Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Hosts Annual Summer Summit in Partnership with Chicago Public Schools
October 01, 2024 | Written By: Sara Porter
Photo courtesy of Chicago Public Schools.
The 2024 Healthy Green Schools & Colleges (HGSC) Summer Summit was a collaborative and engaging two days hosted by Chicago Public Schools in Chicago, Illinois. The event included interactive discussions, role playing communication scenarios, a multi-site tour of Chicago Public Schools, and lots of time to deepen connections with peers including a picturesque evening rooftop gathering with the National School Plant Managers Association, hosted by Fellowes.
The Summit brought together HGSC program sponsors, partners, and school facility directors from across the country who are committed to leading change through improving operations, enhancing learning, and promoting healthy, green schools through improved indoor air quality in both K-12 and higher education settings.
During the facilities tour, participants visited Englewood STEM High School and Benjamin E. Mays Elementary Academy where they learned about CPS’ approach to chemical hygiene and water and indoor air quality testing. Participants enjoyed visiting Mays’ Space to Grow schoolyard to see firsthand how the schoolyard elements provide outdoor space for learning and play while also alleviating flooding through green stormwater infrastructure. The CPS team also shared insights into a number of new and innovative program elements including approaches to using technology to help address budget and staffing shortages.
During the second day of the summit, participants explored key insights for addressing common barriers to success when it comes to implementing healthy, sustainable facility management programs. Participants had the opportunity to engage in interactive workshops and receive guidance from peers, partners, and subject area experts. One of the main areas of focus included creating a clear vision and SMART goals and objectives that allow for strategic communication. Participants were also invited to share their institution’s achievements over the past year.
The summit produced generative discussions, uncovering the following themes that underscore the ongoing need for adaptability, collaboration, and strategic foresight as institutions navigate challenges:
- Effectively Training and Engaging Gen Z Employees: As institutions continue to welcome the next generation of employees, attendees emphasized the importance of adapting training and development strategies to meet the unique needs of the Gen Z workforce. Discussions included the necessity of creatively engaging personnel through digital tools, on-demand learning modules, and interactive platforms that resonate with younger employees.
- Preparing for Future Pandemics and Operational Disruptions: The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical need for proactive planning to safeguard operational continuity in the face of future disruptions, including health-related disruptions as well as climate- and disaster-related disruptions. Attendees discussed strategies for preparing for future pandemics, with a focus on building resilient systems that can withstand unforeseen challenges and regularly revisiting and updating contingency plans to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
- Doing More with Less: Participants universally cited shrinking budgets as a challenge, and the ability to maximize impact with limited resources has become more crucial than ever. Attendees discussed the need to partner with vendors to leverage innovative approaches to stretch budgets without sacrificing quality or outcomes.
- Continuing to Deepen the Bench of Change Champions: Participants discussed the importance of continuing to broaden their institution’s engagement in HGSC, both within their teams as well as across departments, in order to continue to improve operations, enhance learning, and create healthy, green schools.
Individual reflections followed the working sessions and the summit concluded with preparing for the next steps. Each participant went home with new tools to utilize in support of articulating a clear vision and goal, as well as communicating effectively in common scenarios with supervisors, peers, and team members. These skills will assist facilities directors in continuing to advance health and sustainability in their facilities operations and management programs.
Thank you to the Chicago Public Schools facilities team for hosting the 2024 Healthy Green Schools & Colleges Summer Summit!
