COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 125

September 13, 2002

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Water Conservation Education Resources

On August 30, 2002, Governor Mark R. Warner issued Executive Order 33 which revised and expanded the existing state of emergency related to the three-year drought affecting the Commonwealth of Virginia. In his statement to Virginians, the Governor said,

"The severe drought we faced one week ago is still with us today. The rain has bought some of our most stressed localities an extra week or ten days of water at the most. So it is imperative that we protect the Commonwealth's vital water resources through the duration of the drought. We must do so fairly, and in a way that minimizes undue hardships for commerce and industry."

In issuing Executive Order 33, the Governor has directed and authorized the Superintendent of Public Instruction to work with school divisions to encourage water conservation and educate school children about the importance of water conservation. As part of this important effort to conserve the Commonwealths water resources, the Department of Education, in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), has identified three Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) classroom activities that are correlated to the Standards of Learning. These classroom materials are suitable for several grade levels, and copies can be accessed at http://www.deq.state.va.us/education/lessonplans.html. Please bring these materials to the attention of your history and science curriculum specialists.

In addition, I encourage your division to consider incorporating Project WET teacher training into your professional development program. This free, six-hour program is conducted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and its volunteer network. As part of the training, teachers are provided with an activity guide that has more than 75 water resource activities correlated to many science, history, English, and mathematics standards.

For further information about water conservation activities or Project WET training, please contact Ann Regn, director of the Office of Environmental Education at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (mailto:amregn@deq.state.va.us), by telephone (804) 698‑4442, or visit http://www.deq.state.va.us/education/wetinfo.html.

JLD/jcf/lcp