SAN MARCOS -- Trustees for the San Marcos Unified School District reasserted their commitment to building energy-efficient and environmentally friendly schools Monday night, approving a resolution that outlines board guidelines for building and modernizing schools.

In the resolution, school board members ask that district staff and design teams explore and incorporate energy-efficient designs and practices in every project in the district.

That includes everything from ensuring that construction and architecture partners have met the standards for green schools, to pursing funding and partnerships to financially support the goal.

"Our district goal is to build sustainable schools â€- because we do believe, based on the direction of the board, that we need to think about the future of our schools and of our environment," Superintendent Kevin Holt said.

District officials and board members have said for years that they support building energy-efficient schools because those schools save money, protect the environment and increase students' attendance and performance.

Several studies have shown that students perform better in rooms with natural light and good air circulation.

Districts throughout the state have also benefited financially by moving toward more efficient designs. Districts can expect to save between 30 and 40 percent annually on utility bills for new schools by adding natural light and ventilation, and applying other sustainability concepts, according to the Collaboration for High Performance Schools -- a green school-building rating program.

San Marcos Unified was the first district in North County to commit itself to building greener schools when it adopted its high-performance schools resolution in 2003.

Since then, Poway Unified School District has also agreed to make new construction projects and relocatable classrooms comply with the standards.

Monday night's resolution is meant to expand and reinforce the district's initial resolution to serve as the basis for all new projects.

Several trustees said during discussion, though, that they wish the resolution was a requirement, not just a guideline, for future projects.

"I'm concerned that we don't shoot ourselves in the foot," Trustee Beckie Garrett said. "I feel that we should have some muscular language here."

San Marcos' efforts to build green schools will include adding natural light to classrooms by using windows and sky lights to lessen the need for overhead lights; improving air circulation to diminish the need for air conditioning and heaters; and keeping storm water on site, said Kathy Tanner, the district's director of facilities and maintenance.

Many of those improvements are already being incorporated into the district's newest elementary school, Joli Ann Leichtag -- set to open in August -- and were included in the design of San Elijo Elementary and middle schools, Tanner said before the meeting.

"It's just kind of looking at all aspects of the school and seeing how it performs not only in the classroom, but outside of the classroom as well," she said.

In other action, trustees reviewed for the first time a new physical education board policy and appointed four assistant principals to a high school and elementary schools.

The physical education policy, which would take effect this year, includes following state laws that require all students to pass a physical fitness exam in high school before receiving any exemption from P.E. classes.

All students are legally required to take physical education for two years, but those who do not pass the exam could find themselves taking P.E. classes all four years.

Anthony Barela was made an assistant principal at Mission Hills High School, Whitney DeSantos was made an assistant principal at Discovery Elementary School and Sharmilla Sohl Kraft was named an assistant principal at Knobb Hill.

The only assistant principal to be named from within the district was Caroline Kalicki, who will move to San Elijo Elementary School from Discovery elementary.

Contact staff writer Shayna Chabner at (760) 740-5416 or schabner@nctimes.com.