February 21. If you have questions reach us at our new email address: SchoolsAreGardninginEvanston@gmail.com.

Please update your school contacts for climate action and school garden this school year (button below).

Calling all SWANCC member communities....Schools, Libraries, and now, Nonprofits are all available to apply for a $500 Waste Reduction Grant!

Do you have an idea for Waste Reduction and need a bit of financial support? Don't wait, apply for a grant today! Need more time to be creative and think through your initiative? No problem. Based on funding availability, applications are now accepted all year!

Waste Grant Announcement

Waste Grant Application

• D65 Sustainability Website
• D65 Sustainability Focus: 24-25 School Year
• D65 Sustainability and Garden Resources Library
• D65 Climate Action & Garden Community Contact List
• D65 Sustainability Positive Impact: 23-24 School Year
• D65 Sustainability Positive Impact: 22-23 School Year
• D65 Sustainability Newsletter Archive