WARRENVILLE, Ill. (April 27, 2010) – A group of dedicated 8- and 9-year-olds, a mock TV newscast and a tour of green initiatives around their school helped earn South Shore Public Charter School in Norwell, Mass., this year’s title of “America’s Greenest School.”

South Shore’s entry, titled “Green!” won the school a new hybrid school bus from IC Bus that helps reduce the school’s carbon footprint. The hybrid school bus, worth $200,000, is up to 65 percent more fuel efficient than standard school buses and emits up to a third less greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to the hybrid school bus, the class also wins:
• A $20,000 green audit/makeover for the school
• A $3,000 scholarship to be divided among the class
• $500 for class supplies

In January, Olympic gold medalist Summer Sanders helped kick off the nationwide contest, administered for the second straight year by the nation’s top school bus manufacturer, IC Bus. The open call for entries garnered hundreds of quality submissions from around the country. After IC Bus announced 10 finalists in March, online voting determined the winning school, with nearly 1 million total votes cast.

Teacher Sarah Roberts’ class enlisted the help of some of the older students to produce a video entry that showcased South Shore’s top environmental efforts. The two-minute, 30-second video includes reports from around the school on environmental initiatives such as a vegetable oil-fueled van, recycling stations, composting area and their Waste Watchers program that features teams of students who help cut excess energy use.

“Today’s students are making environmental responsibility even more of a priority over previous generations,” said John McKinney, President of IC Bus. “The commitment to going green was evident in this year’s entries. It was clear that South Shore Public Charter School used its creativity to get its message across -- and America made a great choice in selecting the school as the winner.”

Students are encouraged to learn more about other ways to make their schools greener by watching the winning video and checking out other tips online at www.AmericasGreenestSchool.com.  

About IC Bus
IC Bus, LLC, of Warrenville, IL, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navistar, Inc. (NYSE: NAV). The nation’s largest integrated manufacturer of school buses, IC Bus is a global leader in passenger protection, chassis design, engines and ergonomics. The company is also a producer of commercial buses. All IC Bus™ brand buses are sold, serviced and supported through a renowned dealer network that offers an integrated customer program encompassing parts, training and service. Additional information is available at icbus.com. 

Media Contact: Dane Roth, (312) 228-6843, Dane.Roth@Ketchum.com