Operations

In accordance with the EPA’s Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) of 1987(40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E of the Code of Federal Regulations), school districts are required to give annual notification stating that the Asbestos Management Plan for each building is available for public review.

This rule requires local education agencies (LEAs) to identify friable and non-friable asbestos-containing material (ACM) in public and private elementary and secondary schools by visually inspecting school buildings for such materials, sampling such materials if they are not assumed to be ACM, and having samples analyzed by appropriate techniques referred to in this rule.

In keeping with this legislation, RTSD was inspected by EPA accredited inspectors and a comprehensive management plan was developed for handling asbestos containing building material in a safe and responsible manner. Six-month periodic asbestos surveillances as well as 3 Year Re-Inspections are performed in accordance with AHERA.

A copy of the Asbestos Management Plan is currently kept in the Operations Department. These records are available for review during the normal school business hours. 

The Radnor Township School District uses an integrated pest management (IPM) approach for managing insects, rodents and weeds. Our goal is to protect every student from pesticide exposure by using an IPM approach to pest management. Our IPM approach focuses on making the school building and grounds an unfavorable habitat for these pests by removing food and water sources and eliminating their hiding and breeding places. We accomplish this through routine cleaning and maintenance. We routinely monitor the school building and grounds to detect any pests that are present. The pest monitoring team consists of our building maintenance, office and teaching staffs and includes our students. Pest sightings are reported to our IPM coordinator who evaluates the pest problem and determines the appropriate pest management techniques to address the problem. The techniques can include increased sanitation, modifying storage practices, sealing entry points, physically removing the pest, etc.

From time to time, it may be necessary to use chemicals to manage a pest problem. Chemicals will only be used when necessary, and will not be routinely applied. When chemicals are used, the school will try to use the least toxic products when possible. Applications will be made only when non-authorized persons do not have access to the area(s) being treated. Notices will be posted in these areas 72 hours prior to application and for two days following the application.

Parents or guardians of students enrolled in the school may request prior notification of specific pesticide applications made at the school. To receive notification, you must be placed on the schools notification registry. If you would like to be placed on this registry, please notify the district in writing. Please include your e-mail address if you would like to be notified electronically. This request must be made annually.

If a chemical application must be made to control an emergency pest problem, notice will be provided by telephone to any parent or guardian who has requested such notification in writing. Exemptions to this notification include disinfectants and antimicrobial products; self-containerized baits placed in areas not accessible to students; gel-type baits placed in cracks, crevices or voids; and swimming pool maintenance chemicals.

If you have any questions or if would like to request to be placed on the registry, please contact Director of Operations and IPM coordinator William Dolan at 610-688-8100 x6103 or via email.

In 1987 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) under Title 40 Part 763, Subppart E of the Code of Federal Regulations. This rule required local education agencies (LEAs) to identify friable and non-friable asbestos-containing material (ACM) in public and private elementary and secondary schools by visually inspecting school buildings for such materials, sampling such materials if they are not assumed to be ACM, and having samples analyzed by appropriate techniques referred to in this rule.

In keeping with this legislation, the Radnor Township School District was inspected by EPA accredited inspectors and a comprehensive management plan was developed for handling asbestos containing building material in a safe and responsible manner. This plan was originally developed and submitted to the Commonwealth in 1989.

This year, Radnor Township School District conducted the following actions with respect to its asbestos containing materials:

• Performance of periodic inspections of ACM by building engineering/maintenance staff.

A copy of the Asbestos Management Plan is available for review below (PDF) or in the district's Operations office (135 South Wayne Avenue, Wayne). Questions related to the plan should be directed to Director of Operations William Dolan at 610-688-8100 x6103 or via email. 

AHERA NOTIFICATION

Radnor Township School District started thinking about green schools in the spring of 1997, when mold issues closed down the previous Radnor Middle School building. Although that building got a clean bill of health by the next fall, the mold issue sensitized the community to the importance of indoor air quality and the emerging concept of building a sustainable building.

When the district later prepared to build a new elementary school, the community insisted on the healthiest indoor environment possible. This is what started the Radnor Township School District on a path to build what is considered the first green elementary school in Pennsylvania, Radnor Elementary School.

When it came time for the district to build its next project, the new Radnor Middle School on Louella Avenue in Wayne, it again pushed the envelope for healthy indoor environments and sustainability. The district worked to create an educational plan as well as a sustainability plan for the project.

The concept: to create a high-performance school - one that is not only energy efficient, but healthy, comfortable and well-lit, while at the same time providing the various amenities necessary for a quality education.

Sustainable features were discussed and evaluated for their payback potential. Each material and product selection was based on what potential effect (positive or negative) it would have on the environment. The 195,000 s.f. middle school was built with materials that blend in well with the Wayne downtown business district as well as the nearby residential neighborhoods.

The new facility uses the latest technologies for lowering energy and operating costs, while improving indoor air quality and creating an optimal learning environment for the districts students.