Two seats out of five (three-year terms)
In addition to supporting the core values, vision and mission of the Wellesley Public Schools, the Committee’s responsibilities are to: develop and manage school policies; support the allocation of resources by overseeing budget & facilities; hire and review superintendent of schools; advocate for the school district.
Q1. What is your track record on environmental sustainability, including any related interests, experience, or initiatives?
A1.
Linda Chow-
I am proud to be part of a school committee and district that place a high priority on environmental sustainability. We are also fortunate to have some great partners whose guidance and support have helped us accomplish quite a bit, including the following:
The Sustainable Energy Committee (SEC) advised School Committee and the School Building Committee (SBC) on sustainability-related facets of the Hardy, Hunnewell, and Upham (HHU) projects. The SEC’s involvement started during the feasibility phases, with the goal of making HHU schools Net-Zero-Energy (NZE) Ready.
WPS was selected as a 2019 Green Ribbon School District by the US Department of Education, in a nod to Wellesley’s commitment to sustainable practices and leadership in school facilities, health, and sustainability learning. It was only through partnerships with many local organizations such as the Facilities Management Department, Whitsons School Nutrition, Wellesley Green Schools, and the Municipal Light Plant, among others, that WPS attained this honor.
The School Department, in particular Whitsons School Nutrition, supports on-going food rescue and recycling. These efforts started in 2016-17 with a recycling and food waste diversion pilot at Bates School, in collaboration with the SEC, and have since expanded to other schools.
While WPS has enjoyed some success to date, the District continues to look for ways to expand its sustainability efforts.
On the home front - it dawned on me recently that I have been living in Wellesley for close to half of my life now. And while my husband and I moved here primarily for the schools, we soon realized that there are so many aspects of the town we truly value, including the priority placed on sustainability. It did not take us long to get into the habit of making regular trips to the RDF. And perhaps in an effort to reduce the frequency of our trips to the dump, our house is flanked with three large bins for recycling on one side and an area for composting leaves and plants on the other side. We conducted an energy audit on our home back in 2013, implementing all of the recommendations almost right away. We did not hesitate to sign up when Power to Choose was rolled out. And after purchasing the property behind ours, we took pride in our decision to renovate rather than tear down the farmhouse (circa 1888).
Leda Eizenberg-
I’m interested in sustainability as a social justice issue. Decisions we make have the largest negative impacts on those who can least afford it. I frequently sign on to climate justice initiatives, and was a vocal supporter of the fur ban and the Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change. I’ve participated in community conversations on pesticides and lawn chemicals and on increasing sustainability efforts in our schools.
On a personal level, my husband and I have driven only hybrid vehicles since 2004, and an electric vehicle since 2017. We’ve tried to minimize single use plastic. We have a chemical-free lawn and an organic back garden. I’ve been a vegetarian since 1997. We’re raising our children to respect nature and its creatures and to see themselves as stewards of the earth.
Q2. As you know, Town Meeting passed the Select Board’s Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change in October 2020. How do you envision this resolution being carried out by the School Committee in the months and years ahead? What additional actions will you champion to ensure that the Town meets its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
A2.
Linda Chow-
As noted above, the School Committee made it a goal for HHU elementary schools to be Net-Zero-Energy (NZE) Ready. As a result, the feasibility studies and conceptual designs for the Hunnewell and Hardy/Upham schools included strict sustainability criteria. This goal of NZE-ready schools is an important step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.
Another critical action we could consider taking is the adoption of a district policy around waste reduction, conservation, recycling and composting. Phyllis Theerman had reached out to me about a year ago to strongly encourage the School Committee Policy Subcommittee to consider looking at Lexington’s policy for waste reduction, citing how the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that thirty percent of food is wasted globally across the supply chain, contributing eight percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit not long after she had shared this excellent recommendation with us. Hopefully, we will be able to make progress on this at some point in the near future.
Leda Eizenberg-
As we build schools, we know that long-term savings are about more than dollars and cents. Leadership on this issue is essential to protect the planet and our values. I’m concerned about green buildings as efficient users of energy, and also in terms of indoor air-quality, an issue that plagues many schools in our region and became more acutely obvious during the pandemic.
Maintaining our buildings rather than building new ones is the greenest thing we can do. Unfortunately, this was impossible with the HHU projects, but we’re showing good stewardship by increasing the lifespan of the middle school. We must take care during economic downturns to uphold our commitment to maintenance and make use of our FMD to maintain the longevity of our buildings.
I’m told it’s a lightning-rod issue, but addressing transportation is crucial to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing sidewalks and pedestrian safety, bike paths, and bus usage (both for schools and I hope for the town overall) will make town more traversable and reduce emissions. I was thrilled to hear that WMS is adding more bike racks, as a frequent complaint from children in my neighborhood is that they can’t bike to school even though it’s faster because there aren’t enough places to park their bikes. I also took the bus from Windsor Road to Fiske in the late 1980s, and loved riding with the kids in my neighborhood (even if I didn’t always love sprinting to catch the bus in the morning). As we consolidate schools, we might reevaluate bussing requirements and encourage the use of busses by more students.
Q3. What actions should the School Committee take to address the persistent presence of gas leaks near our schools?
A3.
Linda Chow-
I recall that in the Spring of 2018, members of the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) came to a School Committee meeting to provide an update on the topic of gas leaks, focusing in particular on the leaks near the schools. After discussing the issue with National Grid, a member of the Committee put together this letter in order to ask for confirmation that National Grid was aware of the leaks near several schools in the district, and in order to find out whether the leaks had been repaired or what the schedule was for repairing the leaks.
As for what actions should School Committee be taking to address the persistent presence of these leaks, a few things come to mind:
Given that the School Committee has not received any updates on this topic recently (to my knowledge), I believe the best course of action would be to touch base with the NRC Chair for an update. It is reassuring to know that Brandon Schmitt, NRC DIrector, is the point person and continues to monitor the gas leaks. I would imagine if the gas leaks near the schools remain a pressing issue, that the NRC would bring this to the SC’s attention.
Based on a quick scan of the Town’s website, I came across this webpage listing leaks by each of the schools. Since the maps appear to be dated 2018, it would be advisable to know when updated versions of these maps might be available.
As was suggested to me, updating these maps could serve as a project-based learning opportunity for students at WMS or WMS. I understand that NRC has meters for detecting gas levels and students who might be interested could use those meters to try and determine the current readings at each site where leaks were previously detected, and update the most recent maps accordingly.
As I hope can be appreciated given the pandemic, we as a Committee continue to have a lot on our plates right now and I am not sure where gas leaks fit in terms of our most pressing priorities. I am hoping that we might hold an in-person retreat in the next month or so to review, among other things, the Committee’s near-term priorities.
Leda Eizenberg-
Gas leaks around town remain a persistent problem, despite many efforts by those in our community. School Committee can continue to pressure gas companies and elected officials to address these harmful leaks. We can evaluate alternative and sustainable energy usage by our schools and buildings as we undertake new projects.
In addition to supporting the core values, vision and mission of the Wellesley Public Schools, the Committee’s responsibilities are to: develop and manage school policies; support the allocation of resources by overseeing budget & facilities; hire and review superintendent of schools; advocate for the school district.
Q1. What is your track record on environmental sustainability, including any related interests, experience, or initiatives?
A1.
Linda Chow-
I am proud to be part of a school committee and district that place a high priority on environmental sustainability. We are also fortunate to have some great partners whose guidance and support have helped us accomplish quite a bit, including the following:
The Sustainable Energy Committee (SEC) advised School Committee and the School Building Committee (SBC) on sustainability-related facets of the Hardy, Hunnewell, and Upham (HHU) projects. The SEC’s involvement started during the feasibility phases, with the goal of making HHU schools Net-Zero-Energy (NZE) Ready.
WPS was selected as a 2019 Green Ribbon School District by the US Department of Education, in a nod to Wellesley’s commitment to sustainable practices and leadership in school facilities, health, and sustainability learning. It was only through partnerships with many local organizations such as the Facilities Management Department, Whitsons School Nutrition, Wellesley Green Schools, and the Municipal Light Plant, among others, that WPS attained this honor.
The School Department, in particular Whitsons School Nutrition, supports on-going food rescue and recycling. These efforts started in 2016-17 with a recycling and food waste diversion pilot at Bates School, in collaboration with the SEC, and have since expanded to other schools.
While WPS has enjoyed some success to date, the District continues to look for ways to expand its sustainability efforts.
On the home front - it dawned on me recently that I have been living in Wellesley for close to half of my life now. And while my husband and I moved here primarily for the schools, we soon realized that there are so many aspects of the town we truly value, including the priority placed on sustainability. It did not take us long to get into the habit of making regular trips to the RDF. And perhaps in an effort to reduce the frequency of our trips to the dump, our house is flanked with three large bins for recycling on one side and an area for composting leaves and plants on the other side. We conducted an energy audit on our home back in 2013, implementing all of the recommendations almost right away. We did not hesitate to sign up when Power to Choose was rolled out. And after purchasing the property behind ours, we took pride in our decision to renovate rather than tear down the farmhouse (circa 1888).
Leda Eizenberg-
I’m interested in sustainability as a social justice issue. Decisions we make have the largest negative impacts on those who can least afford it. I frequently sign on to climate justice initiatives, and was a vocal supporter of the fur ban and the Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change. I’ve participated in community conversations on pesticides and lawn chemicals and on increasing sustainability efforts in our schools.
On a personal level, my husband and I have driven only hybrid vehicles since 2004, and an electric vehicle since 2017. We’ve tried to minimize single use plastic. We have a chemical-free lawn and an organic back garden. I’ve been a vegetarian since 1997. We’re raising our children to respect nature and its creatures and to see themselves as stewards of the earth.
Q2. As you know, Town Meeting passed the Select Board’s Resolution to Address the Impact of Climate Change in October 2020. How do you envision this resolution being carried out by the School Committee in the months and years ahead? What additional actions will you champion to ensure that the Town meets its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
A2.
Linda Chow-
As noted above, the School Committee made it a goal for HHU elementary schools to be Net-Zero-Energy (NZE) Ready. As a result, the feasibility studies and conceptual designs for the Hunnewell and Hardy/Upham schools included strict sustainability criteria. This goal of NZE-ready schools is an important step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.
Another critical action we could consider taking is the adoption of a district policy around waste reduction, conservation, recycling and composting. Phyllis Theerman had reached out to me about a year ago to strongly encourage the School Committee Policy Subcommittee to consider looking at Lexington’s policy for waste reduction, citing how the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that thirty percent of food is wasted globally across the supply chain, contributing eight percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit not long after she had shared this excellent recommendation with us. Hopefully, we will be able to make progress on this at some point in the near future.
Leda Eizenberg-
As we build schools, we know that long-term savings are about more than dollars and cents. Leadership on this issue is essential to protect the planet and our values. I’m concerned about green buildings as efficient users of energy, and also in terms of indoor air-quality, an issue that plagues many schools in our region and became more acutely obvious during the pandemic.
Maintaining our buildings rather than building new ones is the greenest thing we can do. Unfortunately, this was impossible with the HHU projects, but we’re showing good stewardship by increasing the lifespan of the middle school. We must take care during economic downturns to uphold our commitment to maintenance and make use of our FMD to maintain the longevity of our buildings.
I’m told it’s a lightning-rod issue, but addressing transportation is crucial to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing sidewalks and pedestrian safety, bike paths, and bus usage (both for schools and I hope for the town overall) will make town more traversable and reduce emissions. I was thrilled to hear that WMS is adding more bike racks, as a frequent complaint from children in my neighborhood is that they can’t bike to school even though it’s faster because there aren’t enough places to park their bikes. I also took the bus from Windsor Road to Fiske in the late 1980s, and loved riding with the kids in my neighborhood (even if I didn’t always love sprinting to catch the bus in the morning). As we consolidate schools, we might reevaluate bussing requirements and encourage the use of busses by more students.
Q3. What actions should the School Committee take to address the persistent presence of gas leaks near our schools?
A3.
Linda Chow-
I recall that in the Spring of 2018, members of the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) came to a School Committee meeting to provide an update on the topic of gas leaks, focusing in particular on the leaks near the schools. After discussing the issue with National Grid, a member of the Committee put together this letter in order to ask for confirmation that National Grid was aware of the leaks near several schools in the district, and in order to find out whether the leaks had been repaired or what the schedule was for repairing the leaks.
As for what actions should School Committee be taking to address the persistent presence of these leaks, a few things come to mind:
Given that the School Committee has not received any updates on this topic recently (to my knowledge), I believe the best course of action would be to touch base with the NRC Chair for an update. It is reassuring to know that Brandon Schmitt, NRC DIrector, is the point person and continues to monitor the gas leaks. I would imagine if the gas leaks near the schools remain a pressing issue, that the NRC would bring this to the SC’s attention.
Based on a quick scan of the Town’s website, I came across this webpage listing leaks by each of the schools. Since the maps appear to be dated 2018, it would be advisable to know when updated versions of these maps might be available.
As was suggested to me, updating these maps could serve as a project-based learning opportunity for students at WMS or WMS. I understand that NRC has meters for detecting gas levels and students who might be interested could use those meters to try and determine the current readings at each site where leaks were previously detected, and update the most recent maps accordingly.
As I hope can be appreciated given the pandemic, we as a Committee continue to have a lot on our plates right now and I am not sure where gas leaks fit in terms of our most pressing priorities. I am hoping that we might hold an in-person retreat in the next month or so to review, among other things, the Committee’s near-term priorities.
Leda Eizenberg-
Gas leaks around town remain a persistent problem, despite many efforts by those in our community. School Committee can continue to pressure gas companies and elected officials to address these harmful leaks. We can evaluate alternative and sustainable energy usage by our schools and buildings as we undertake new projects.