October 20, 2022 – The Sanitary District of Decatur (SDD) and Decatur Public Schools (DPS) are officially kicking off a new partnership aimed at educating students on the importance of water sustainability and the means to achieve it through sanitation and pollution prevention.
Starting on October 24, DPS students will participate in project-based learning from SDD staff to build community awareness of the Sanitary District and its mission to safeguard public health and the environment through equitable and safe water reclamation services.
“We all have a responsibility to protect our natural resources and local watersheds like the Sangamon River. We hope by involving students in enriching experiences and hands-on lessons that they will then adopt practices that help us meet our mission to create healthier communities in and around Decatur. Each student can make an impact as an environmental steward and global citizen, and we intend to teach them that,” said Kent Newton, Sanitary District of Decatur Executive Director.
Throughout the month of October, more than 850 DPS elementary, grade school, middle school and high school students will participate in the Sanitary District of Decatur’s School Outreach Program and learn the importance of keeping pollutants out of the sanitary system, storm drains, and local water ways.
Students will participate in interactive presentations and educational activities with SDD team members either in the classroom or at Sanitary District facilities.
“We are excited about the partnership with SDD. These experiences with our community members are so important to help our students become better informed citizens, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to enrich their learning experience in the classroom,” said Samantha Stark, Science Department Head at Eisenhower High School.
“District 61 is excited about the new partnership with SDD that will further expose and educate our students at all grade levels on the importance of clean water, STEM projects, and career opportunities in this field. DPS always welcomes new partnerships that allow our students fun, engaging, hands-on experiences, and this is exactly what SDD has offered our students. DPS looks forward to an evolving partnership with SDD throughout this school year and hopefully many more years to come,” said Ashley Grayned, DPS Executive Director of Innovative Programs.
