Alamosa Elementary K-5 BAC

The AES K-5 BAC met on October 18th. We discussed budget items from different Activity Fund accounts and made a few recommendations:

1. Use part of Cash Balance in "Music" Account to help alleviate parent financial strain (due to having to come up with money for recorders, school pictures, pies & Moose Nation t-shirts within 10-day period) by purchasing recorders for students.
2. Use a portion of projected $30,000 earned from Pie Fundraiser to help fund annual 4th grade field trip to Denver.
3. Allow student input into how Pie Fundraiser money should be spent.

We set the calendar for topics that we will discuss in all future 2012-2013 BAC meetings.

The Fall NWEA and DIBELS results were also discussed. First and second graders scored at or slightly above target while remaining grades were below target. We will compare with Winter test scores in January.

It was reported by Ms. McBee and Mr. Bilderbeck that the Fall Fun Run  was successful. It was also reported that the leveling & gravel work on the overflow parking lot is complete. Parents of 3-5 students are encouraged to use this lot for drop off and pick up. Mr. Bilderbeck will be writing an article for the AES Newsletter and chalk lines will be added to assist in traffic flow.

Ms. McBee commented on Parent Round-Up Sheets that were sent home. They did not get many responses so will sent them out again. She responded specifically to a parent concern brought up at a recent UDLT meeting about AES Libraries not needing or wanting parent help. She confirmed with both librarians that this statement is "not true".

The next AES BAC meeting will be held in the K-2 Conference Room on November 15th at 5:15pm.

September DAC

The first District Accountability Committee (DAC) Meeting was held on Tuesday 9/4.  We are in DESPERATE need for more parent involvement on this committee.  This is the committee that can make the most impact in the district as it involves all the schools and has the ear of the school board too.  The charter of the accountability committees is to measure the adequacy & efficiency of the educational program.  We also handle issues that arise building or district wide.  Building Accountability Committees (BACs) feed building level information to the DAC.  Please consider joining us at our next meeting on Oct 1st at the school district offices (next to the Middle School) from 5:15 - 6:45.

Key items from this month's DAC were:

•  3-5 Parent Drop off loop graveling (1-1/2" gravel, 4" deep) is only a few days from final approval and will be completed prior to winter weather.  Cones are placed daily to delineate the drop off area and a duty teacher assists with crossing the bus lane.
• School Lunch times have been extended, two serving lines are being run and lunches are mixed grades. This is improving the issues at lunch.  More tables have been ordered (in addition to the ones already received) to accommodate the larger Kindergarten class this year.
• DAC priorities on School Budget:

o   Keep class sizes in line with district guidelines - K-2 is running average of 21.5 students/class (K-20.3, 1st-21.6, 2nd-22.4).  Added one Kindergarten teacher to handle additional class size.  3-5 is running an average of 22.6 (3rd-22.4, 4th-22.7, 5th-22.1).  Requested additional data on OMS/AHS class sizes.

o   Don’t cut specials - more elective offerings at OMS/AHS than previously.

o   Make technology updates at OMS/AHS a priority - new computer lab being added to AHS.  Funds from sale of Open High will go directly to OMS/AHS technology needs.

• Parents Needs Assessment - the Unified District Leadership Team reviewed the Parent Survey sent to all parents in May of this year.  Three items were added to the district improvement plan as a result of this survey:

o   Welcoming Environment - the district will create a welcoming environment for all parents

o   Restructuring of Parent Teacher conferences - to include pre-scheduling appointments

o   Additional training/information on Power School

Each School Building Accountability committee will use their building's data to create actions on those 3 items as well any individual school items based on the survey.  Copies of the survey results will be available to the DAC & BACs by the end of the month.

AES K-5 Building Accountability Committee

The first K-5 Building Accountability Committee meeting of the 2012-2013 school year was held on August 30^th. We had eight members and six guests in attendance. It is always good to see new faces/parents who want to be involved!

We discussed the TCAP results from last year and, overall, our district is showing growth and trending toward proficient. There is still work to be done and the strategies that have already been implemented, in addition to new curriculum & teaching strategies, should cause test scores to continue to improve in the future.

There is an increase of 40 students enrolled in the K-2 building to start the new school year, which led to the last minute hiring of two new teachers. Every classroom in the K-2 building is being utilized this year! Enrollment is down slightly at the 3-5 building but the numbers are right where their projections said they would be. The first week of school has been “awesome” and they are looking forward to a good year.

There are a couple of notable changes to this year’s school schedule:
1.  Lunch periods are no longer grade specific – mixed grades will decrease time students will spend in line as older students will model correct procedure for the younger students. Also, a salad bar has been added.
2. The class time for Specials (Art, Music, PE, Technology, Counseling) has been increased from 25 to 30 minutes.

Community Concerns:
1.  Cafeteria tables – tables ordered last year are in but, with increase in student population at K-2, they are in need of even more tables. The district is looking for more tables.
2.  Substitute teacher training – Ideas for getting school /district policies & procedures into the hands of substitute teachers were discussed. It was also stated that it will be a priority to not pull teachers from their classrooms for meetings this year. This topic will be discussed further at the September meeting.
3.  Overflow parking lot – no official update from the district on this project. It was stated that it has been made known to the superintendent that this project should be a priority for this school year. In the meantime, lines have been chalked & cones set up to assist parents using the overflow lot to drop off & pick up students. Also, a duty teacher is assigned to this lot to help students cross the bus lane. The use of this parking lot for drop off & pick up is helping alleviate the congestion problem.

Officers for 2012-2013:
Chair: Christine Jones-Daboll
Co-Chair: Micah Jackson
Secretary: Julie Brooks
DAC Representative: Star Quintana (Sophia Avila – alternate)

The next K-5 BAC meeting will be at 5:15pm on September 20^th in the K-2 Conference Room.

April K-5 BAC (4/19/12)

The Alamosa Elementary Building Accountability Committee met on April 19, 2012.
Principal evaluations, school budgets, parent engagement, and end of year field trips were discussed.

Updates:
K-2 Lunch tables - still waiting for them to be delivered
Overflow parking - Mr. Bilderbeck states that this project is a priority for Mr. Alejo and the District for this summer.

New Concerns:
Policy for selecting books to be included in AES libraries - concern about age appropriateness of a book selection (The Hunger Games) for 5th grade classroom curriculum
Policies:
Library Materials Selection and Adoption (IJL & IJLR)
Instructional Resources and Materials (IJ)

Teaching About Controversial/Sensitive Issues (IMB-R)

Citizen's Challenge or Objection to Methods-Activities or Presentations (KEF-E)

Request for Reconsideration of Challenged Materials (KEC)

Exemptions from Required Instruction (IMBB)

Next meeting: Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 5:15pm

District Accountability Meeting (3/5)

District Accountability meeting was held on 3/5 at Ortega Middle School.

Data from the A-PAGE parent survey as well as calendar input from each of the buildings teachers was presented to the Calendar Committee. The district stated up front that they would not consider a 4-day student week and that any discussion on that topic would need to be school board driven, not parent/teacher driven. The drafted calendar will be presented to the teachers on 3/7 at their PLC and will not be provided to the DAC until after that time. The calendar will go to the school board for approval on 3/19.

The K-5 BAC report included a request for bids for gravel for the 3-5 overflow parking lot and an update that the extra lunchroom tables arrived with one being broken upon arrival.

The OMS BAC requested ideas for Parent/Teacher conferences from the DAC. Two suggestions were provided: 1) Job Fair type format – all teachers in cafeteria so you can see who is available. 2) Have Principal network with other principals to find out how it’s done at other schools.

February K-5 BAC (2/23/12)

The Alamosa Elementary K-5 Building Accountability Committee met on February 23rd. There were 9 members present. We reviewed test scores from NWEA and DIBELS and, although our schools are still below national averages, we are showing growth and getting closer to reaching the target goals. We also discussed the school budget and monies received from various fundraisers.

Ongoing items:

- Lunch period – new tables for K-2 building are supposed to arrive on 2/27

- Gravel for overflow parking area – item has been presented to BOE. K-5 BAC is requesting that the project be opened up for bids.

- Neenan/Construction review – report is in, there are a few items that need attention but overall, schools are safe. Braces & supports were installed over the last 4 day weekend. Remaining work will be completed over the summer. There is a contingency/emergency plan in place if weather conditions exceed current safety ratings.

Due to recent issues, school administrators are urging parents to respect school policies regarding campus visitors and having kids outside before school

The next K-5 BAC meeting will be on March 22, 2012 at 5:15pm.

AES K-5 BAC meeting (1/19)

The Alamosa Elementary School Building Accountability Committee met on January 19, 2012. There were 9 BAC members present, including two first time attendees.

Items of discussion:

- Third party review of Neenan Company/school construction results due early next week. There are some issues that will need to be addressed but our schools are safe.

- TCAP testing: 3^rd grade Reading TCAP will be February 28-29. All other TCAP testing will be conducted March 12-30.

- Lunch period: Lori Smith is gathering data. Problem seems to be primarily with K-2 middle lunch period (200 1^st graders). Additional tables with seating for approximately 48 students have been ordered. Specials & select classes will go to lunch 5 minutes earlier. Lori will continue to monitor & collect data.

- AES Student Handbook is still not available on district web site.

- Gravel for overflow parking lot was readdressed as issue does not appear on BOE meeting minutes of 11/28. This will be forwarded to DAC and back to BOE for further action.

The next AES Building Accountability Committee meeting will be on February 23^rd at 5:15pm.

AES Student Handbook can be found on the A-PAGE blog.

AES K-5 BAC meeting (12/08)

The Alamosa Elementary School Building Accountability Committee met on 12/8/11.

Items that were forwarded to the District Accountability Committee:
- Recommendation to discontinue purchase of bottled water for teachers and staff has been implemented.
- Using overflow parking lot for drop off/pick up of 3-5: a teacher has already been designated to this area to insure that students safely cross bus lane.
- Gravel for overflow parking lot: forwarded to school board.

New/Ongoing items:
- Lunch period: parent phone calls to others schools in SLV determined that AES serves more students in less time than any other school in SLV. Discussed possibility of additional serving lines to allow for longer "eating" time.
- Parent/teacher communication: parents not receiving (or not receiving in timely manner) information about school activities such as honor choir and science fair.
- Student handbook: AES student handbook was not available at registration in August. Was to be available online but, as of 12/8, is not. Ms. Christy provided a hard copy and stated that it would be available online soon.

Next BAC meeting is January 19, 2012 at 5:15pm.

District Accountability Meeting (12/5)

The District Accountability Committee meeting was held on Monday 12/5 in the Administration office. A-PAGE was given the opportunity to introduce the group and its mission to the District Accountability Committee. Rhett Jackson (A-PAGE Chair) attended the meeting and answered questions from the group regarding A-PAGE's mission.

Parent items brought forward from the K-5 Building Accountability Committee (BAC) was the concern about the backup at the student drop-off/pick-up loop in front of the school. The recommendation from the BAC was that the overflow parking lot (just east of the 3-5 building) be used for drop-off/pick-up of 3-5 students and that they'd like to see the overflow lot graveled to accommodate that. Information on parents using the overflow parking lot for 3-5 students has already been distributed in the K-5 newsletter and there is a duty teacher who will handle the crossing of the bus lanes for those students. Gravelling will continue to be pursued at the building level.

Alamosa Board of Education meeting (11/28)

The Alamosa Board of Education meeting was held on 11/28 in the Administration Office. Presentations were made by K-5 students, AHS National Honor Society and AHS FFA. The Community Garden also gave a Power Point presentation with data showing correlation between Environmental Education & standardized test scores. A continued collaboration with the District was encouraged. 

The District Accountability Committee (DAC) report included a recommendation from the AES Building Accountability Committee (BAC) to spread gravel in the overflow parking area to make it more accessible in inclement weather. Questions about A-PAGE were brought by the Board to DAC Chair, Christine Jones-Daboll. She was asked to invite A-PAGE to the DAC for more information about A-PAGE.

AES K-5 BAC meeting (11/17)

The K-5 Building Accountability Committee (BAC) met on 11/17 and several parent concerns were addressed…

Items from the last meeting that were forwarded to the District Accountability meeting: 

- Newly installed fence around the playground. Feedback from the DAC was that the purpose of the fence was to keep the wood chips from blowing onto artificial turf. Sweeping/vacuuming of wood chips from turf on a regular basis comes from school district funds and is expensive. The money to build the fence came from remaining BEST funds and was a one-time cost.

- Parking drop-off and pick-up traffic jam. DAC recommends better use of overflow parking area. New discussion at BAC resulted in the following actions: 1) BAC recommendation to DAC to spread gravel in overflow lot to avoid mud 2) Admin to figure out safety issues for 3-5 drop-off/pick-up in overflow lot and then possible future designation of overflow lot for 3-5 drop-off/pick-up, leaving front circle for K-2 drop-off/pick-up.

- Busing concerns. DAC response was that individual busing issues need to be taken up with Mary Owen at Transportation (589-9115).

New/ongoing items:

- School Lunch time is not long enough for kids to eat lunch. Parent observations were that kids at the end of the line had less than 9 minutes to eat lunch. Teacher noted that some teachers have to go thru the line with their students as they are not able to reach the items on their own. Admin noted that lunch periods need to be re-evaluated from both student and food service perspective.

- Library hours - concern that library is not open enough during school hours. Library closing when Librarian has to teach a class. Mr. Bilderbeck has resolved this stating that libraries WILL be open every day from 9:00am to 2:45pm. If librarian is not available, teachers will have to come and help their students in the library.

If you have any items regarding the K-5 buildings, you can either 1) bring them to the next K-5 Building Accountability meeting (Thursday December 8th at 5:15pm) 2) email the concern to us at alamosapage@gmail.com for us to bring to the meeting or 3) comment on this post with your concern.