Energy costs are a significant expense for public school districts, second only to salaries. Energy cost savings can be reinvested in educational programs or facilities.
Bridgeport Public Schools spends about $5 million annually on energy, including electricity, natural gas, and heating oil.
Our community can:
The Bridgeport Carbon Free & Healthy Schools Steering Committee is composed of stakeholders including school facilities staff, teachers’ union, staff union, administrators’ union, local building trades, community religious and nonprofit leaders, the district’s Parent Advocate, and the city sustainability coordinator, and the project has the full support of the Superintendent.
The Bridgeport Carbon Free & Healthy Schools (CFHS) Steering Committee studied the potential for economic and social impacts of Carbon Free & Healthy Schools on the City. The study results were published in a report this week.
It also includes a letter asking city policymakers to maximize investments by including common-sense labor standards on related construction through project labor agreements that include local hire, workforce training, and prevailing wage.
By improving the health and sustainability of school facilities and campuses, the schools themselves become a learning opportunity for STEM education. At the same time, such improvements will benefit public health and the environment while creating local jobs in the rapidly growing green infrastructure sector. Although public schools were not categorically included in Plan Bridgeport, a Carbon-Free and Healthy Schools initiative aligns with Plan Bridgeport’s goals.
Carbon Free Healthy Schools White House Event, April 4, 2022 Press Release
White House Toolkit for Addressing School Infrastructure Needs, April 4, 2022
Position Summary
The Bridgeport Community Organizer for the CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs (CRCJ) is a part-time (20 hrs/week) staff member who organizes and supports the Bridgeport community to drive a Carbon Free & Healthy Schools (CFHS) campaign. The CRCJ Bridgeport Organizer is a Bridgeport resident who works with the staff team to support the development and implementation of a strategic campaign to win political commitment to, and funding for, CFHS projects by engaging Bridgeport community members in advocating for their vision of the city and its school buildings.
Duties/Responsibilities
Required Skills/Abilities
Education and Experience
Salary: $25,000/yr
Send resume and cover letter describing your work history to [email protected].
The Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs is an antiracist organization committed to providing equal opportunities to people regardless of their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.
Health, Safety, and Equity Impacts
Success Stories
Explore how the entire Bridgeport School District or specific areas would be impacted by the development of Carbon Free Healthy Schools using The Data Dashbord.
*Calculations and analysis utilized 2013 Bridgeport School Facilities Surveys and data from the New Buildings Institute 2021 Report “Why K-12 Should Feature in America’s National Climate Strategy”. Data and Analysis were performed by Avalon Hoek Spaans and James Granata of Cornell University. For more information please email Avalon Hoek Spaans, Research and Policy Extension Associate of Cornell University. https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/worker-institute/labor-leading-climate
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