Go Green Initiative

Picture this:
It's a sweltering Tuesday morning, and your child's classroom hits 90°F before lunch. The teacher is doing their best. The kids are trying. But the heat is winning.

This is already happening in schools across the country. And according to researchers at NWEA, extreme heat and other weather-related disruptions are rapidly becoming a regular part of the school year — not the exception.

The good news? There are real solutions. And next Tuesday, we're bringing in an expert to walk us through them.

Join Go Green Initiative for a free, one-hour webinar:

🌡️ Protecting Children from Extreme Heat in Schools
🗓️ Tuesday, June 9
🕐 11:00 am – 12:00 pm PDT | 2:00 – 3:00 pm EDT

Our speaker, Grace Wickerson of the Federation of American Scientists, has spent her career working at the intersection of climate science, public health, and education policy. She'll share practical, evidence-based strategies that schools and communities can start acting on right now, before the new school year begins.

This is free and open to everyone. Parents, teachers, administrators, school board members, and community advocates are all welcome.

🔗 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4_3FqOGgQzOwcq3JQBEulQ

Four days. Grab your spot and share this with someone who needs to hear it. 💚

🥈 Spotlight #4: Salamanca City Central School District wins a 2026 Magna Award — and their story is unlike any other in this series.

Salamanca City Central School District is a small rural district in Western New York, sitting on the Allegany Territory of the Seneca Nation of Indians. Nearly half of their 1,450 students identify as Native or Native/other/mixed race. About 26% of the surrounding community lives in poverty.

When this district decided to prioritize indoor air quality, they didn't frame it as a compliance requirement or a facilities project. They framed it as a cultural responsibility — rooted in the traditional Indigenous stewardship principle of planning for the next seven generations.

Superintendent Mark Beehler said it best:

"This work is not just about infrastructure; it is about honoring our community, strengthening our schools, and creating a foundation where every student can thrive."

Here's what Salamanca is doing:

🌬️ Integrating IAQ and energy-efficiency investments so every dollar works harder
🔧 Proactive HVAC maintenance to keep systems healthy before problems arise
📋 Long-term planning for facilities that stay resilient for generations
💚 Embedding air quality into their broader vision for student health and community well-being

This is environmental justice in action — and we are proud to celebrate them. 🎉

📣 2027 Magna Awards applications are now open! New Urban, Suburban, and Rural categories mean more districts than ever can apply. Is your district ready?

Deadline: October 31, 2026

📝 Apply now: 👉 nsba.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cMZNIyb3XyNA2eW
📖 Read the full story: 👉 nsba.org/resources/asbj/asbj-april-2026/april-2026-magna-awards
🏫 Learn more about Salamanca CSD: 👉 salamancany.org