European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 16, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Page in the stars and stripes class sizes roads continues to work very closely with the respective military commands to determine a projected student population Tor each school. Each Region is staffed using system wide staffing guidance based on the anticipated student enrolment Lor that Region. Within each school the principal has some discretion about How the assigned staff is utilized last year the most common class sizes in elementary grades ranged irom 23. To 23 students in Middle and secondary grades the most common class sizes ranged from in to 22. Although stall ratios this year will be slightly higher than last will not he a significant difference in class sizes from last year. The system wide planned staffing ratio for classroom teaching stall increased by less than one student per teacher Tom in by 199,3-94 to 19.3 for this school year. Worldwide our enrolment is expected to drop by 7,293 from last year virtually All ref that in Dodds Europe. Having fewer students does mean fewer staff but the level of staffing department of defense dependents schools Calendar for by 1994-95european Region monday August 29 first Day of classroom instruction monday september 5 labor Day monday october 10 Columbus Day Friday november 4 teacher workday Friday november 11 veterans Day thursday november 2425 thanksgiving recess monday december 19 Winter recess monday january 16 / Martin Luther King Day Friday january 27 teacher workday monday february 20 presidents Day Friday March 31 teacher workday monday april 37 Spring recess monday May 29 memorial Day thursday june 15 last Day of classroom instruction Friday june 16 teacher workday for the 1994 93 school year will be the Best we have had in the last 7 years with the exception of last year. Sometimes unexpected changes to Community populations result in a higher or lower student enrolment than was planned. As soon As me variance is identified Dodds adjusts school stalling to provide and maintain class sizes that allow for effective class instruction. Dodds to assume transportation management responsibilities Deputy Secretary of defense John Beuleh approved the recommendations of the joint Dod management task Force on student transportation a mtg on May 11. At the recommendation of the Dod inspector general the a mtg had studied problems and rapidly rising costs m school bus services. The principal task Force recommendations were school bus procurement management responsibility and funding he consolidated in Dodds \ school bus management resources be transferred from the military services to Dodds a military services continue to provide school bus services currently operated by Dod personnel using government vehicles hut subject to Dodds specifications. From offices in Mainz Kastel. The Dodds european transportation management office Oetomo will manage All Dodds school bus services in the Europe Region. Demo will take Over school bus services in Alt Usa eur communities and at Rhein main air base january i 1995. Services will be transferred on july 1. 1995 at Kaiserslautern and Safe bases in the United kingdom. Safe bases at Span Dahlem including Pitburg Aviano and Turkey will continue to use government personnel and vehicles to operate school bus services based on routes and schedules developed by the demo. Arrangements in the Pacific theater Panama Cuba Bermuda and All other european communities Are pending agreement and the respective military commands. Transfer of responsibilities at these location will not be before july i1995 weapons Possession penalties the Possession of weapons m schools has recently been the a focus of great concern in american communities. Dodds has been fortunate in that there is a very Low rate of weapon related incidents throughout the school system. In by 1993-94. There were Only five incidents system wide in which a Dodds student injured another person with a weapon. Nonetheless Dodds principals teachers students and Community members agree the presence of Ariy item that could be used As a weapon gun., replica gun knife club on school grounds or at school activities is inconsistent with maintaining a Safe learning environment. There is Zero tolerance for weapons on school property and any student found to be carrying will be suspended immediately pending the outcome of an expulsion advice is invited numerous educational. Quot advisory committees support the Dodds system advisory Council on dependents education Acde the Acde advises the Secretary of defense and the Dodds director about issues essential to maintaining a Quality educational system. The Council is composed of 12 members jointly appointed by the Secretary of defense and the Secretary of education to include school administrators members of education associations institutions or agencies members of professional employee organizations or unions military command representatives parents and a Dodds student. The secretaries of defense and education each have one representative plus their designated co chairpersons on the Council the Dodds director serves As executive Secretary. A. Dependents education Council dec the dec an educational policy Council composed of military representatives was established to create a consulting relationship Between the overseas military commanders and the under Secretary of defense for personnel and readiness i us a amp a regarding facilities logistics and administrative support provided to Dodds by the military services. The dec considers questions of policy and facilitates the Exchange of information Between the Dodds director and the military Friday september 16,1994r departments and advises the us a amp a regarding matters pertaining to dependents schools. Membership consists of the us a amp a. Or designed As chairperson one representative from each of the military departments and one representative from each overseas unified command. The Dodds director serves As the executive advisory committees Sac a Sac is composed of locally elected parents students professional school employees and military members who advise the school principal about All local school related matters to include budget execution curriculum policies and support functions. Where there is Only one school on an installation the Sac also serves As the advisory committees inc when two or More schools operate on a military installation the inc is composed of two representatives one Parent one professional school employee elected from each Sac. The school principal and installation commander Are Liaison members of the inc without vote issues generally relate to facilities or logistical support provided by the has Many opportunities for students to work and interact with others at a distance through the use of telecommunication technologies. Dodds is a Leader among school systems in the use of computer conferencing through distance mat counts team visits department of defense Dodds 1994 mat counts team left to right Chris Munn Naples is is. Nancy Downing Shemdin Bonn is team coach Jeremy Kell Augsburg is Tara Cardoza Verona is and Emi Iwatani Bonn this publication to prepared by the Dodds Public affairs. Officer from information provided by the staff of the office of dependents education. Many thanks to everyone who contributed. We invite your comments about what you like in this school special and what you would like to see in next year s edition. Please direct your comments or questions to Marilyn Witcher Dodds Public affairs officer 4040 n Fairfax Dave Arlington Virginia 22203-1635. Parent views Are important Parent Yiewei Are. Vitally important in judging How Well shool programs meet the needs of children and their families every 3 years Dodds limits All parents to express their View about the school system by comp letting a Quot report pm a a dds sssl"�?�1 8 ,0&Quot Quot Chi quote cecum cd us Survey ave Milaw a Quot a a by Nebo of basis principals review results and initiate Prog parents awarded High grades a it the Overall school Quality Core curriculum v. _ ninety one percent rated the school their child attends a Grade of a excellent r t o in a Ahon of the Dodds system percent in 1991 and �6 percent in 1989. F 9f a excellent Good or c say is factory it As compared 10 90 parents will be asked to Complete a Survey about Dodds in Spring 1995 do you have a complaint successful methods for presenting a complaint or solving a problem include. A working directly with local teachers Counselor and principals a addressing the local school or installation advisory committee it you Are not satisfied with the action at he local level the Iktt-.1,v contacted. Should the problem persist you May provide a desc Rimini if the his y tile re Unal director May be director Dod dependents schools 4040 n. Fairfax drive Arlington Virginia 0163? 3 summary of ocal act on a a it a he formal complaint procedures Are outlined m the in a a pc h. dated september 7. ,983. Cep sex of the Reg la my a
