Creating a Strategic Plan for the High-School for Sustainability

The New York City Department of Education is the largest public education system in the United States and is responsible for the education and safety of 1.1 million children in approximately 1600 public schools throughout the five boroughs of the city. As a municipal government agency, the Department of Education is part of the efforts of New York City to engage in environmentally sustainable practice through PLaNYC. In 2007, our clients John Shea (Chief Executive) and Ozgem Ornektekin (Director of Sustainability) of the Division of School Facilities (DSF) instituted widespread effort entitled the DOE Sustainability Initiative, as part of a number of goals the DSF will achieve by 2017. Headed by Ms. Ornektekin, the Initiative’s mission is to position the DOE to be the nation’s leader in the operation of sustainable school facilities and integrated sustainability education.

The DSF is considering a plan to create The High School for Sustainability as part of an overarching set of education and training efforts. The High School would be the first of its kind created in New York City and by a division (DSF) from within the Department of Education. The High School would be founded on the principles of leading current and future generations to a more sustainable future and would incorporate the issues of urban ecosystems of water, energy and biodiversity within national standards for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and STEM ICT (Information, Communication and Technology). Members of this workshop team produced a strategic plan for the DSF to accomplish its goal of opening the High School for Sustainability in September 2012. The plan includes guides to the curriculum, facility, and implementation aspects of the project. If followed, the timeline and guidelines produced from this project could result in the opening of the High School for Sustainability in Fall 2012.