West Irondequoit board recognizes Rogers Middle School Green Team after county composting grant
October 17, 2025 | WEST IRONDEQUOIT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York
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The West Irondequoit Central School District Board of Education on Oct. 16 formally recognized Rogers Middle School’s Green Team after the school earned a $5,000 Monroe County grant to launch a food-waste diversion program.
The board presented certificates to founding Green Team members and acknowledged the student-led effort during the board’s regular meeting. Superintendent Natalie Johnson introduced Nick DeMartino, Rogers Middle School principal, who described how the building responded to a short-notice Monroe County grant opportunity and mobilized students and staff to create the program district leaders are now studying as a model.
Alyssa Arcaresi, who leads the Green Team, told the board the club began as a half-year, stipend-split activity and expanded to a full-year program after student advocacy and interest grew. “Our Green Team members have shown remarkable passion and dedication to sustainability,” Arcaresi said, noting the club’s partnership with Impact Earth as part of the composting initiative.
Student members described activities tied to the effort: building solar-powered plugs, redesigning product packaging with recycled materials, participation in RG&E’s smart-energy program, a “walk and roll” family event to reduce waste, and the new cafeteria signage that identifies what can be composted. The students said they rotate staffing at a “green team table” during lunch to remind peers how to sort their waste.
DeMartino said the team’s membership has grown; at the club’s first meeting this school year, 30 students attended. Board President Michael Sullivan and Vice President Teresa Hornibaugh joined administrators in presenting certificates to individual students named during the meeting.
The board did not take any formal action or vote on funding at the meeting; officials said the program is supported by the awarded Monroe County grant and local partnerships.
The recognition places the district’s student-led sustainability work in public view as staff and board consider whether practices piloted at Rogers can be scaled to other schools in the district.
The board presented certificates to founding Green Team members and acknowledged the student-led effort during the board’s regular meeting. Superintendent Natalie Johnson introduced Nick DeMartino, Rogers Middle School principal, who described how the building responded to a short-notice Monroe County grant opportunity and mobilized students and staff to create the program district leaders are now studying as a model.
Alyssa Arcaresi, who leads the Green Team, told the board the club began as a half-year, stipend-split activity and expanded to a full-year program after student advocacy and interest grew. “Our Green Team members have shown remarkable passion and dedication to sustainability,” Arcaresi said, noting the club’s partnership with Impact Earth as part of the composting initiative.
Student members described activities tied to the effort: building solar-powered plugs, redesigning product packaging with recycled materials, participation in RG&E’s smart-energy program, a “walk and roll” family event to reduce waste, and the new cafeteria signage that identifies what can be composted. The students said they rotate staffing at a “green team table” during lunch to remind peers how to sort their waste.
DeMartino said the team’s membership has grown; at the club’s first meeting this school year, 30 students attended. Board President Michael Sullivan and Vice President Teresa Hornibaugh joined administrators in presenting certificates to individual students named during the meeting.
The board did not take any formal action or vote on funding at the meeting; officials said the program is supported by the awarded Monroe County grant and local partnerships.
The recognition places the district’s student-led sustainability work in public view as staff and board consider whether practices piloted at Rogers can be scaled to other schools in the district.
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