The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD
Photo of: The members of the Long Beach Green Schools Campaign after policy 3510.1 was passed. Photo Courtesy: Shared by Diana Michaelson
October 24, 2022
On Aug 17, 2022, the Long Beach Unified School Board passed policy 3510.1. The Long Beach Green Schools Campaign proposed this policy started at Long Beach Polytechnic High School in August of 2022.
The Long Beach Green Schools Campaign is to work towards 100% clean energy use and to fully transition the LBUSD off of fossil fuels by 2040. LBUSD schools will gradually move from using gas, oil, or coal as a source of energy to solar panels. Switching away from fossil fuels would have the opposite effects of causing air pollution, harming one’s health, and accelerating climate change.
Students from Helen Keller Middle School, the Intellectual Virtues Academy of Long Beach, Hughes Middle School, Lakewood High School, CAMS, and Millikan High School have worked for two years and six days to get this policy passed, and now it’s passed. Many of those days were spent attending board meetings and making minor changes to the policy. The Long Beach Green Schools Campaign was mostly student-led, with assistance from parents, staff, and board members.
Where did Policy 3510.1 come from? Diana Michaelson, the founder of the campaign and a senior in Polytechnic Pace, says, “It’s an updated version of a previous document that was passed by LBUSD in 2019. Board policy 3510 was a version of a policy adopted by the California School Boards Association.”
Some specific goals of Policy 3510.1 are to save money with energy efficiency, improve the air quality, improve the impacts on the environment, and create new jobs.
“The important thing to know is that it’s going to take a long time for this transition to happen,” explains Michaelson. “This document is realistic. We’re not gonna go buy new stoves when we have stoves that are perfectly working, even though it might be fossil-fuel run. A lot of the changes that are going to happen are going to be very subtle.”
Photo Courtesy: Salma Mancilla
While passing this policy was a huge step for the LBUSD, Michaelson believes that this is just the beginning and that there is much more to do.
If you are inspired to advocate for your environment, join your school’s green team or environmental club. There are so many ways to help create a more sustainable future.
An environmental group at Millikan meets on the first and third Tuesdays in room 814 and is advised by Mr. Cruz. A committee from Millikan’s Environmental Club participated in multiple board meetings and helped make small revisions to policy 3510.1.
Anyone interested can watch the recording of the board meeting where this policy was passed here.
Isabella Torres • Dec 9, 2022 at 9:25 am
This article mentions how the policy 3510.1 being passed will cause great change in the LBUSD community. This policy would hopefully have all schools use 100% clean energy, in other words, switch to only solar energy. This may be a difficult goal however the Long Beach Green Schools Campaign is helping achieve this goal. According to the text, policy 3510.1 was passed August 22, 2022. The Long Beach Green Schools Campaign had a really big impact in making this happen. I really like how the author uses quotes from Diana Michaelson, who is the founder of the Long Beach Green Schools Campaign. This is a very good use of the rhetorical strategy ethos because since Michaelson is the founder of the campaign, she is well respected and is seen as a trusted person. I also find it very interesting how the author mentions ways in which we can help this movement and how to better our community and environment for those who are interested. Walker mentions the environmental club here at Millikan High School. Finally, I wish the author talked more about the process of 3510.1 and what the next steps after passing this policy.
Lucia Medina • Nov 29, 2022 at 12:42 pm
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. I really enjoyed this article. I thought it was super informative, and it provided a really good summary to an issue that isn’t being talked about a lot. I think that a lot of times students feel that they have no real impact and can’t help make things happen, so I really liked how this article highlighted that the switch to renewable energy was led predominantly by students. It’s important for younger people to stand up against the big issues like climate change, and this article did a really good job at relaying that message. I personally had no prior knowledge on Policy 3510.1, so I appreciated that the writer described the policy in a very clear way. I also thought that writer was very clear and straightforward on the process of passing this policy. I think a lot of the time people expect change to be sudden and visible right away, so I think it was important to highlight how just because this policy has been passed, the changes will be subtle and they will take time. Overall, the article was very clearly organized and very well written, and I think it did a good job at summarizing a pretty complex issue.
Lily Palmer • Nov 18, 2022 at 11:20 pm
I greatly appreciate the writer and the editors for deciding to shed light on this very important development in our school district. As someone who took part in this campaign, I would love to see the opportunity to participate in efforts like this extended to all students. Climate change is possibly the most imminent and important issue that we younger generations have to address, and I believe that awareness is the first step toward a solution. However, I also appreciated that this article, and specifically the quotes from Diana Michaelson, outlined some of the more practical aspects of this endeavor. While climate change is very much an environmental issue, it is also a political issue, as we learned through this campaign, as well as an economic issue. Cost efficiency and timelines were aspects the district had to consider when deciding whether or not to implement this policy, and I believe including this in the article added credibility. I also appreciated that the details of the Millikan Environmental Club were included at the end of the article, which serves as a call to action for those who want to get involved but are not sure where to start. I hope that this article inspires greater environmental action in Millikan students, because, as the article states, there is much more to do.
Ness Outler • Nov 18, 2022 at 11:05 pm
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. The article mentions that on August 17, 2022, Long Beach Unified Schools Board passed policy 3510.1 proposed by the Long Beach Green Schools Campaign. This campaign seeks to have 100 percent clean energy use and to fully transition the LBUSD from using fossil fuels. I think that this is an excellent idea for the school to try to do because it will help improve the environment, and if one school district does it then many more might join in as well. The article also mentions that there are many different middle schools and high schools that are trying to help get the policy passed. The article also brings up a really good point saying that if we transition to clean energy it will also cost the schools a lot less money. The use of solar panels can help to limit the amount of money used on electricity. I also like that added that it will take a long time for this transition to happen because it is a good thing to know that the change might be slow. Overall I think it is a really good idea for this policy to be implemented. Thanks for writing about this important topic.
Ryan Worden • Nov 18, 2022 at 1:57 pm
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD.” The article mentions how LBUSD is switching from fossil fuels to 100% clean energy due to policy 3510.1. Walker also highlights that the policy took a while to be passed and the changes will be rather subtle. It’s exciting that this policy was passed, and even more so because it was passed due to some of the students at LBUSD. I know that fossil fuels are a big contributor to the harm our planet is facing and I think it’s great that our schools our taking the initiative to make a difference. However, I am curious about how much fossil fuels are being used in our schools and where. I appreciate that this article shines a light on this very relevant topic. I’m glad that there are so many students, parents, staff, and board members that are pushing for change, as well as clubs that I can join to help make a difference as well. It is so easy to say what needs to change, but taking action is so much harder. I’m glad that LBUSD is doing its part to make the changes necessary to create a better environment.
Karma Phang • Nov 18, 2022 at 10:54 am
On October 24, 2022, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. The article talks about policy 3510.1. This policy deals with helping the environment and lowering our carbon emissions. We are making a turn towards not relying on fossil fuels and using renewable energy sources instead. This article was very informative and included facts about what would happen if we continued to heavily rely on fossil fuels. Providing a solution to the problem of fossil fuels was also a great choice. Providing facts about how policy 3510.1 helps our environment increases the amount of people that will support it. Some things that this policy works toward is saving money with energy efficiency and improving air quality. What other solutions are there to the problem of climate change? Why is it that it is so difficult to stop relying on fossil fuels that it’ll take until 2040 for LBUSD to have 100% clean energy use? What are some of the things that were revised before this policy was passed? Why is it that it took two years and six days for this policy to be passed? Overall, this article was great in educating people about the effects of climate change and fossil fuel use.
Andres Beltran • Nov 17, 2022 at 11:05 pm
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. The article mentions how the implementation of policy 3510.1 can help LBUSD schools reach a 100% use of clean energy sources to help mitigate the effects of climate change and pollution. Although this is a hard task to accomplish, The Long Beach Green Schools Campaign is working on achieving this goal by 2040. It’s impressive to see how dedicated many students and staff members from different schools had worked together to refine and create this policy over the span of two years. I like how the author added an important statement from Diana Michaelson to shed light on the time needed for change to occur. She states that this new document is realistic in the sense that change doesn’t happen overnight. Additionally, I like how the article mentions the benefits of transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy. Not only will this transition or investment save money for the district, but it will also improve our environment over time. Lastly, I appreciate the time the author took to write an article on this topic. This article, along with many others, helps bring awareness to the change that needs to happen within the next years. Small changes can add up over time and help us reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Melissa Mejia • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:59 pm
The article discusses how the policy 3510.1 was passed by LBUSD in August of this year. The purpose of the policy is to have LBUSD schools convert to using solar panels as a source of energy instead of using fossil fuels. Based on the helpful information in the article, I think that this is an amazing policy that will lead to a positive impact on the environment. I was unaware that the policy took a little over two years for it to be passed by LBUSD. I admire all of the hard work put into creating this policy by various students from different schools throughout the district. I believe that this is definitely a huge move in the right direction to help the environment. It is wonderful to hear about how significant actions toward helping the environment are being done locally. I wonder what the next steps are going to be to fully carry out this policy. I hope to hear about these steps in the future. I found that this was a well-written piece. Thank you for this informative article. Amazing job!
Steve Ke • Nov 17, 2022 at 1:52 pm
On October 21, Bree Walker wrote an very insightful article titled “The Environment That Will Change LBUSD.” I thought it explained the topic from the news really well and spread useful knowledge to the community. What interests me is that LBUSD is actively creating new policies that will improve our society. I didn’t know that the school district had student representatives and had a say in important decisions. I believe that policy 3510.1 is the right step for environmentalism and will be the foundation of our transition toward more efficient and clean energy. I remember the sweltering hot summers that would constantly remind me that climate change would keep on getting worse if humanity wouldn’t do something about it. Furthermore, I dream about seeing the coral reefs one day, and saving the Earth is the only way to preserve nature’s beauty. I am glad that students are taking the lead for environmental change because they will make the right decisions and direct their efforts to benefit the future generations. I wonder if the Long Beach Green Schools Campaign will inspire other school districts to change their perspective on the environment. Thank you for introducing me to the environmental club and the helpful information.
Kaylee Monrroy • Nov 17, 2022 at 1:48 pm
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “ The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. She explains how LBUSD is beginning to transition into using 100% clean energy because it is much better for the environment. The district wants to completely stop using fossil fuels by the year 2024. Switching to clean energy is an amazing and vital way to decrease our carbon footprint. Many schools have been working together for over two years to get this policy passed. I think it is great that so many schools worked cohesively to address and propose a solution to this universal problem. Additionally, the board would constantly make changes to the policy before they submitted it to endure that it was the best it could be. It was an extraordinary effort that they worked so diligently over a topic they hold so dear to them. Not only is this policy better for the environment, but it also is very cost efficient. They plan to install solar panels instead of using fossil fuels. I am honestly ecstatic that this policy was passed. I took AP Environmental Science my sophomore year where I learned about the severity of the use of fossil fuels on our planet. I was horrified when I learned the truth about what humans are doing to the environment and I’m so glad that students took charge and are making a difference. This is a great article and I hope they continue to make a change and stand up for what they believe in.
Adrian Cheong • Nov 17, 2022 at 1:45 pm
The article reports the progression the Long Beach Unified School District has made through environmental policy 3510.1. I believe this is a step in the right direction, towards going green in Long Beach schooling and also providing sustainable energy for schools, decreasing the overall amount of pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels. I have actually taken a class called AP Environmental Science, taught by Mr. Cruz, who advises the Environmental Club at Millikan. I am actually excited to see local schools near me going green and slowly integrating sustainability into the communities. I hope that in the near future, not just the LBUSD, but all of the schools, international corporations, cities, everything. I hope they all go green in order to stop climate change and all the global warming issues arising. The only complaint I have about this change is that the integration of policies such as policy 3510.1 that incorporate solutions for global warming are happening at too slow of a rate. In eighteen years, will the transition in fossil fuels happen, but by then, will the results of climate change become irreversible? Thank you for covering such an interesting and important topic.
Matthew Temple • Nov 17, 2022 at 1:43 pm
The article starts with talking about the 3510.1 policy and explaining what the policy was and how it started. Middle Schools and High Schools are working together to finally get the policy passed after 2 years of work. The goals of the policy are to “save money with energy efficiency, improve the air quality, improve the impacts of the environment, and create new jobs”. I am very impressed with all the people and students who put such hard work into such an important change for the school district. I am also surprised that they keep up all of the hard work for 2 years. I agree with the fact that Diana Michaelson talks about how the changes need to be subtle in order for people to agree with and listen to them. I feel like these topics are very important to talk about and I’m glad the author took the time to write this story and bring attention to these current day issues. I also wonder if full clean energy usage by 2040 could happen even sooner if the rate the students are working at stays the same?
Isabela Menes • Nov 17, 2022 at 1:42 pm
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. This article is very informative, I appreciate the fact that there are statistics and logic involved throughout the article. It gives the reader a better sense of how and when this all occurred. Another thing I liked about the text is the thorough explanation the author gives about the overall campaign and benefits to passing the policy. Something I think Bhree should add would be including additional interviews with students from different schools in the LBUSD and their personal perspective on the matter. I think it would help other students, reading the article, relate to it more and maybe even read that their friends were interviewed. This can probably influence the audience to take the cause into consideration as well seeing that their peers have an individual perspective too. I would like to applaud not just Bhree Walker but also Diana Michaelson. It’s nice to see that a student my age is stepping up and helping the community and it’s surrounding environment. It shows me and others that despite age, anyone can make a difference. Not only are her actions beneficial to citizens living in Long Beach but also inspiring to them as well. Thus, I would like to say thank you Diana, thank you for creating a small spark of change in a world that is in need of support from people like you. And thank you Bhree for informing the students of Millikan about the newest environmental change!
Yoseline Poveda • Nov 17, 2022 at 1:37 pm
I love your passion for the environment and to spread this information. I did not know about this policy previously as some other readers may have not and am glad that she could inform me on the topic. The participation of the community as you listed all the schools and organizations that were involved in trying to make our environment improve its conditions allows readers to feel as though they too can get involved and begin striving for the preservation of our environment. I am also glad for the listing/shout-out to our very own environmental club here at Millikan, letting readers have resources to use as a start. I agree that this is one step forward that marks only the beginning of what we can do as a community in our district, but there is still much more that we have to do in the following years in order for our hard work to pay off. It is undeniable that if we don’t act now, we will face terrible consequences of our deteriorating environment and will lose the planet Earth as we know it. The mentions of the goal of moving to strictly clean energy in Long Beach schools by 2040 were fascinating and I wonder if it is something that will be achieved in the future. Remarkable work and I commend you on the time and effort that you put into writing this article.
Sam Gunawardena • Nov 17, 2022 at 1:34 pm
Walker explains the policy clearly, and her passion for environmental justice shines through in her writing. I had heard previously about the campaign from the environmental club, but it was interesting to learn that it was student-led. It made me really happy to know that LBUSD cares about the environment, and that they’re taking action to prevent climate change. I also appreciate how there are specifics listed such as which kind of energy they plan to switch over to, and the date they intend on being finished. Stating that we’ll be fully solar powered by 2040 really makes the plan feel serious. The picture of solar panels above the parking lot also really solidified the effectiveness of the policy being established. It’s also really nice to know that this policy will also have a positive effect on financial deficiencies and job opportunities that will likely benefit LBUSD students. The article is very authentic, and I appreciate the honesty. It was very professional to include the fact that these changes will be subtle, and may not be apparent in the first few years. The end of the article is very inspiring in the way that it mentions this is only the beginning of action against climate change in LBUSD. It gave me a lot of hope for the future of our school district.
Yoseline Poveda • Nov 17, 2022 at 1:32 pm
I love the your passion for the environment and to spread this information. I did not know about this policy previously as some other readers may have not and am glad that she could inform me on the topic. The participation of the community as she listed all the schools and organizations that were involved in trying to make our environment improve its conditions allows readers to feel as though they too can get involved and begin striving for the preservation of our environment. I am also glad for the listing/shout-out to our very own environmental club here at Millikan, letting readers have resources to use as a start. I agree that this is one step forward that marks only the beginning of what we can do as a community in our district, but there is still much more that we have to do in the following years in order for our hard work to pay off. It is undeniable that if we don’t act now, we will face terrible consequences of our deteriorating environment and will lose the planet Earth as we know it. The mentions of the goal of moving to strictly clean energy in Long Beach schools by 2040 were fascinating and I wonder if it is something that will be achieved in the future. Remarkable work and I commend you on the time and effort that you put into writing this article.
Catherine Gentry • Nov 17, 2022 at 1:21 pm
This article informed readers about the passing of policy 3510.1 which, by 2040, will implement the usage of 100% clean energy use. Before reading this article, I was not aware of the passing of this policy nor did I understand the intentions of the Long Beach Green Schools Campaign. The author clearly outlines the goals of the policy being air quality improvement, energy efficiency, improving impacts on the environment, and creating new jobs. I personally find this information exciting to know about because of recently watching the documentary “Before the Flood” and becoming fully aware of the consequences of fossil fuels. A question that came to mind when reading this article is whether or not we can adapt to 100% clean energy use sooner rather than later. Additionally, what will be the economic impacts on society from the implementation of this policy? This article is very inspiring, especially because the younger generations made the implementation of the policy happen. This article was very informative and presented an issue that affects the lives of all. Thank you for presenting this topic through such a well written article.
Benjamin Truong • Nov 17, 2022 at 1:21 pm
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled, “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD.” I believe that this is a step in the right direction for schools to start becoming more environmentally healthy. After watching a documentary in English class, I’d say that the forming of this policy was really well timed. Seeing the negative effects of fossil fuels and greenhouse gasses being slowly addressed is a positive thing that will benefit the entire world. Due to this policy, many other schools may do their part and take action as well. Policy 3510.1 may actually influence a complete switch to solar power as an alternative to fossil fuels in schools. If this policy manages to keep making impacts slowly, we would be heading in the right direction to create a greener planet. This article is very informative and very easy to understand as someone who doesn’t actually research these topics. It’s very well paced and isn’t overwhelming at all to read. The separation of multiple paragraphs makes the text more visible and less bunched up which is a great positive. The evidence also helps create a greater understanding of the situation and supports the audience’s knowledge of the topic. Thank you for bringing up this important and informative topic.
Tressa Schneider • Nov 17, 2022 at 1:20 pm
On November 17th, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled, “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. The article talks about the new policy which students, parents, and staff have been working to get passed which eliminates the districts use of fossil fuels by 2040. The article did a very good job with outlining what this policy was and what it entails, as this is the first time I am hearing about it. The article has also included ways students can help advocate for this cause which is very helpful. I was wondering if there are any other ways students can help advance this cause and make the process of switching our schools off of fossil fuels any faster? Does the new policy only include solar panels, or does it include other methods of power, so switching of practices? It seems like 2040 is very far away, but this article made it clear that this will be a long process and introducing it now will be beneficial in the long run.
Jacquelynn Gutierrez • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:55 am
The article is highly informative and well-written mentions that a new policy has been passed, 3510.1, by a student-led campaign called the Long Beach Green Schools Campaign. This overall message is uplifting and inspiring knowing how day-to-day students worked together to get such an important policy passed, truly helping our environment in the long run. Knowing that these students were able to accomplish this goal builds a stronger connection with the readers as they can easily relate to the people who helped pass this policy. I admire this achievement and how it being publicized raises an awareness of the imperative issue upon our environment and how the people can play their part in being the solution. However, I admire the broad evaluation of this topic as the process and other benefits are elaborated on, including how the policy being passed creates new jobs and energy efficiency. This overall article is inspiring in the sense that the audience is moved to contribute to this situation and this article is nicely organized in a way that how the audience can contribute is explained towards the middle and end of the article. Thus, the article also works to promote our own environmental club at school. It is impressive how these students achieved this valuable goal, however considering our current trajectory I wonder how our environment will be like in 2040 and how much of an impact this policy would have made by then. Either way, this achievement is an impressive step towards saving our environment and the article is a well-written way to publicize such a step. Thank you so much for educating us in this impressive achievement and raising awareness on our environment!
Nataly Poveda • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:42 am
I praise the writer for this piece as it discusses student-led campaigns that have played a part in the future of our schools. I feel as if topics such as these must be talked about in order for students to understand the changes that are possible if work is put into place. I was astonished to hear the years of dedication put in by students and it is important to shed light on these successes. I appreciate the writer for including the details of the policy and the inclusion of the founder of the campaign. Specifically, I appreciate the realistic approaches to the issues of Policy 3510.1. I felt that the explanation on how this policy will slowly be integrated in our schools, provided a great sense of clarity that it will be done in a way that does not hurt our schools budgets. This article has been insightful on how we can become involved within Millikan as well as participating in future board meetings. I do believe that this policy will bring a great positive change in our schools and I appreciate the writer once again for providing us with this information. I look forward to seeing our schools head towards a positive direction, however I wonder if the writer believes if this is possible by 2040? Or could it be sooner?
Ethan M • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:42 am
The article mentions that students from across multiple Long Beach schools have been working for about two years to get the policy 3510.1 into effect. Throughout the article, it touches upon how this policy will make the district transition from using fossil fuels and also accomplish the goals of it. There are also a couple pictures of the students who worked to pass this policy and Long Beach schools already taking initiative in using clean energy. It is also said that there is still much work to be done despite the fact that the policy has already been passed. At first, when I was reading this article, I wondered how this would affect some peoples’ jobs as this policy would stop using fossil fuels. Fortunately, it was said that one of the goals of this policy was to create new jobs. Although, this did make me curious on what type of jobs they will be, and, will the people’s jobs who are being impacted have the qualifications to work these new jobs? Something that I found very intriguing is the fact that many of these students are taking their own time to go to these board meetings and gradually work towards passing the 3510.1 policy.
Kai Yamamoto • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:41 am
Ms. Walker clearly demonstrates the team who created and led for policy 3510.1 to be passed. By putting the faces of the Long Beach Schools Campaign it brings an appealing environment to show the reader that this change is happening and it’s happening now! The author later explains some of the goals the Green Schools Campaign is advocating for such as eliminating fossil fuels for 100% clean energy by 2040. A credible source is used, Diana Michaelson, to further expalin the reality of this policy. The article is very motivating for the reader to understand that these changes are small but necessary. It takes a whole team to create a project like this and the team will continue to grow because the issue involves all of us. The author even provides a chance for us to start making an impact by promoting when the Environmental Club meets. The only suggestion I could make is to briefly explain what this policy does. I understand a link was provided where you can do further research on the previous policy, though I feel as if I can’t fully explain it yet. I would like to revisit the article again and read some of what that previous policy contained. Thank you for reporting such a needed issue.
Amelia Haberland • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:37 am
I was astonished when I first laid my eyes on this article because I had never heard one word of this happening before. This is impressive, to say the least. I think turning to solar power is a wonderful idea and, being such a large district, would have amazing benefits for not only our own money being spent but for the environment around us. However, speaking of the amount of money we would save, is there any plan as to where those saving will go? Will it fund our less-fortunate classrooms? Could it perhaps go toward funding adult teacher aids for the younger classrooms? My Mom currently works at Garfield Elementary school as a kindergarten teacher and every day she comes home complaining (rightfully so) about how she can’t make connections with her students anymore because she doesn’t have enough eyes and hands to care for all 25 students (now that it’s full class, full day, instead of half-day kindergarten). Could this saved money go toward paying for teacher aids so that these children can get the attention they deserve? Regardless of where it’s spent, I think changing to solar power is a great idea and the environment would agree.
Sarah Heng • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:36 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. The article mentions how the Green Schools Campaign is working towards 100% clean energy use and to fully transition the LBUSD off of fossil fuels. Prior to reading this article, I had previously known about the Green Schools Campaign and seeing that it’s being mentioned on Millikan’s Corydon is super important. I really enjoyed the way the editor had mentioned how many students within these schools have been working hard into putting their efforts into the Green Schools Campaign. To see the perspective of the actual founder of the campaign was super personal and insightful, which I feel like brought a lot of credibility to the article. I found her remark about how this was only the beginning of change to be very impactful. With her addition of how and where to advocate for the campaign, truly was motivational. The article, to me, had no flaws whatsoever as it was straight-forward and informational. I believe that this report was able to successfully inform the public about an important issue within our district. I think the editor did a phenomenal job on creating this write-up.
John Pok • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:35 am
This article, discussing the passing of Policy 3510.1 to move the LBUSD to a fully clean energy system, was a great read, especially because of how applicable it is to current world issues. While I had previously heard about the policy, I didn’t have a full understanding of what it accomplished. This article helped bring to light its goals and how it will change the district’s future actions. Reading that the LBUSD is now committed to a complete transition away from fossil fuels gives me a sense of pride—pride in knowing that I attend a school in a district working to better society. I also found it great how the realism and timeline of the transition was mentioned; it gave me more hope that the district will actually follow through with the commitment. Reading about the work and commitment of the students was also really interesting. The dedication and perseverance of the students who worked across campuses and over several years goes to show how major changes can be made with even a (relatively) small group of people. I think this article is effective in relaying its message about LBUSD’s transition to green energy, and it will certainly inspire people to ponder the issue of green energy (or even join Millikan’s Environmental Club).
Aaniyah Pizarro • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:33 am
On November 17, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy that will change LBUSD”. The article mentions a new policy called the Long Beach Green Schools Campaign that will transition schools to work towards 100% clean energy use. Mostly led by students, Policy 3510.1 is working to save money with energy efficiency, improve air quality, improve impacts on the environment, and create new jobs. This article brings awareness to the issues of climate change and the small things we can do to ensure our futures are on the right path. As our choices have a big impact. Prior to reading this article, in English we learned about the future effects of climate change in a video called “Before the Flood”, and this article gives us hope that young people are serious and taking action to prevent future disasters. Thank you Bhree for bringing this new policy to light, had you not made this article I would have never known that LBUSD has been taking the necessary steps towards a cleaner future. I thought this was an amazing article, bringing awareness to this issue and informing us about Millikan’s Environmental Club. Overall, this was an informative and helpful article, thanks again Bhree for publishing this article.
Michael Bueno • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:28 am
The article mentions a big step forward into changing our future by implementing a policy that will positively affect our environment. I enjoy how you specified a goal for The Long Beach Green Schools Campaign which was to work towards 100% clean energy use. Not only that, but to also transition LBUSD off of fossil fuels by 2040. This campaign is very inspiring because I love how they want a change for the future. I love how you mentioned that policy 3510.1 is are realistic policy. By this I mean that you’re not gonna go out and buy new and more expensive things just because it doesn’t use fossil fuels. That’s just unlogical. The quote from Michaelson perfectly explains the purpose of the policy. “The important thing to know is that it’s going to take a long time for this transition to happen”. I love how you were able to interview people from the campaign to get more information about this policy. I also liked how you mention how long it took to pass this policy. It really shows how dedicated students were to pass this policy to better our future. Overall, this was a well written article, very inspiring, and I hope to see many more changes towards our environment soon. Thank you for bringing up this very informational topic.
Gabriel Martinez • Nov 17, 2022 at 9:28 am
On November 17, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. In the article it talks about how LBUSD schools will move away from fossil fuels and non renewable energy sources to power the schools and instead use solar panels. I think this is a great idea because even though it is one small step towards saving the environment, it shows commitment to saving this planet. Saving the environment in my opinion is still not big of a deal as it should be even though many know about it. We still need more people to join in the cause to save this earth from environmental disaster. I like how you mentioned specifics of the policy and what it will do such as creating more jobs, being more efficient, improving air quality, etc. I also agree with Diana Michaelson that this is only the beginning to the path that will stop destruction of the world in its tracks. And I personally have had experiences in dealing with cleanup of the earth. In my middle school I worked with the green team to help clean it up. I also was part of managing and taking part in a beach clean up. So I look forward to seeing updates in LBUSD about the environmental policies and so on.
Sean Ryder • Nov 16, 2022 at 1:40 pm
I thought this was an incredible article and highly informative. I had no idea that environmental work like this was being done and it’s so exciting to see. Knowing that work like this is being done by students across the district makes me hopeful for the future of the fight against climate change. I think change no matter how small can make a positive impact and I’m sure a bill like this will be a huge step in the right direction for our schools. I do wonder though what exactly a bill like this entails regarding what changes are being prioritized. Are there specific aspects of the way school life is currently conducted that require immediate change to make an impact? What kinds of material changes are being planned and how will these changes affect the students and staff in the district? Will the changes affect the way students and staff conduct their daily activities in any substantial way or have plans been made to avoid that as much as possible? Are there any specific and simple changes students or staff can choose to make when at school that may help the goals this bill is reaching for to become more attainable? This was a wonderful and enlightening article to read. Although I may not be here to witness the changes being made within our district in the future, it makes me happy to know that there are real plans for progress being made and actions against climate change being taken.
Danielle Nabong • Nov 16, 2022 at 1:31 pm
This is a well written piece on the new policy that the school district has passed. The policy passed, policy 3510.1, is meant to drive LBUSD towards an environmentally friendly future, in which fossil fuel will no longer be used by 2040. The article mentions how it was a student-led campaign, which is quite relieving to hear about, since it shows that adults are actually willing to listen to the younger generation about an issue as serious as climate change. Considering how the fight against climate change seems to be moving at an extremely slow pace on the national level, it’s nice to hear that there are still many things being done locally. Also, I like how realistic the author is, in the way that they mention how this change is a slow process. Although the policy being passed at all is a huge step forward, they emphasize how enforcing it will take time. Which leads me to wonder whether being completely green by 2040 is actually not too late. Countries like Germany are going to be completely off fossil fuels by 2030 and many scientists say that any time later than that, is too late. So, I wonder if this issue was brought up during board meetings and what the writer thinks could be done to speed up what the policy hopes to accomplish?
Emmett Wechsler • Nov 16, 2022 at 1:18 pm
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. In this article, it mentions that groups from schools across the district have worked for 2 years and 6 days to get policy 3510.1 passed. This really impressed me that there is an exact number of days told, and gives the struggle it took to pass this policy more meaning. I am also impressed with the knowledge of history, and the beginning of the advocacy to pass this policy. I never seriously thought about the amount of emissions schools give off, but the more I think about it the more I realize how big of an issue it is. The image used of the solar panels in the Millikan parking lot is great, and shows how small steps are being taken to combat this major issue. The mention of The Long Beach Green Schools Campaign and the fact that there are people in these clubs ranging from 6th all the way to 12th grade shows the depth of this community that we live in. I am looking forward to hearing more about this ad the future steps being taken to achieve the goal of moving to strictly clean energy in Long Beach schools by 2040.
Faith Vergara • Nov 16, 2022 at 1:17 pm
October 24, 2022
Dear Corydon Editor,
On October 24, Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD” The article mentions how a student-led campaign is trying to get everyone to transition from the use of fossil fuels to 100% clean energy. Prior to the article, I am very informed on the current environmental crisis the earth is experiencing. So, spreading the word about the changes LBUSD Schools are making to try to make a better carbon footprint is fascinating. From my understanding, there was a change to Policy 3510.1 to save money with energy efficiency, improve air quality, improve impacts on the environment, and create new jobs. What would be the total amount of money needed to complete this project? Would LBUSD have fundraisers to raise money? Will the installment affect school hours? Are there more benefits to clean energy? How long will it take to fully transition every school in LBUSD? Thank you for raising awareness to this topic as Climate Change and Global Warming is a global issue now. Especially, because our generation will need to be the ones who take action and solve these environmental issues the previous generations left behind.
Sincerely,
Faith Vergara, Grade 11
Olivia Lopez • Nov 16, 2022 at 1:14 pm
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD.” The article mentions how a goal that many students from a variety of schools have worked towards for two years and six days to accomplish this goal of having the district agree to slowly move towards using only solar power, which is a renewable source of energy. I thought it was wonderful that this accomplishment has been highlighted as the amount of work and hours that went into achieving this goal must have been considerable, and something in which students from Millikan participated. Highlighting accomplishments such as these is incredibly important, and thus I am happy that the author did so. Additionally it is wonderful to see that some of the possible concerns of readers were addressed, such as whether or not this plan was realistic and what would happen to items currently being used that utilize fossil fuels. Addressing this aspect of the policy truly helps to make it better received as it is realistic and completely attainable. Including a way for students to become more involved was also a wonderful idea as it gives students the chance and opportunity to contribute in the future through the environmental club at Millikan. Overall this was a helpful and informative article which I greatly appreciated being published.
Devlyn Mahan • Nov 16, 2022 at 1:11 pm
Dear Corydon Editor,
On October 24th, Bhree Walker wrote, “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD.” I really liked the article and how it was formatted, as the solar panels at Millikan has been something I have really enjoyed seeing. I think that the covered subject is particularly interesting as part of our futures and the futures of the next generation of Millikan students. As stated in the article, that by 2040 all Long Beach schools will move off of fossil fuels is particularly important to me, as in wintertime I know we warm our classrooms with electricity from fossil fuels or natural gas powered heaters. I do question though, will this policy actually come into effect by 2040? A vast majority of other projects have been majorly pushed back in Long Beach, and have seemed to be empty promises. My middle school I promoted from 3 years ago said that there would be air conditioning all the way back in 2018, and today, students there lack air conditioning in the hot summer heat. They also said that they would change the track to turf and have a running track around it, almost 5 years ago now. All that I hope is that these worthwhile changes will actually come into effect along with all the other things that the LBUSD says will, in due time. Thank you again for your time covering this topic.
Sincerely,
Devlyn Mahan, Grade 11
Kurt Buss • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:50 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker published an article entitled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. I really enjoyed learning about the policy that was recently passed regarding LBUSD gradually moving away from fossil fuels. The thing that impressed me the most was the fact that the passing of this new policy was almost entirely student-led. I think it’s great that kids from a variety of Long Beach schools teamed up to attend board meetings and make small changes to the policy. I like how you included the specific goals of the policy so that we understand what it aims to accomplish by 2040. If you ever plan on writing a second article on this topic, I think you should include more information, and possibly pictures, about the specific changes that LBUSD schools are making or have made to their schools to move towards renewable energy. You included a picture of the solar panels over the parking lot at Millikan which provided a great example of some of the measures that are being taken. I hope that Policy 3510.1 brings positive environmental change to the schools in Long Beach because that will help us get much closer to renewable energy in the future.
Nick Keith • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:35 am
This article was very well organized and didn’t omit any key information. It went over the policy itself, people involved with the creation of the policy, how it will change LBUSD and how the readers can take action and get involved. The only thing I can think of that the author should have reworded would have been in paragraph 2 when she says, “Switching away from fossil fuels would have the opposite effects of causing air pollution, harming one’s health, and accelerating climate change.” In my opinion this is written in a way where it doesn’t get the author’s point across, instead of saying “would have the opposite effects” I feel as just saying “would help stop” would be more effective as the way it is worded currently emphasizes the effects of climate change instead of the solution which is the policy. However other than that, it was a really well written and organized article that covered all the important components of the policy without being overwhelming.
Collin McCormick • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:33 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled, “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD. The article mentions The Long Beach Green Schools Campaign and how middle high schoolers from all over Long Beach have been working towards getting the policy 3510.1 passed for over two years now. I hadn’t even known that this was a thing before reading this article but now that I know about it I think that what these people are doing in these clubs is a great thing. I like how they mentioned that the goal of the campaign is for Long Beach to be using 100% clean energy and completely move away from fossil fuels by the year 2040 early on in the article. I think this really strengthened the story and helped people interested fast. I also liked how Walker mentioned the amount of time and work that these clubs have put into this project because this is an amazing thing that they are doing. The way that Bhree used an interview with Diana Michaelson to strengthen the article and how she explained who Michaelson was to help inform us that they actually knew what they were talking about was a great addition to the article. Thank you for teaching me more about this topic.
Jenna De Jong • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:27 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD.” In this article Bhree helps to educate us on the new LBUSD policy that was proposed August 17, 2022. The policies said to convert all LBUSD schools to clean energy and off of fossil fuels by 2040. I just wanted to say that I really appreciate you writing about this policy because prior to your article I didn’t know that this policy was passed. In my opinion, I think this is a strong start and puts us in good motion towards a sustainable future. With climate change and global warming rising as an issue, this is a huge step for our community. However, I think it’s good that kids are involved in their future but I also believe that older generations should be contributing to the world that their leaving for us.With our progressing world it’s important that we still make these changes and strive for a better and sustainable future. Even though this is only a small policy, its a huge step for our community and society. All in all, thank you for your article as it really brings light to this important issue.
Nicholas Keith • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:24 am
This article was very well organized and didn’t omit any key information. It went over the policy itself, people involved with the creation of the policy, how it will change LBUSD and how the readers can take action and get involved. The only thing I can think of that the author should have reworded would have been in paragraph 2 when she says, “Switching away from fossil fuels would have the opposite effects of causing air pollution, harming one’s health, and accelerating climate change.” In my opinion this is written in a way where it doesn’t get the author’s point across, instead of saying “would have the opposite effects” I feel as just saying “would help stop” would be more effective as the way it is worded currently emphasizes the effects of climate change instead of the solution which is the policy. However other than that, it was a really well written and organized article that covered all the important components of the policy without being overwhelming.
Nyeli Partida • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:21 am
November 16, 2022
Dear Corydon Editor,
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD.” The mention of the specific number of years and days it took from the various schools to get the policy passed really put into mind how much work all of these people put into taking care of our schools. It’s inspiring to see how different schools can come together for a change that is commonly believed in and really desired. Although the transition, as it was said, is going to take a rather long time, it is still better in the long run for our district to improve the quality of life, and air, of the students and faculty working in these schools. However, although the date is set for 2040, that is still only eighteen years from now. By this time, there will be a new class of elementary, middle, and highschool students who will have access to more sustainable energy in the long run, and probably some better air, too.
This policy is a huge step forward, even if it is only considered to be the first step. The hard work all of these people put into caring for their communities and environment will surely benefit everyone’s health and wellbeing in the future.
Sincerely,
Nyeli Partida, Grade 11
Angie Del Gaudio • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:20 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker, wrote a wonderful article titled the “Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD.” I was fascinated by this article and so pleased to hear that people are standing up and taking the time to defend the environment. As a whole Long Beach is in need of some change with the way we produce and use energy. I myself am a part of an environmental awareness group that is working in Long Beach, however, I am learning it is difficult to make any change with so many people working against the environment’s safety. So, I applaud every student who participated in the passing of this act, and had the drive to fight to make such a big difference that will really change the makeup of Long Beach. It is truly so amazing that within two years students made this happen!
Are you a part of the environmental club yourself ? I did not know we had an environmental club here on campus, but I think it sounds like an amazing program that all Rams should be aware of. After reading your article I am very interested in checking out all of the wonderful work they are doing, and getting involved. Thank you for the introduction to the club! As well as thank you for taking the time to write this article, and share such great news with Millikan readers. This article and the work being done puts a smile on my face!
Collin • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:20 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled, “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD. The article mentions The Long Beach Green Schools Campaign and how middle high schoolers from all over Long Beach have been working towards getting the policy 3510.1 passed for over two years now. I hadn’t even known that this was a thing before reading this article but now that I know about it I think that what these people are doing in these clubs is a great thing. I like how they mentioned that the goal of the campaign is for Long Beach to be using 100% clean energy and completely move away from fossil fuels by the year 2040 early on in the article. I think this really strengthened the story and helped people interested fast. I also liked how Walker mentioned the amount of time and work that these clubs have put into this project because this is an amazing thing that they are doing. The way that Bhree used an interview with Diana Michaelson to strengthen the article and how she explained who Michaelson was to help inform us that they actually knew what they were talking about was a great addition to the article. Thank you for teaching me more about this topic.
Kaitlyn Lor • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:13 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. This article talks about and addresses the Long Beach Green Schools Campaign and Policy 3510.1, along with how it strives to better the environment by reducing the amount of fossil fuels used and emitted by LBUSD by transitioning to clean energy use (such as replacing nonrenewable energy with renewable energy such as solar panels). I appreciate the fact that LBUSD is recognizing and working on creating solutions towards issues regarding our climate crisis, and I especially appreciate the fact that this is brought to light in the Millikan Corydon. To be honest, if it weren’t addressed here, I may have never recognized this act. I believe that environmental concerns should be recognized by everyone, and I look forward to this big step that LBUSD is taking, as Policy 3510.1 allows money to be saved with energy efficiency, improves the air quality, improves the impacts on the environment, and creates new job opportunities. Though this transition won’t be fast nor easy to go through and accomplish, it’s something that will make a significant difference and improve the world we live in one step at a time. Thank you Bhree for sharing this good news, and bringing attention to something everyone should know about!
Tyler Lao • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:12 am
On November 20, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. The main topic of this article is the passing of policy 3510.1 in 2019. There is also considerable mention to the fact that students spent just over two years of their lives trying to get this very progressive policy passed. I find this very uplifting because we the students are the ones making the change happen. There has always been talk of our generation being the most important when it comes to stopping climate change, and I think we exemplified that notion with the passing of this new policy. In the article, there is a picture of a parking lot at Millikan that is already adorned with a collection of solar panels. While I’m not completely sure, I believe that the parking lots and possibly the 11000 building are the only parts of Millikan where solar panels can be found. I love the fact that the situation will only get better with the passing of this policy. I thank you for covering this topic, as it is one that rarely gets any attention. I love the emphasis you put on the fact that it was students that made the change happen. I believe that this will promote others to act and make it possible for climate change to become a thing of the past.
Gwen Burns • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:12 am
Dear Corydon editor,
On october 24, Bhree wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD.” In the article, the Long Beach Green Schools Campaign was explained and explored. First of all, I find this extremely interesting as I have never heard of this policy and its many benefits. I found this article very informative and it left me with lots of questions: While reading I noticed Bhree cited the founder of this policy, writing that she thinks this policy is going to take a while to transition. Why do you think that is? Would there be solar panels across the entire school? Is there potential for our school to use fully clean energy? Is there anything students can do or contribute to make this process quicker? I wonder what you think the next steps will be? I really appreciated the information around this subject, giving some backstory and information on those involved. I also appreciate the info about the environmental club and green team here at Millikan. This article has definitely inspired me to look into both of those student groups. I hope to read more about LBUSD’s efforts when it comes to clean energy. I truly think it’s an important topic to spread and talk about.
Sydney Fast • Nov 16, 2022 at 11:07 am
Dear Corydon Editor,
On November 20, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD.” This article caught my attention because of my strong passion for achieving sustainability. As a member of the Environmental Club at Millikan, it was interesting to learn more of the behind the scenes that is going on within the district and the connections being developed amongst the like minded students in Long Beach. Additionally I was able to connect to it with the mention of Helen Keller Middle School and Millikan, which kept my strong attention to the article. I also really enjoyed how Walker mentioned that there is so much more to do. This reminded me how my sister and I started our own committee with the Environmental Club here, called the Meat Reduction Initiative. Our hope is to one day work with other schools just like the Green Schools Campaign did and is doing. We want to bring the Meatless Mondays Challenge to the district and have just begun working with the national Meatless Mondays organization! WIth this, this article inspired me to continue working to push for sustainability just like fellow environmentalists around Long Beach Unified School District are.
Sincerely,
Sydney Fast, Grade 11
Koby Thurmond • Nov 16, 2022 at 10:05 am
November 16, 2022
Dear Corydon Editor,
On October 24, Bhree wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD.” The article mentioned that it took two years and six days for the Long Beach Unified School Board to pass policy 3510.1. I found this amazing because it shows that there are students, staff, and parents that are passionate enough about this issue to work at this issue for so long. I never realized how much fossil fuels the schools in LBUSD must be emitting on a daily basis. It is really heartwarming to see that people in the school district not only care about the environment and our planet, but are willing to do something to help solve the problem. In the article it states that students from middle schools and highschools in the Long Beach Unified School District are a part of the Long Beach Green Schools Campaign. This is really eye opening because it shows that kids as young as 6th grade can understand the effects of climate change, but some grown politicians can not. Climate change is a very important issue and it is good that people in our generation are doing something to help us in the future.
Sincerely,
Koby Thurmond, Grade 11
Aiden Ankley • Nov 16, 2022 at 9:51 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. The article talks about a new board policy that was passed, policy 3510.1. The policy will help lessen the footprint schools leave on our climate. First off, I just wanted to say thank you for writing about this topic. Global warming is such a scary and real thing and it is really disturbing how little people know about it. Speaking of knowing little, I also wanted to thank you for letting me know that there is an environmentalist group here at Millikan. I had no idea there was one. This issue is larger than just the schools but getting this policy passed is a major step in the right direction. I know that the parking lot covers are solar panels but I’m wondering how long it has been since they have been cleaned. It may be worth looking into because if they are covered in layers of dirt they may not be capturing 100% of the energy they can capture. I’m really hoping the schools are able to uphold this policy all the way till 2040 so we can eradicate fossil fuels from our schools.
Brenda Gallardo • Nov 16, 2022 at 9:48 am
On October 24, 2022, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy that will change LBUSD”, the article mentions policy 3510.01 that was recently passed through the Long Beach Unified School Board. This policy will help LBUSD schools maintain 100% clean energy and fully transition to no fossil fuels by the year 2040. I feel very proud to be part of our district and of our schools because by doing this, we can inspire other districts to make a change as well. Prior to this, I haven’t put much thought to how schools affect the environment by using fossil fuels. Having this policy will change our future for the better and I’m happy to hear that we have a school which offers opportunities to help our environment, such as the green team or environmental club. This will not only help us improve air quality but it will offer new jobs and save money with energy efficiency which I think is a great way of making a change which benefits both the district and the environment. I have much hope for our school board members, students, and people part of our environmental club committee to make the right choices that will benefit us and make our environment a better and healthier place.
Max Schlafke • Nov 16, 2022 at 9:42 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. The article mentions that a policy was finally passed that is going to help LBUSD gradually move from using gas, oil, or coal as a source of energy to solar panels. Prior to reading this article I had taken the class, AP Environmental Science where I learned about these issues. Switching from fossil fuels to solar panels would have an amazing impact on the environment so I am very glad this policy has been passed. The importance of switching is being realized by many people at this point and this is a huge step for LBUSD. I think it is great that there are environmental clubs all throughout the school district because the environment is being hurt by all of us and we need to find a way to repay it for letting us witness and live in it. Not many people realize that a lot of things they do on a daily basis like taking long showers or littering harms the environment immensely. If this can be fixed by 2040 in the city of Long Beach I feel more confident and have more hope that we can preserve this Earth and everything that is on it. What ways, other than the use of solar panels, has the Long Beach Green Schools Campaign thought of to help switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy? Could the Long Beach School Board eventually overturn this policy? Thank you for bringing attention to this very important subject.
Kyle Hunt • Nov 16, 2022 at 9:39 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. The article mentions the policy passed by the school district for school to slowly transition to solar energy. I always wondered why Millikan had plenty of solar panels in comparison to every other school I’ve been to, but I’m glad to have known it was because of a largely student-led campaign. I find it interesting that other schools like Lakewood and CAMS supported this campaign, but I wonder if my middle school Marshall was involved in the campaign. I also liked how you included the reasons and goals for passing this policy and also what we, ourselves, can do to further help the environment. I also wondered how the previous version of the policy was different from the current policy that just passed. There is a hyperlink attached to the statement, but it doesn’t seem to route to a page that explains the old policy. A brief explanation of what policy 3510 first called for may help bring more context as to why the new policy is a step up. Speaking of hyperlinks, I like the extent of the use of hyperlinks throughout the article since it helps the reader research a certain topic or organization they may not know and bring in more context about the event.
Bhree Walker • Nov 16, 2022 at 7:15 pm
Thank you for your input! I added a link to 3510 in the article.
Jordan Magdael • Nov 16, 2022 at 9:38 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article about “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD.” The article informs us about “The Long Beach Green Schools Campaign” push to turn LBUSD free of fossil fuels. The campaign started by Diana Michaelson of Long Beach Polytechnic high school, largely led by students with participation from parents, staff, and the board. Even some students from other schools like Millikan, Lakewood, Hughes, and Helen Keller have added their part to the campaign. Policy 3510.1 was finally passed after 2 years and 6 days hoping to boost environmental impacts, energy efficiency, and create new jobs. I appreciate the new information that was given throughout your article. Although, I would like to treat you to some questions about the policy and campaign. First off, I noticed you mentioned some schools that were participating in the campaign such as Millikan, Lakewood, and Hughes. Are there any other schools that want to get involved? I understand that instead of fossil fuels LBUSD wants to incorporate solar panels. Will we see more different alternatives for fossil fuels instead of solar panels in the future? I also understand that Michaelson started this campaign as a senior at Polytechnic high school. Do you think Michaelson will still stand as lead and pursue the campaign after high school? From what I can see, there are things happening across LBUSD and its good schools are taking a stand on modern-day pollution to help create a safer environment. Thank you for introducing this wonderful information.
Dahlia Hardy • Nov 16, 2022 at 9:34 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD.” This article informed me of a topic that I had not heard of before, being that our school district is going to actively begin working towards utilizing more environmentally friendly practices. In a world so full of people who do not care enough about, or even go so far as to fight against, fixing the environmental issues our species has caused, it is great to see younger people taking the initiative to create change. I am somewhat surprised that it only took two years for the district to pass such a significant policy, but I am immensely grateful to the students who worked to make it happen. The policy’s goals are bound to bring about positive change in Long Beach, though it is slightly disappointing that it can not be a quick process. There are likely many things that need to be done in order to completely switch over from non-renewable resources to renewable sources of energy, and those changes are sure to take much time and money to bring about. I hope that these goals are achieved, even if it isn’t immediately, and that they might inspire similar change beyond Long Beach Unified. It truly goes to show how the younger generations have the power to change our world for the better.
Evan Zes • Nov 16, 2022 at 9:33 am
On October 24 Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy that will change LBUSD.” The article states that “The Long Beach Green Schools Campaign is to work towards 100% clean energy use and to fully transition the LBUSD off of fossil fuels by 2040. LBUSD schools will gradually move from using gas, oil, or coal as a source of energy to solar panels.” I think that this entire campaign is fantastic, and I applaud the students, parents, and staff that have gone the lengths in order to have this policy approved. I have taken AP Environmental Science with Mr. Cruz Cardenas, and I understand a few implications that come with this solution, which raises a few questions for me. Will Millikan themselves be paying for the transition? If not, will it be the district? How expensive will this whole project be? I understand that we have solar panels above the parking lots at Millikan, but what is the next step? How long until that next step? What specific effects will this have on our environment? In the long run, will using renewable energy save money for the LBUSD district? From my shallow understanding, if we convert to all solar power, it could be an expensive project, but in the long run, the money saved and the positive effects on the environment will outweigh those initial costs. This article was fantastic and has properly brought me up to speed about how the district is living in the present, and not ignoring these environmental problems that may have no significance to them.
Jason Parra • Nov 16, 2022 at 9:32 am
On November 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD” The article mentions that all fossil fuel uses in LBUSD schools will be discontinued by the year 2040. The article also mentions that solar panels are being used at millikan high school to help stop the problem, however how big of a contributor are these solar panels? Also how are other schools working to solve the problem in the future? Is the plan to slowly work toward the end result or are schools going to wait for more advanced technology before taking on this task. Also, is school life going to change? How will this policy change the social structure of school life? It’s a lot to think about at the moment since we are so dependent on the use of fossil fuels, and it’s a big change to know that there are going to be a lot of new projects in the future around our schools for the better. This topic of climate change is very important to the world and I’m excited for the change as we get to experience new things first hand in our lives as we have the power to make an impact on the rest of the world, however i’m afraid that with this power some people will take it for granted.
Karina Coca • Nov 16, 2022 at 9:28 am
I like how Bhree organized her text as it made it very easy to read, enjoyable, and engaging for the reader. It included the main thesis at hand, the issue, the solution, and how we as audience members are able to help in this situation. I also applaud her use of direct evidence and sources, as she gave direct credit to the source of her evidence and expanded on it while also sprinkling in some of her ideas. This gave the piece a very genuine feel and built credibility between the writer and the audience. Another big thing I liked about this piece is its concept of it. The idea of switching to solar energy and trying to save the environment is a large issue and I believe that Bhree had executed bringing it up and how LBUSD would solve it in a very intellectual way. Overall, I very much enjoyed this piece and I, again, am very intrigued by how it was presented as a whole.
Catia Gass • Nov 16, 2022 at 9:24 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. The article mentions a new policy recently passed to get LBUSD moving towards a more environmentally friendly future. Prior to the article, I only knew about the groups of students going to board meetings and asking to get policies passed. Now I know that the policy did pass, and though it is a victory, like the article mentioned, there is still much to be done. I am really hopeful for our district’s future based on what I read in the article about all the schools and students who decided to get involved and do something for our future. I also really like that at the bottom of the article there is information about Millikan’s own environmental club and ways that you can get involved if you would like to help. This article makes me hope that the future LBUSD generations also care enough to organize events and groups such as these, to create change for our district. I am so glad that policy 3510.1 was passed and that people realize how much work needs to be done to save our environment for the future. Thank you so much for writing this article.
Ethan • Nov 16, 2022 at 9:19 am
On October 24, Bhree Walker wrote an article titled “The Environmental Policy That Will Change LBUSD”. In this article Bhree highlights how the policy change took a very long time to pass and informs the reader that it will be a gradual change. Examples such as switching out gas stoves and making subtle changes. Policy 3510 is highlighted in this article, which is new information to me. I like that she informed us on what this policy intends to do, which is help switch schools to fully green energy users by 2040. What I find interesting about these changes is that they take so long to pass. It seems like we are in such an urgent time of global warming that we must start making changes faster, though two years is not terribly long, it seems like a while to be revising the same policy change that will benefit us. It’s stated “While passing this policy was a huge step for the LBUSD, Michaelson believes that this is just the beginning and that there is much more to do” even the smallest changes to energy can have a large impact on the grand scheme of things and help our planet out drastically. I also loved how we were given means in which we can help out if we are passionate about this subject such as joining our school’s green team. Thank you for highlighting what we are doing as a school and community to benefit our planet.
Miracle • Nov 6, 2022 at 11:48 am
Amazing story!! I enjoyed learning about policy 3501.1. It is interesting learning about how the environmental club committee made revisions to the policy. Very impressive 🙂