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Kansas Green Schools Grant Program

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT GRANTS---SCROLL DOWN FOR DETAILS.  APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE OR POSTMARKED BY MONDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2010.  APPLICATIONS FOR WATER QUALITY GRANTS ARE STILL BEING ACCEPTED. AIR QUALITY/ENERGY GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
 
The Kansas Green Schools Grant Program was developed through a partnership between the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE).  Kansas Green Schools Grants are intended to encourage schools to develop creative, innovative, effective environmental projects to improve the environment; make schools a healthier place to learn, play, and work; and save money through reduced use of resources.  Grant projects must address air quality, climate change, solid waste reduction and recycling, and water management through an integrated holistic approach emphasizing public health or environment-related issues.  All school-based program initiatives must include direct environmental benefits and education as components of their integrated holistic approach.
 
In State Fiscal Year 2010 (1 July 2009 through 30 June 2010), any public or private K-12 school in Kansas may apply for a Green Schools Grant.  Green Schools Grant awards will be limited to projects that can reasonably be completed within one school year.  Grant amounts cannot exceed $4,500 per school, and schools must be registered on the Kansas Green Schools Network.  All projects must include an environmental education component in the classroom.  Schools may apply for more than one (1) grant per school year, but should realize that due to the limited amount of grant funding, preference may be given to schools that have not previously received grants.  Schools are required to report data from their projects (ie, how much paper was recycled, how much water was conserved) on the Kansas Green Schools Network annually.  This information will be compiled for an annual Kansas Green Schools Report.  Registration on the Kansas Green Schools Network is free and the registration form is located at www.kansasgreenschools.org.
 
Kansas Green Schools Grants fall into three (3) categories, depending on their funding source.  Grant awards are dependent on available funding.  Please see the following guidelines for each of the grant categories: 
 

Solid Waste Management Grants 

PLEASE NOTE:  THIS SECTION HAS BEEN UPDATED!
 
NOW ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR--MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE OR POSTMARKED BY MONDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2010
 
GENERAL GRANT GUIDELINES
The following are guidelines that generally apply to all the solid waste management grant programs:
 
1)         Review the guidance document and application form.  Please call (800) 282-9790 or (785) 296-1600 or click on these links for more detailed guidelines and the Online Grant Application.  
 
2)         Determine if you meet the eligibility requirements.  Pursuant to KSA 65-3415 (b), a current Solid Waste Management Plan for the county in which the school is located must be on file.  KDHE staff can inform you if the county in which your school is located has a current Solid Waste Management Plan (call one of the phone numbers above or your county public works department). 
 
3) A 25% match is required for Solid Waste Management Grants.  This match may be accomplished by either cash or in-kind contributions, which must be listed as part of your project budget. 
 
4) Grant projects must fall within the pre-approved categories listed below.  No other projects will be approved.
      1. Field trips to environmental education centers/recycling centers/landfills.   This category includes fees to pay for transportation, entrance fees, etc.  Schools interested in pursuing field trips are encouraged to make arrangements in advance to ensure that the facility is receptive to receiving field trips.
      2. Waste audits.  This category could include the purchase of equipment to conduct a waste audit such as scales, gloves, safety glasses, etc. 
      1. Recycling containers.  This category includes the purchase of various recycling containers.  Recycling containers could be purchased for use in special venues such as sporting events, assemblies or graduation ceremonies.  Everyday uses of recycling containers could include the lunch room or paper receptacles in the classrooms.  Other costs that could be considered in this category might include fees associated for a recycling service to pick up items.
      2. Purchasing audit.   This would involve the review of purchasing procedures resulting in recommendations, if needed, for revisions.  Revisions might include items such as the purchase of re-usable items for break rooms, bulk purchasing practices and facilitating recycling of office products such as toner cartridges.  Another example of a recommendation might include phasing in environmentally friendly cleaning products (information on the proper disposal of existing cleaning containers can be obtained through the KDHE Household Hazardous Waste Program at 785-296-1600). 
      1. Composting and vermicomposting equipment.  Composting could include cafeteria waste and landscaping debris.  For technical support in composting issues, please call the Bureau of Waste Management at 785-296-1600.  
      1. Environmental Stewardship Education Programs.  This category could include such items as speaking fees for guest presenters, composting training, recycling and waste reduction awareness training, and vermiculture education.  
      1. Sponsorship of Environmental Program.  Examples from this category could include such items as the purchase of start up materials for an environmental club or materials to conduct a waste reduction/recycling kick off event at the school. 
      1. Waste Reduction School to Home Projects.  An example of a project in this category could be an education program at school to reduce the usage of plastic bags.  The school could purchase a number of re-usable grocery bags to give students to take home.  The students could be required to record the average number of plastic bags that were used by their family on a weekly basis before using the re-usable bags.  Extrapolations on how many plastic bags avoided the solid waste stream would be presented as part of the final report due to KDHE

5)         Complete the online application form and submit it by the application deadline date.  If a paper copy of the application is needed, click on the document below.  The application does not have to be received by KDHE on the deadline date, just submitted or postmarked by Monday, 15 February 2010.  Schools that received waste management grants in previous years are encouraged to apply for next year; however, if more applications are received than funds available, applications to first-time applicants may be a priority.

 
Paper Copy of Grant Application (download, print, and mail in)
 
Final Report Documents:
 
 
 

Air Quality Grants 

GENERAL GRANT GUIDELINES 
Air Quality Grants projects will address issues related to air emissions, climate change, and energy savings. 
    1. Apply for Air Quality Grants using the Grant Application Form.  Your application will be reviewed and you will be contacted.
    1. There are no deadlines for the Air Quality Grants.  Funding is dependent on availability.
    1. There is no match requirement for Air Quality Grants, although your budget should include any cash or in-kind contributions your school will make toward your project.
    1. Projects must have a positive impact on air quality and climate change, and may include projects such as:
    1. Community Air Quality (monitoring; efforts that improve air quality, such as idle-free zones in front of schools; public or family outreach to encourage air friendly practices; diesel school bus retrofits; replacing or retrofitting school buses with AFV’s; paying add-on costs for purchase of Hybrid cars for drivers’ education).
    1. Indoor Air Quality (mold; asbestos; radon; lead).
    1. Climate Change Caused by Greenhouse Gases (monitoring; offsetting carbon footprint).
    1. Energy Efficiency (energy management audits; improved efficiency; conservation and reduction; acquired energy savings; converting schools to Energy Star).
    1. Renewable Energy (wind; solar; hydropower; other renewable energy projects).
    1. Professional development for school administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and volunteers to assist with integrating the project into the school curriculum in a holistic and sustainable manner.
    1. Other projects that meet eligibility requirements may also be considered for Air Quality Grants.
    1. From time to time, additional Air Quality Grant funds may become available which would provide the opportunity for larger grants.  Please let us know if you have a project that would require funding beyond the $4,500 limit.

Water Quality Grants 

PLEASE NOTE: THIS SECTION HAS BEEN UPDATED.
 
GENERAL GRANT GUIDELINES 

Water Quality Grants will address issues related to non-point source pollution. 

  1. Apply for Water Quality Grants using the Grant Application Form.  Your application will be reviewed and you will be contacted.
  2. There are no deadlines for Water Quality Grants.  Funding is dependent on availability. 
  3. A match is required for Water Quality Grants.  The match may be accomplished by cash or in-kind contributions, and must be part of your project budget.  Please contact swilson@kacee.org for more information.
  4. Water Quality Grant projects should result in the reduction of Non-point Source Pollution or education on how to reduce NPS pollution.  Grant projects may include:
  • Student-held workshops for educators or other students, demonstration projects that are available for tours to show what was accomplished and how it was accomplished, mini-water celebrations within the school or district, older students hosting a water celebration for an elementary school, water monitoring projects, classes on how to monitor water, students partnering with WRAPS (Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy) groups to implement water quality community projects, education field trips to learn about water and water quality (this can be paired with a wildlife element), xeriscaping at schools and community sites, constructing or using a rain barrel, rain or waterspout gardens, ongoing data collection, Kansas stream teams.
  • Professional development for school administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and volunteers to assist with integrating the project into the school curriculum in a holistic and sustainable manner.
  • Other projects that meet the eligibility requirements may also be considered for Water Quality Grants.

Other Possible Projects 

Additional projects that may be eligible for Air Quality or Water Quality Grants include projects related to improving school or community green space, such as the role of green space in improving environmental conditions; employing green infrastructures such as bio-retention cells; and constructing or improving outdoor classrooms or Outdoor Wildlife Learning Sites (OWLS).  These projects must meet the eligibility requirements of the Air Quality or Water Quality Grants. 

For More Information

Contact Shari L. Wilson, Statewide Partnerships and Planning Director at the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE), at swilson@kacee.org or 913-287-6879.