Final

Elgin Math & Science Academy

Enviro Group December Meeting

Date and Time

Friday February 4, 2022 at 9:00 AM CST

Location

Dining Hall

EMSA Campus

1600 Dundee Ave

Elgin

Agenda

     
I. Opening Items
  A. Record Attendance
  B. Call the Meeting to Order
  C. Approve January 12, 2022 Meeting Minutes
   
  D. Enviro Work Group Items Update
II. Environmental Work Group--Subcommittee to Master Plan and Facilities
  A. Goal setting/vision of work group
   
What do you think would be some goals for the committee?  
What would our vision/purpose statement look like?
  B. Ecosystem Education
   
  1. Campus map.  NEXT STEPS: 
    1. Locate existing videos and tape--add to a resources page. 
    2. Determine areas/subjects that interest teachers and create videos to support that. 
    3. S Said is willing to follow R Wilson & C Flaherty around to video explanation of ecosystems. 
  2. Teacher support on ecosystems, it was discussed to start with staff meetings and plan environmental components based upon staff interests. NEXT STEPS: 
    1. S Said will ask K, 2d, 3d grade teachers for best times to meet with her and eco team (G Swick, R Wilson, K Kelly) 
    2. Review modules for nature connections prior to meetings. 
    3. Determine ways to share proactively info about what our environment is (like videos, above)! 
  3. Partnership with Friends of the Fox--How do we deliver hands-on, local nature-based science NEXT STEPS: 
    1. S Said will check with J Willer and staff about when/how this could work. 
    2. Budget of $10K to implement this. 
    3. G Swick can be point person on questions and lining up Friends of the Fox. 
  4. Friday Field Studies. Agreed to look into the possibilities. NEXT STEPS: 
    1. S Said will check on TA/teacher availability & interest in teaching
    2. K Kelly will draft rough budget and benefits of FFS. 
    3. Volunteers and other details to be discussed further. 
  5. Partnership with Forest Preserve of Kane County. The committee discussed how to support/grow this relationship. NEXT STEPS: These were modified post meeting to be:  
    1. G Swick reach out to FP for education partnerships  
    2. C Flaherty Invite FP President to visit campus 
  6. Enviro Club. NEXT STEPS: 
    1. S Said will see if a staff person wants to run this. 
    2. Roots & Shoots--established program created by Jane Goodall 
    3. G Swick offered to be a resource--as did other committee members
  7. EMSA Passion Projects UPDATE S Said
  C. Trails and Walkways
   
  • Ravine Trail - Next Date
  • Logs to use as stepping "stones" - Update
  D. Native Plantings Updates - Grants Available
   
  • National Enviro Ed - Update
  • Pollinator Partnership  - Update
  • IDNR - Update "School Yard Habitat Action Grant" due 11/30/22, approval in February 2023; $1,000 (K. Kelly)
  • Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, due 2/22/21, K-12 Pollinator Schools Program, up to $10K plus $1K in summer maintenance (K. Kelly)
  E. Water Runoff--Updates
   
  • New Area by Gym - Update
  • Teacher / Student interest in participating and/or learning from water programs - Update
  F. Playgrounds & Natural Play Areas Update
   
  • Removal of the bouncy feature at the abandoned playground - Update
  • Passion Project: Focus on creating more space while respecting nature is one area - Update

 
  G. Chimney Swifts and Other Bird Protections Updates
   
  • Seeking funding to add bird strike prevention per the existing bid - Update
  • Window paintings on the dining hall and dorm served the purpose of eliminating bird strikes. Publish this success story with pictures - Update

 
  H. Ongoing Tree Care & Planned Landscaping
III. Other Business
  A. What else do we need to be thinking about?
   
  • HWY 25 Entry Signs - Update
  • Land Acknowledgements - Update
IV. Closing Items
  A. Adjourn Meeting