Bloomington Public Schools

Grant Awarded 10/3/2023

Project description:

This grant will support Bloomington Public Schools’ efforts to create nature-rich school campuses with healthy tree canopies. Emerald ash borer and tough financial conditions have had serious negative impacts on District-wide tree canopies. This grant will support a pilot project that significantly improves the tree canopy of an East Bloomington School campus; either: Valley View Elementary(VVE)/Middle(VVM) School Campus or John F Kennedy High School(JFK) Campus.

Goal:

Engage students, parents, and teachers in a partnership with community members and organizations to strategically grow the tree canopy of a School Campus in East Bloomington to improve air and water quality, reduce heat island, improve student performance, impact driver behavior, and improve the physical and mental health of students, parents, and community members through nature rich environments.

Outcomes:

1. Tree Plantings: Plant 70 trees at either VVE/VVM School Campus or JFK High School.

2. Three well attended interactive events to engage the diversity of students, parents, teachers,

and adjacent neighbors in educational, planning, and planting of trees on the selected Campus.

3. Develop hands-on, interactive “why trees” educational materials and activities for all students.

4. Well placed and appropriate tree species planted to improve air and water quality, reduce heat

island, improve student performance, impact drivers, improve people’s mental and physical

health, and increase the health and sustainability of Bloomington’s tree canopy.

5. Tree Watering Team (school and community volunteers) watering the trees for the first 2 years.

Impacted Communities:

Each of these campuses are located within East Bloomington. Beyond the current limited tree canopies on these school campuses, the surroundings areas have the greatest population diversity and the least amount of proximate public green spaces in Bloomington (compounded by no City boulevard tree program). Both campuses have diverse student bodies and significant free and reduced lunch eligibility.

Expands on Prior Work:

• This follows a tree planting project Bloomington Public Schools completed with Tree Trust at Oak Grove Elementary and Middle Schools.

Topics project will address:

☒ Tree planting

☒ Tree-related education

☒ Tree species diversity enhancement

☒ Energy conservation

Ways students be involved in this project:

In partnership with Bloomington Neighbors Nurturing Nature, the District will host, for the selected school, three tree events for students, parents, and adjacent neighbors. These events will be structured for the respective schools’ student populations. Outreach will include school communication tools with students and parents, as well as outreach with and through relevant non-geographical and geographical communities.

Event #1: Fall 2023

- Agenda

o Introduce Tree Project

o Students-age-relevant hands-on activities of the benefits/types of trees

o Students-age-relevant hands-on activities for selecting and siting trees

Event #2: Winter/Spring 2024

- Agenda

o Present and receive comments on proposed tree locations and types plan

o Students-age-relevant hands-on activities, e.g.

Tree naming contest, water bucket decorating, tree identification

Event #3: Spring 2024

- Agenda

o Plant trees

In addition, graphically vibrant, student-age-relevant communications (posters, etc.) will be posted in schools.

Project details:

The project will involve tree plantings on a public-school campus, owned by the District. One of the following campuses will be selected as the first pilot, with the other school receiving trees in a subsequent effort. Given the limited time of school staff, the final selection will occur after funding is secured and will be based on the readiness level of the schools.

- Valley View Elementary and Middle Schools Campus (351 East 88 th Street/8900 Portland)

o Tree plantings – Diverse mix will be selected from the following tree species:

 Basswood, Elm, Oaks (swamp, burr, white, and red), Birch (River/ Yellow), Shagbark Hickory, Cherry, Ironwood, Black Walnut, White Pine, Aspen (Quaker, Bigtooth), Kentucky Coffee, Balsam Popular

- John F Kennedy High School Campuses (9701 Nicollet Avenue South)

o Tree plantings – Diverse mix will be selected from the following tree species:

 Basswood, Elm, Oaks (swamp, burr, white, and red), Birch (River/ Yellow), Shagbark Hickory, Cherry, Ironwood, Black Walnut, White Pine, Aspen (Quaker, Bigtooth), Kentucky Coffee, Balsam Popular

- Watering will be conducted by Tree Watering Crew volunteers. Their efforts will be supported by decorated watering buckets on each tree.

Project timeline:

Fall Develop educational materials tailored to campus and age groups

October 2023 Finalize events planning

October 2023 Host Initial Event at campus

Winter 2023 Develop and finalize tree planting locations

Winter 2023 Place Tree Order

Feb/March 2024 Host Second Event at campus

April/May 2024 Host Third (Planting) Events at campus

Watering plan:

Tree Watering Crew Volunteers will be conducting watering for 2 years. Water sources are located at the campuses. Volunteers will supported/backed-up by Bloomington Neighbors Nurturing Nature.

Project Team Leads:

Rod Zivkovich - Manage financial reporting District Finance Director

Tim Rybak - Manage tree ordering/delivery operations District Operations Dir.

BNNN - Lead, facilitate, and coordinate events (including tree plantings), educational materials/activities, and tree maintenance for 2 years.

Administrators/Teachers - As time permits, engage in tree education, events, and outreach.

Budget:

Public school finding is limited. Without the grant, the project will be delayed until funding is secured