Bloomington Public Schools

Grant Awarded 10/3/2023

Bloomington Neighbors Nurturing Nature is partnering with Bloomington Public Schools ISD 271 to engage stakeholders within Bloomington Public Schools and the Bloomington community to support the Bloomington Public Schools in developing a tree plan to support nature rich learning and community environments with the planting and maintaining of appropriate tree canopies.

Goal:

Support Bloomington Public Schools (BPS) in establishing a sustainable District-wide tree plan to

improve air and water quality, reduce heat island, improve student academic performance, impact

driver behavior, and improve the physical and mental health of students, parents, and community

members through the presence of healthy tree canopies within nature rich environments.

Outcomes:

1) Obtain a Tree Survey of the species, conditions, size, health, and locations of all trees on non-

nature areas of Bloomington Public School District properties. (Quote included in attachments)

2) Identify and facilitate a representative stakeholder workgroup to develop and provide BPS

options and proposals related to tree planting and maintenance goals, objectives, priorities,

strategies, principles, community roles and responsibilities, policies, and funding mechanisms

for the development of a District Tree Plan to improve air and water quality, reduce heat island,

improve student academic performance, impact driver behavior, and improve the physical and

mental health of students, parents, and community members through the presence of nature

rich school environments with healthy tree canopies.

3) Development of specific and detailed options and proposals for:

a. Obtaining the resources necessary to achieve the tree planting and maintenance goals

of BPS. Potential examples include a legacy tree program, tree donations, numerous

grant opportunities, foundation support, city partnership, and/or creation of

school/community volunteer program (e.g. Friends of BPS Trees group).

b. Maintaining an appropriate diversity of native tree for all BPS properties so as to

contribute to nature rich environments.

Topics project will address:

☒ Tree planting

☒ Tree-related education

☒ Tree species diversity enhancement

☒ Energy conservation

☒ Water protection

Community involvement in this project:

BNNN will work with BPS to identify and facilitate a diverse representative stakeholder work group.

Outreach will occur through school communications and organizations/committees as well as

geographical and non-geographical community and industry groups.

1) BNNN will utilize extensive outreach and community organizing experience of its Board

Members in partnership with BPS to identify make-up of diverse stakeholder workgroup.

a. Attention will focus on ensuring representation of:

i. Diversity of communities attending and surrounding BPS

ii. Tree experts

iii. School staff (e.g. administrators, teachers, and school grounds staff)

iv. External partners (City of Bloomington, businesses, non-profits)

b. Outreach will include:

i. Connecting with and attending meetings/gatherings of existing school groups

and geographical and non-geographical community groups. (Meet them where

they are.)

ii. Directed (one on one) outreach for communities who are non-represented in

existing geographical and non-geographical groups.

2) BNNN will utilize the extensive community and meeting facilitation experience of its Board

Members to facilitate stakeholder workgroup through a proven process that engages

participants in an inclusive, participatory hands-on, efficient, effective, and time respectful

process. Given all bring expertise to the workgroup, all workgroup member will be actively

engaged in brainstorming, researching topics, engaging others from their respective

communities/industries, and developing options and proposals.

Project details:

Explain the specifics of your project. Describe the project site location and the number of trees you

intend to remove and/or plant. What species and tree stock type do you intend to utilize? Who

owns the land you are proposing to complete work on?

1) Bloomington Neighbors Nurturing Nature will:

- Hire a contractor to conduct a District-wide Tree survey. Specifications of data collected:

o Location (latitude and longitude)

o Species (Common name)

o Size: Tree size will be measured on the trunk in inches of diameter at breast height (DBH). Diameter measurements taken 4.5 feet from the ground

o Condition: All condition ratings will be scored 0-3

- Identify, lead, and facilitate a representative stakeholder group to brainstorm, research and

develop specific options and proposals for BPS.

o BNNN will utilize proven community problem solving facilitation to support stakeholder groups to brainstorm, engage respective communities, develop detailed options, and complete a shared document.

2) Tree survey will cover all trees on current non-natural areas of all BPS properties.

3) Tree plan proposals will support the planting and maintenance of an appropriate diversity of native trees that meet the specifics of each BPS property.

4) Presentation to School Administration and School Board Members of the stakeholder work-group options and proposals to support BPS in adopting a District-wide Tree Plan.

Timeline of project activities:

October 2023 Contract with Tree Survey Company

Oct 2023 – January 2024 Contractor completes Tree Survey

January – May 2024 Stakeholder workgroup brainstorms, researches and develops options plan for the District.

May 2024 Present Options and Proposals to School Board

Project Team:

Volunteers - Community volunteers (facilitated by BNNN) – provide 1) project management, 2) secure contractor, 3) facilitate outreach, 4) lead and facilitate stakeholder work-group, and 5) provide tree expertise.

Staff - Bloomington Public Schools – Tim Rybak and Team – provide workgroup with District’s current policies, procedures, actions, and budget related to tree planting and maintenance.

Budget:

Given the limited funding of public-school districts, this funding is needed to complete this work. Without this funding, BNNN will continue to partner with BPS to secure the funding. As committed community residents, BNNN believes in the importance and value in growing capacity of government organizations (including public schools) through community involvement. We believe government (including public schools) is the formal extension of community, and thus community engagement and participation is essential to the success of government organizations.