Moreno Valley Unified School District Receives Golden Bell Award and Climate Change Innovation Award

Moreno Valley USD earns two prestigious awards for environmental sustainability

Moreno Valley, Calif. - The Moreno Valley Unified School District received a prestigious Golden Bell Award and Climate Change Innovation Award on November 30, 2023, for its commitment to the environmental sustainability program. 

Now in its 44th year, this award is sponsored by the California School Boards Association to recognize outstanding programs and governance practices of school boards throughout California. Golden Bell Awards reflect the depth and breadth of education programs and governance decisions supporting these programs that address students’ changing needs. 

“We were all very honored to receive this Golden Bell Award, as it marks our 15th Golden Bell Award since 2011,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Robert J. Verdi. “We were even more thrilled when we received an additional award for climate change innovation, with a $1,000 check for our program.”

This year, there were 230 entries that were submitted for 21 categories. Experts from school districts and county offices of education participated in the selection process, which included in-person validation visits. 

“This award reflects the outstanding efforts of our students and staff,” said School Board President Susan Smith. “The development and support of programs like these are aligned to our district’s vision to empower students to become future-ready to positively impact the world, which is now being recognized through a Golden Bell Award” 

A few highlights of the program include: 

• Successfully transitioning diesel buses to electric and responsible fuels. The bus fleet now includes 42 electric school buses, 28 Compressed Natural Gas buses, and 31 propane buses. 
• Optimizing the use of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; irrigation; and other energy-using systems.
• Connecting with every school and teacher to share energy conservation, health and wellness, and educational resources. 
• Implementing programs that support environmental and sustainability learning on campus and in their community, such as the Junior Scholars Program. Past Junior Scholars Program projects include working on solutions to pollution in the ocean, hydraulic vehicles, climate change, and environmental degradation. 

The full CSBA Program announcing all winners is available online. 

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