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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION HONORING THE ROLLING MEADOWS HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURE PROGRAM
WHEREAS, Rolling Meadows High School offers an innovative and unique agriculture program to students; and
WHEREAS, the Agricultural, Food and Natural Resources program is one of 16 nationally recognized career clusters; and
WHEREAS, the RMHS Agriculture Program offers career training in areas of Environmental Science Systems, food products and processing systems, plants and animal systems, and Power, Structural and Technical Systems; and
WHEREAS, Rolling Meadows' agriculture pathway offers students an array of career opportunities often overlooked in the suburbs, including veterinary science, agricultural engineering, food science and more.; and
WHEREAS, part of this program includes a greenhouse onsite at Rolling Meadows High School; and
WHEREAS, when COVID-19 first hit, District 214 and Rolling Meadows High School looked for different ways to help their community; and
WHEREAS, Rolling Meadows Principal Eileen Hart and Dave Wietrzak, Rolling Meadows High School's division head for career and technical education worked hard to launch a way to help the surrounding community by utilizing the greenhouse and expertise of the agriculture program; and
WHEREAS, District 214 Education Foundation Executive Director Erin Holmes created a donation opportunity to make the effort's costs neutral, working with Home Depot to secure necessary supplies at no cost to the school or district; and
WHEREAS, the program grew hundreds of tomato plants and red and green peppers that were then distributed to community members to continuing growing those plants; and
WHEREAS, food is also grown that is included in a weekly meal bag pickup; and
WHEREAS, as COVID-19 has been difficult for many residents this opportunity has not only utilized a school resource but has given back to the community; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby honor Rolling Meadows High School and District 214 for their outstanding work to provide fresh produce to our local community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this resolution are presented to Principal Eileen Hart and Dave Wietrzak at Rolling Meadows High School and Superintendent Dr. David Schuler and Erin Holmes at District 214.
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