HomeMy WebLinkAboutSVHS teacher TrumpSeptember 9, 2010
Dear Mat-Su Borough Assembly and Mat-Su School Board:
As a teacher at Susitna Valley High School, I am excited to lend my support for the SVHS Wood Heat and
Fuel-Wood Forest Proposal. This proposal marries core values important to our educational community.
Firstly, this project allows our school to be carbon neutral. As a Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) certified school, we take pride in our commitment to an environmentally safe and
sustainable school for our students. Our school is airy and light, with a student-friendly sound system
and clean air. The school was built with green materials. Currently, however, we have only obtained a
silver designation. In order to qualify for a gold or platinum standard, we need to commit to renewable
energy and resource reuse, both of which would be possible with a wood-fire boiler system. I am
thrilled to have in our community far-sighted people working toward the betterment of our school and
environment with this project.
As important as our commitment is to the environment, the most inspiring aspect of this project is the
benefit to students. As several professors from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks have attested, this
project would allow our students to work closely with professors working in the field of renewable
energy, ecology, and forestry in a hands-on collaboration. The mission statement of Susitna Valley High
School is “to create and maintain a collaborative culture that insures every student graduates with a
career plan.” I envision a working relationship with professors that enriches our students by allowing
them to work in the field with notable professors and focuses students toward a career path. How
illuminating for our students to work closely with college professors gaining hands-on experience. The
best part of this project is that it will work equally as well for our college bound students and our
students in danger of dropping out. Kids want a project that makes sense for their everyday life; one
which makes school relevant and applicable. A hands-on project like the Susitna Valley Research Forest
does just that.
I am so grateful to the myriad community members who put time and thought into a project which
benefits our community, makes us proud, and has relevance for our students. I hope you will allow this
project to go forward.
Sincerely,
Kathy Trump
Susitna Valley High School Teacher
kathy.trump@matsuk12.us