Mission & Policies

Sustainability Mission Statement

We, the Westtown School community, will fulfill our mission to “inspire and prepare our graduates to be stewards and leaders of a better world,” by committing to protecting and enhancing the environment through our teaching and our institutional practices. Guided by the principles of the Religious Society of Friends, we are called to lead by example in creating a community that sustains ecological systems and that makes environmental awareness and responsible environmental action core values.

The school’s decisions and actions will be guided by their environmental and educational impact now and in the future so that in meeting the needs of today’s Westonians we will support the mission, longevity, and future prosperity of the institution and the larger world. We will pay particular attention in our operations to sustainable land use and management, construction and renovation of facilities, and energy and resource consumption, giving priority to practices that can teach sustainability.

Ultimately, our goal is to create an environmentally literate and responsible community of students, faculty, staff, and families whose daily actions reflect care for the earth and its biodiversity.

Energy Management Policy

General Policy Statement: Westtown School will strive to efficiently manage and reduce the consumption of energy in a manner that is consistent with providing an optimal learning and teaching environment. Methods employing efficient energy management and the utilization of energy efficient equipment and building systems will be preferred over radical restrictions during normal energy use. Building automation controls will be employed, when feasible, to provide the minimally required amount of energy at specific times and places.

Purpose: The School’s energy policy is designed to establish an understanding of the need for energy conservation and to implement methods of conserving energy and lowering energy costs.

Expectations:

  • The School community will embrace the importance of this energy policy and the need for energy conservation.
  • Occupants of Westtown facilities will be encouraged to support energy conservation measures.
  • Facilities and energy operating staff will insure that energy conservation measures are implemented.
  • Construction and renovation activities will be consistent with institutional energy guidelines.
  • The School will adopt temperature guidelines for the heating and cooling of classrooms, offices and general use/purpose spaces.
  • The School will adopt lighting level standards for classrooms, offices, and general use/purpose spaces.
  • The School will insure that lighting for security purposes will not be reduced (both interior and exterior lighting).

No Idling Policy

Purpose: To eliminate all unnecessary idling of all motor vehicles on school property. This will effectively reduce exposure of students and the community to harmful exhaust fumes, conserve fuel, reduce green house emissions, and prolong engine life. This policy is designed to exceed standards of the PA state no-idling law put into place February 6, 2009.

Guidelines:

1. Upon arrival at school loading zone, drivers will turn off engines and not restart them until time to depart. All buses should be loaded and doors closed before engines are started. Buses will not idle while waiting for students to depart or return from field trips, events or any trips on or off the school grounds.

2. Loading zones should be 100 feet from air intakes, doors or windows.

3. Service and delivery vehicles will not idle on school grounds.

4. Visiting school buses will not idle on school grounds. Drivers should stay with their team or group.

5. All vehicles upon entering school property are included in this program and will not idle on school grounds.

Exemptions:

1. To provide for the safety of occupants, such as in the case of extreme hot or cold conditions that would require the use of heat or air conditioning.

2. When special traffic, safety or emergency situations arise.

3. When the bus engine is required to run to operate special equipment for disabled passengers.

4. In the case of extreme cold weather that would require the warm-up of an engine before moving.