This START metric focuses on fostering transparency and stakeholder engagement across all levels of governance, including financial oversight, personnel management, and strategic planning. Effective governance ensures that decisions are made collaboratively, with stakeholders’ views welcomed, considered, and incorporated when appropriate. It also prioritizes keeping the school community informed about progress, challenges, and successes.
Transparent and inclusive governance builds trust, accountability, and a sense of shared purpose. Schools that prioritize stakeholder engagement not only make better-informed decisions but also empower their communities to take ownership of sustainability efforts, fostering long-term success and alignment with shared values.
Strategies for Strengthening Governance and Stakeholder Engagement
NOTE: This is not a prescriptive list; it just offers ideas to inspire action and can be tailored to fit the unique needs of each school.
Develop a Governance Framework for Sustainability
Define clear roles, responsibilities, and processes for decision-making related to sustainability efforts.
Establish a governance structure that includes representatives from different stakeholder groups, such as students, staff, parents, and community members.
Foster Transparency
Share financial reports, strategic plans, and project updates openly with the school community.
Use newsletters, town halls, or online dashboards to communicate key decisions and progress.
Engage Stakeholders in Strategic Planning
Invite input from students, staff, parents, and community members during the development of sustainability goals and plans.
Use surveys, focus groups, or workshops to gather diverse perspectives.
Create Feedback Mechanisms
Establish channels for stakeholders to provide feedback, such as suggestion boxes, online forms, or regular meetings.
Actively review and respond to feedback to ensure stakeholders feel heard and valued.
Encourage Collaborative Decision-Making
Include stakeholders in committees or task forces that influence key areas like budgeting, infrastructure, and curriculum development.
Use consensus-building techniques to ensure that decisions reflect shared priorities.
Provide Regular Updates
Share progress on sustainability initiatives, including challenges and successes, with the school community.
Use visual tools, such as infographics or charts, to make updates accessible and engaging.
Train Leadership on Inclusive Governance
Provide professional development for administrators and board members on best practices for transparency and stakeholder engagement.
Encourage leaders to adopt a participatory approach to decision-making.
Integrate Governance into the Curriculum
Use governance topics as learning opportunities in civics or social studies classes.
Encourage students to participate in mock governance activities or sustainability leadership roles.
Celebrate Contributions
Recognize and thank stakeholders who actively participate in governance and sustainability efforts.
Use awards, shout-outs, or public acknowledgments to highlight their impact.
Establish Equity in Governance
Ensure that underrepresented groups have a voice in decision-making processes.
Create specific opportunities for input from marginalized or disadvantaged stakeholders.
Incorporate Sustainability into Financial Oversight
Align budgeting and financial decisions with sustainability goals, such as investing in renewable energy or energy-efficient infrastructure.
Share the financial benefits of sustainability initiatives, such as cost savings from energy reductions, with stakeholders.
Set Governance Metrics
Define measurable goals for governance, such as the number of stakeholder engagements or the frequency of transparency reports.
Use these metrics to assess and improve governance practices.
Host Stakeholder Engagement Events
Organize forums, town halls, or focus groups to discuss key governance decisions.
Use these events to build trust, gather input, and demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity.
Establish Accountability Mechanisms
Use audits, third-party reviews, or stakeholder panels to ensure accountability in governance processes.
Share findings and recommendations with the community to maintain trust.
Use Technology for Engagement
Create online portals or apps where stakeholders can access information, provide feedback, and stay updated on governance decisions.
Use virtual tools to increase accessibility for those who cannot attend in-person meetings.
Plan for Long-Term Governance Success
Develop succession plans for leadership roles to ensure continuity in governance practices.
Regularly review and revise governance policies to align with evolving goals and stakeholder needs.
‘How To’ Guides
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Solar Financing Guide
From Gen180, guidance through comparing finance options, preparing a proposal, understanding needs and solar potential, identifying hurdles & selecting a developer.
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How to Go Solar: for Schools
From Gen180, guidance through comparing finance options, preparing a proposal, understanding needs and solar potential, identifying hurdles & selecting a developer.
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A Guide to Purchasing Green Power
An overview of green power markets, costs, benefits, steps necessary for procurement, product options, and financing options.
Additional Resources
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Affordable Zero Energy K–12 Schools: The Cost Barrier Illusion
From the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a report on the costs of renovations and energy efficiency upgrades versus long term savings.
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Schools hold the key to a healthy, sustainable and regenerative future.
They are role-models and incubators that that nurture, educate and prepare each generation for adult life.
Schools have a unique opportunity and profound responsibility to become part the transition to a sustainable, regenerative future in which people and planet can thrive.
But how do we get there?
START: Sustainability Tracking, Analytics & Roadmap Tool was created by schools, for schools, to help them develop comprehensive programs for step-by-step progress towards sustainability, regenerative practice, and student empowerment.
START provides a Roadmap for School Sustainability:
It breaks down school sustainability into clear actions (‘metrics’), such as Minimizing Waste, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and supporting Sustainable Transportation options.
However, research shows it’s not enough for a school to simply reduce its environmental impact.
Students and staff also need to learn about sustainability, and practice it in day-to-day activities, because this impacts their attitudes and behaviors when they leave school. That’s why START includes metrics like Sustainability Events for Students, Sustainability Course Content, and Sustainable Purchasing Practices.
How sustainable is our school now?
Schools use START to measure how sustainable they are now. A school’s START team investigates how their school currently operates to find their ‘sustainability baseline’ for each metric. For example, is our school a beginner, intermediate or advanced in sustainable water use? START enables schools to benchmark, track and visualize their current sustainability levels, as well as hard data around their waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Where should we go next, and do we collaborate for success?
What do we need to do to ‘level up’ in each metric? Once schools have their baselines, START helps them to set goals and plan for progress. START provides a central hub for school members to collaborate, document, and plan their school’s sustainability journey.
START is a subscription-based Whole School Sustainability dashboard.
It requires at least one adult school member to create a school’s START account, but it will need a team (students, teachers and staff) to grow a Whole School Sustainability program.
Interested schools can sign up for a demo or apply to set up an account.
Learn more about START here, and consider sharing the brochure with your school.
Let’s create a better future, one school at a time.
Contact us at guides@greenschoolsalliance.org if you have a free resource to contribute or recommend that can help schools take action around this specific sustainability metric.