Middleton Cross-Plains Area School District has a school forest that was first registered in 2008.
Between 2001 and 2016 the MCPASD received 10 grants from the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board to support environmental education projects at the district.
The Middleton High School Green Team led the campaign to adopt a clean energy resolution in the district. MCPASD students also launched the Dane County Youth Environmental Committee.
The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District school board adopted a resolution in March 2021 that the district would meet 100% of all district operations energy needs with renewable energy by 2035; the resolution also committed to energy literacy and waste management goals.
To achieve its renewable energy goals, the district has already installed solar on numerous schools (see below) and is also buying solar electricity from MGE under a Renewable Energy Rider. The District receives electricity from 1 MW of the 5 MW solar array adjacent to the Middleton Municipal Airport. (The City of Middleton also participates in that same solar project, with a 0.5 MW share.)
Additionally, in 2021 MCPASD partnered with three other local school districts (Monona Grove, Oregon and Sun Prairie) to apply for a planning grant from the Office of Energy Innovation’s Energy Innovation Grant Program. The application was successful and the four entities are currently collaborating to develop comprehensive energy plans. These plans will be a path to increased savings and reduced emissions for the districts.
Each year the US Dept of Education recognizes up to five early learning through 12th grade school or district candidates and one postsecondary institution in each state for leadership on sustainable facilities, health practices, and effective environmental education.
Multiple MCPASD schools have achieved this distinction:
And the MCPASD as a whole is a 2015 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Awardee.
Dane County Climate Champion Awards
The Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change recognizes entities that are leading on climate action in a variety of categories. MCPASD has achieved Climate Champion status, as has a MCPASD student organization.
