Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Schools And Supporters Make A Difference
Lawrence County schools and their supporters showed they care this past year by recycling over one million pounds - approximately five-hundred tons of discarded materials – helping their schools and county government.
The annual School Recycle Contest is sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Litter Grant Program. All schools in the county compete for cash prizes by collecting recyclables.
This year, Ingram Sowell took the top prize of $2,000. Principal Gina Haddix says the money will provide professional development opportunities that the school otherwise could not afford.
“We work very hard every year to earn that money,” says Haddix. “We will spend it on staff development so our teachers can attend conferences and workshops. That kind of money is hard to come by.”
From Fiscal Year 2010 to Fiscal Year 2011, the county reduced its trash tonnage by 1,585 tons, from 20,893 tons. At a cost of $38.43 per ton for trash transfer and disposal, that equaled $60,930 in savings to the county.
The totals for the 2011 School Recycling Competition are as follows:
Ingram Sowell, 112,405 pounds;
Loretto Sacred Heart, 103,760 pounds;
Leoma Elementary, 94,570 pounds;
South Lawrence Elementary, 84,675;
Lawrenceburg Sacred Heart, 78,026;
New Prospect, 59,800;
David Crockett, 57,540;
Summertown Elementary, 56,260;
E.O. Coffman, 55,560;
Lawrenceburg Public, 51,540;
Summertown High, 49,330;
Ethridge Elementary, 48,485;
Lawrence County High School, 47,935;
Loretto High School, 39,320;
Seventh Day Adventist School, 2,775.
“I appreciate everyone who contributed to this important effort,” said County Executive J. Mack Chandler. “The support of the community and the hard work of the schools are vital to the success of our recycle program. I am very proud of our schools.”
The Litter Grant Program also sponsors the Community Club Litter-Pick-up contests. The clubs collect litter to compete for cash prizes.
Leoma Elementary took third place in the recycle contest and a cash prize of $1,000. Leoma’s Kim Price and Angela Cox (center) are pictured with County Executive J. Mack Chandler.
County Executive J. Mack Chandler is pictured with Loretto Sacred Heart students and their Principal Catherine Bradley. The school took second place in the recycle contest and earned $1500.
Ingram Sowell Principal Gina Haddix and students are all smiles after learning that they took the $2,000 top prize in the recycle contest. Pictured with Haddix and students is County Executive J. Mack Chandler.
