ALBANY – A nearly $450,000 grant program to help the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (RCS) Central School District transform district school buildings into "high performance" schools at no cost to taxpayers was announced by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman  The improvements will increase building energy efficiency, improve environmental conditions in classrooms and reduce operating costs for the District. The program was created in partnership with the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).   

Funding for the program announced today was obtained by New York as a result of a multi-state settlement with Lafarge North America, Inc. and its subsidiaries, one of the nation’s largest cement companies, over alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act related to emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.  The company operates 13 cement plants nationwide, including a facility in the Village of Ravena. 

"Clean and healthy schools are critical to educational achievement," said Schneiderman. "The nearly $450,000 being provided to the RCS Central School District will fund improvements that will not only enhance the learning environment of its classrooms, but will also save the district money. I am proud to partner with DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens and NYSERDA President and CEO Francis J. Murray Jr. to make this investment in the community and the academic success of its students." 

Classroom environmental conditions in schools -- such as lighting, heating, ventilation, and indoor environmental quality -- are strongly linked to educational achievement, including student concentration, attendance, and test scores.  Nonetheless, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, over 40 percent of America’s public schools report at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition.  Roughly 25 percent of public schools report unsatisfactory ventilation, while indoor air quality is reported to be unsatisfactory in about 20 percent of schools.

The New York State Education Department’s High Performance Schools Guidelines (NY-CHPS) were developed in 2007 as a framework for school districts to implement measures in schools that enhance the educational environment and facilitate learning. High performance schools optimize resources over the life of the facility, are less expensive to operate than standard buildings, and help to ensure a clean and healthy learning environment for all occupants.   

The program announced today, to be administered by NYSERDA, will foster the creation of high performance schools in the RCS Central School District by funding projects to improve energy efficiency, reduce operational costs and enhance the educational environment at District schools.