PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
THE CHEROKEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
AND
UPPER ETOWAH RIVER ALLIANCE
This agreement entered into on this 17th of August, 2023 by and between the Cherokee County Board of Education, hereinafter referred to as the “School Board,” and Upper Etowah River Alliance hereinafter referred to as the “Alliance,”
WHEREAS, the School Board’s mission is to educate the emerging generation through learning environments designed to increase the performance of all students; and,
WHEREAS, one of the School District’s Priority Areas is Family, Partner and Community Engagement; and,
WHEREAS, the Alliance is a non-profit organization, founded in 1998, dedicated to the protection of the Etowah River watershed through education and assistance and is composed of local citizens who care about their streams and rivers, conservation groups and representatives from local, State and Federal governments; and,
WHEREAS, the Etowah River basin and watershed courses through five north Georgia counties and is home to 77 different species of freshwater fish and numerous species of freshwater snails, insects, crayfish and more; and,
WHEREAS, the Alliance and, The Nature Conservancy’s Georgia Chapter, World Wildlife Fund and other partners are working closely in the Etowah watershed to protect natural resources; and,
WHEREAS, the Alliance is working to involve students by disseminating information and knowledge about the river basin and providing training to enable many to monitor the quality of our streams within the watershed through the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program.
Now therefore in consideration of the covenants and conditions set forth herein the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
The parties agree that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference.
ARTICLE II
The School Board will:
1. Give the Alliance the means to disseminate literature relative to its programs (Adopt A Stream and Clean Water Week) to the schools through existing communication channels, as permitted by School Board policy.
2. Pursue joint grant opportunities in both parties’ best interests.
3. Discuss the feasibility and advisability of implementing projects, such as streambank restoration, vegetated bioswales, porous pavement, bioretention areas in parking lots and/or constructed wetlands to treat stormwater runoff that could be designed to also function as an outdoor classroom, with The Alliance and the other above-listed partners.
ARTICLE III
The Alliance will:
1. Provide hands-on programs to interested Cherokee County School District (CCSD) teachers and students relative to watershed protection efforts along the Etowah River (including the history of the Etowah River, the importance of clean water, biological diversity and pollution prevention).
2. Provide training workshops with interested teachers and students relative to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s Adopt-A-Stream program (including, but not limited to: delineating the watershed, threats that can degrade water resources, chemical monitoring of a stream or other water body and biological monitoring of waters).
3. Discuss the feasibility and advisability of implementing projects, such as streambank restoration, vegetated bioswales, porous pavement, bioretention areas in parking lots and/or a constructed wetland to treat stormwater runoff that could be designed to also function as an outdoor classroom, with the Office of Support Services and Facilities/Construction Management.
4. Abide by School Board Policy KIB Special Interests Materials Distribution and guidelines in this regard when requesting dissemination of program information.
5. Pursue joint grant opportunities in both parties’ best interests.
6. Accept all children/interested participants for participation within its programs without regard to their gender, race, political affiliation, age, national origin or handicapping condition or any other discrimination recognized and prohibited by State or Federal Law. Children/participants with handicaps must be provided all necessary levels of supervision and must be included within the activities of the partnering organization. As a result of this partnership agreement, the Alliance must adhere to all local, State or Federal laws regarding education.
ARTICLE IV
The term of this contract is August 17, 2023 through August 17, 2024. This contract shall automatically renew for additional terms not to exceed five years unless either party notifies the other at least 60 days prior to renewal date.
ARTICLE V
This contract may be terminated by either party upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other party with or without cause. All notice of this contract shall be given to the Superintendent of Cherokee County Schools at PO Box 769, Canton, Georgia 30169 and to the Program Manager at P.O. Box 4893/180 McClure St., Canton GA 30114.