Sustainability

D65 fosters social and ecological well-being through transformational policies, practices and an actionable plan. By promoting ethical decision-making regarding air, land, water and all living beings within our community, we aim to cultivate learning environments that encourage living in just and healthy ways for our students, staff, families and generations to come.

View the District 65 Sustainability PlanSustainable Schools, Healthy and Just Futures

D65 Sustainability e-Newsletter Archive

24-25 School Year: D65 Sustainability Positive Impact

Categories of Focus

Select a category to learn more.

Teaching & Learning

Healthy Environments
Facilities/Buildings and Outdoor Ecology & Biodiversity

Sustainable Operations
Climate & Energy, Water, Food, Waste & Circularity, Purchasing

Transportation & Mobility

Resources

Focus Areas

D65 Sustainability Focus Areas: 24-25 School Year

D65 Guidance and Resources

D65 Sustainability Positive Impact

Community Partners

City of Evanston Climate Change including Climate Action and Resilience Plan
Village of Skokie Sustainability
City of Evanston Public Works Services including Recycling, Composting, Donations
Learning in Places
Evanston Public Library - Blueberry Awards: Honors literature that best supports kid's connection to and stewardship of the Earth. Blueberry Changemakers foster concrete action for the planet.
Roots & Shoots: you have the power to build a better world - do a one-click action, take a challenge, explore project ideas
NASA Climate Kids
National Geographic Kids - Save the Earth
Evanston Community Fridges
Evanston Ecology Center
Evanston Grows
The Talking Farm
E-Town Sunrise
Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum
Center for Native American and Indigenous Research at Northwestern
NAACP North Shore Branch, Environmental & Climate Justice
Climate Action Evanston
Go Green Skokie
Art Makers Outpost
Rebuilding Exchange Evanston
The WasteShed Evanston
Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) - reuse/recycling directory, chemical and paint disposal, recycling FAQ
SCARCE
Seven Generations Ahead

Get Involved!

Join our Sustainability Community!

All are welcome! Together, our students, staff and school community have the power to make a real difference, not just by learning about sustainability and climate justice but by stepping up and engaging in meaningful changemaking right here in our schools and community.

"Individually, we are one drop. Together we are an ocean." ~ Ryunosuke Satoro

D65 Sustainability Focus: 24-25 School Year

Opportunities to get involved:

Participate in Earth Month (April) activities at your school, learn more.
Join your school’s climate action team and/or school garden team, contact list here.
Organize a Bike, Walk & Roll to School Day or Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day event at your school
Plant new trees and native plants at your school, learn more.
Outdoor Learning Spaces: co-design any new spaces with students, staff and community.
Host sustainable meetings & events at your school guidelines
School Garden and Climate Clubs: support / start a climate club at your school, learn more.
Encourage energy & water conservation practices in your school
Explore our D65 Sustainability Plan for more ideas on how to get involved and support our sustainability goals.

Ready to get involved? Connect with us!

Join our D65 Sustainability Newsletter to receive monthly updates on our school sustainability initiatives.

Join our Google Groups and help us grow our community! All are welcome to stay in touch and receive periodic updates on D65 climate action and school garden happenings.

Connect with Karen Bireta, D65 Sustainability Coordinator at biretak@district65.net.

Meetings

2025-26 D65 Sustainability Community Meetings

Join us for our D65 Sustainability Community Meetings! All are welcome to attend. Together we're focusing on building a brighter, healthier, more equitable future for our children.

DATE	TIME	LOCATION	PRESENTATION(S)
NOTE: Date Change Tues, November 11, 2025	4:30-5:30 p.m.	Google Meet joining info Video call link: https://meet.google.com/tfe-cntx-iyk Or dial: ‪(US) +1 484-552-3185‬ PIN: ‪874 715 904‬#	November 11: Slide Presentation
Tues, February 17, 2026	4:30-5:30 p.m.	Google Meet joining info Video call link: https://meet.google.com/thu-pnwm-fkx Or dial: ‪(US) +1 260-638-0750‬ PIN: ‪894 724 346‬#	February 17: Slide Presentation
Tues, April 28, 2025	4:30-5:30 p.m.	Google Meet joining info Video call link: https://meet.google.com/mqh-ijyb-veu Or dial: ‪(US) +1 386-603-2607‬ PIN: ‪397 744 606‬#

DATE

TIME

LOCATION

PRESENTATION(S)

NOTE: Date Change
Tues, November 11, 2025

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/tfe-cntx-iyk

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 484-552-3185‬ PIN: ‪874 715 904‬#

November 11: Slide Presentation

Tues, February 17, 2026

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/thu-pnwm-fkx

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 260-638-0750‬ PIN: ‪894 724 346‬#

February 17: Slide Presentation

Tues, April 28, 2025

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/mqh-ijyb-veu

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 386-603-2607‬ PIN: ‪397 744 606‬#

Past Meetings & Materials

2024-25 D65 Climate Action Community Meetings

DATE	TIME	LOCATION	PRESENTATION(S)
Tues, November 12, 2024	4:00-5:00 p.m.	Join Zoom Meeting https://district65.zoom.us/j/5239615597?omn=83805753367	Presentation
Tues, March 11, 2025	4:00-5:00 p.m.	Join Zoom Meeting https://district65.zoom.us/j/5239615597?omn=83200117246	Presentation

2023-24 D65 Climate Action Community Meetings

DATE	TIME	LOCATION	PRESENTATION(S)
Tues, Sept 19, 2023	4:00-5:00 p.m.	Join Zoom Meeting https://district65.zoom.us/j/82309255218	Presentation
Tues, Jan 23, 2024	4:00-5:00 p.m.	Join Zoom Meeting https://district65.zoom.us/j/89915967602	Presentation
Tues, April 16, 2024	4:00-5:00 p.m.	Join Zoom Meeting https://district65.zoom.us/j/89980523498	Presentation

2022-23 D65 Climate Action Community Meetings

DATE	TIME	LOCATION	PRESENTATION(S)
Tues, May 16, 2023	6:30-7:30 p.m.	King Arts	Presentation
Tues, April 11, 2023	7:00-8:00 p.m.	Join Zoom Meeting: https://district65.zoom.us/j/5239615597	Presentation
Tues, March 21, 2023	6:30-7:30 p.m.	Lincolnwood	Presentation
Tues, Feb 7, 2023	7:00-8:00 p.m.	Join Zoom Meeting: https://district65.zoom.us/j/5239615597	Presentation
Tues, Jan 17, 2023	6:30-7:30 p.m.	Willard Library or Join Zoom Meeting: https://district65.zoom.us/j/5239615597	Presentation
Tues, Nov 15, 2022	7:00-8:00 p.m.	Join Zoom Meeting: https://district65.zoom.us/j/5239615597	Presentation
Tues, Oct 11, 2022	7:00-8:00 p.m.	Nichols Library	Presentation
Tues, Aug 30, 2022	7:00-8:00 p.m.	Oakton Garden

Meet Our Sustainability Coordinator

Karen Bireta joined in May 2022 as the District’s first sustainability coordinator. She is excited to continue building our sustainability community in District 65 focusing on opportunities to heal & restore our planet.

Karens approach is centered on:

Building relationships
Inviting in and elevating diversity of voices to our climate solutions
Collaboration
Grounded in Optimism

Karen discovered her interest in the environment started while attending an Earth Day event in 5th grade. She’s a chemical and environmental engineer, bringing 15+ years of environmental and sustainability experience to the district.

Karen loves walking by the Lake, gardening, yoga and meditation. She lives in Evanston with her husband, son, baby betta fish and freshwater snail.

If you’re interested in joining our sustainability efforts, contact Karen at biretak@district65.net.

WE DO NOT INHERIT THE EARTH FROM OUR ANCESTORS, WE BORROW IT FROM OUR CHILDREN.
~ Native American Proverb

D65 By the Numbers

99
ACRES OF LAND

6193
STUDENTS

18
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
+ warehouse

*Foster School under construction, opening Fall 2026

1.29M
SQUARE FOOTAGE OF BUILDING SPACE

Schools

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In This Section

Sustainability

Categories of Focus

Resources

Focus Areas

D65 Guidance and Resources

D65 Sustainability Positive Impact

Community Partners

Get Involved!

Join our Sustainability Community!

Ready to get involved? Connect with us!

Meetings

2025-26 D65 Sustainability Community Meetings

Past Meetings & Materials

2024-25 D65 Climate Action Community Meetings

2024-25 D65 Climate Action Community Meetings

2023-24 D65 Climate Action Community Meetings

2023-24 D65 Climate Action Community Meetings

2022-23 D65 Climate Action Community Meetings

2022-23 D65 Climate Action Community Meetings

Meet Our Sustainability Coordinator

D65 By the Numbers

School Hours