U-46 schools compete to conserve energy
Elgin Area School District U-46 saved $79,800 in electricity costs after implementing the Energy Conservation Awards Program.
The green-inspired competition pits schools against each other and offers incentives for those with the greatest reductions in electricity use.
The district ran the E-Cap program from November 2013 through April 2014.
Seven schools with the greatest energy reductions were recognized at the June 2 school board meeting. They were: Glenbrook, Highland, Prairieview and Hawk Hollow elementary schools, Independence Early Learning Center, Eastview Middle School and Streamwood High School.
"Keeping the lights on at all of our facilities is a costly expense and there are many opportunities for staff and students to help us save energy and money at the same time," Superintendent José Torres said in a news release. "There is no smarter way for us to conserve energy than making it a team effort across the district."
The district's plant operations department will run the E-CAP program during the entire 2014-2015 school year.
Elgin High makes "Best High School" list:
U.S. News and World Report named Elgin High School among the "Best High Schools" in the nation for 2014 granting the school a bronze award.
It's the second year in a row Elgin High has been recognized by the magazine.
U.S. News and World Report analyzed more than 31,000 public high schools nationwide to determine rankings.
"The real reward is not the bronze medal or national ranking, it's the confirmation that Elgin High School is preparing all students for academic success," Superintendent José Torres said in a news release. "I commend the staff at Elgin High School for fostering a supportive learning environment for each and every student."
U.S. News and World Report teamed up with the American Institutes for Research using a three-step process to determine its list of best high schools. Schools were judged based on reading and math scores on proficiency tests, whether the least-advantaged students are performing better than the average for similar students in the state, and college-readiness performance using Advanced Placement test data.
"We are proud of the recognition, but prouder of the fact that our faculty and students continue to push for high academic achievement," Elgin High School Principal Jerry Cook said in a news release. "I am impressed with the work that everyone is doing here, and it motivates me to continue offering rigorous opportunities for all of our students."
Nationwide, 500 high schools earned gold medals, 1,519 received silver medals, and 2,688 were awarded bronze medals. In Illinois, 131 schools received national rankings, including 19 gold medal schools, 53 silver medal schools, and 59 bronze medal schools.