Latin School of Chicago

Latin School of Chicago Magazine Spring 2009

Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/133183

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 18 of 51

Planting Seeds of Sustainability From solar panels to the energy audit and recycling, much of Latin's work to become more eco-friendly has occurred without much fanfare. Even quieter have been the efforts of two lower school mothers and alumnae, who – through a combination of hard-headed determination, collaboration and creative thinking – have been integral to pushing the school forward. Stephanie Comer '84 and Rachel Schatz Limanowski '85 have helped to transform Latin's cafeterias, pushing for fresh, local and organic foods. This spring they are expanding work on a gardening effort on the middle school's green roof. And in the future they hope to tackle issues from reducing emissions during drop-off and pick-up, to creating a fund for carbon credits. For both women, their involvement in Latin's sustainability efforts is a responsibility as parents as well as alumnae. "It only seemed right that we would extend the changes that we were making in our homes and lifestyles to our community," explains Comer. Having been exposed to sustainability issues while living in California and through her work with the Comer Foundation for climate change research, she quickly saw opportunities for action when her children Siena and then Luca started at Latin. Their goal for Latin? "Zero carbon footprint." Comer didn't need to look far for a partner with enough "moxie" to get things done. Schatz Limanowski, who has three daughters – Lucy, Ruby and Beatrice – in the lower school, has developed an expertise in energy issues through her modular construction company and through US Power Corporation, a company that helps businesses and municipalities with sustainable energy options. She was immediately on board. "Our consciousness goes back to our days at Latin," Schatz Limanowski says. "We were kids during the energy crisis, and everywhere at Latin they had big orange stickers on light switches that said, 'When not in use turn me off.' I think every alum of our generation is obsessed with turning off the lights." The committee of two turned to fellow alum and Latin Board of Trustees Chair Charlie Gofen, who pointed them to Latin's Peter Brown, director of Facilities and Operations, and Tim Cronister, director of Student Life. Together, they have been meeting since 2007. Their timing couldn't have been better. The school had just committed to a long range plan that considered Latin's environmental impact. With Brown and Cronister, they have researched what other schools are doing and found vendors and businesses that support sustainability efforts. Because food is an area many lower school families are passionate about, it became a natural starting point. As a result of their work, organic milk is now served in the lower school, hydrogenated oils are no longer used, canned fruits have been replaced with fresh selections, and most of the food comes from vendors within 200 miles of Chicago. Up next is a push to put children in direct contact with what they eat. Come spring and summer, Comer and Schatz Limanowski want to turn a section of the middle school's green roof into a vegetable garden. Lower school students would grow seedlings, middle school students would plant them, and summer camp kids would maintain them. By fall Latin tomatoes, and possibly peppers, could be available in the cafeterias. But it goes beyond food. Ultimately, their mission is to ingrain an awareness of the environment into Latin students – not only in what they eat, but what they learn in the classroom, or in the car on the way to school. "Our focus is the lower school because this is the age where we have an opportunity to create consciousness," says Comer. "You start with the children, and they can teach others in the community." One example they hope to expand next year is the lower school's participation in National Walk to School Day. They want to provide pedometers and encourage activities where students measure their steps, log and map their data, and along the way learn how the minor effort of walking to school can make a dent in emissions. Their goal for Latin? "Zero carbon footprint," Schatz Limanowski says, asserting it is not an unrealistic goal with careful conservation and repayment of carbon credits. But for now, the committee of two has its sights on a summer harvest. "If we can get the students as excited about growing tomatoes," she says, "I can guarantee that four or five years we will have a full-fledged garden growing food for Latin." • – Evelyne Girardet Rachel Schatz Limanowski and Stephanie Comer. Latin School of Chicago 17

Articles in this issue

view archives of Latin School of Chicago - Latin School of Chicago Magazine Spring 2009