Alexander M. Patch Elementary School
Stuttgart, Germany

School Advisory Committee

End of Year Report

School Year 2002-2003 

1. SAC Membership:

Position                        Teacher/Parent

Chairman                          Parent

Board member                 Parent

Board Member                Parent

Board Member                Teacher

Board Member                Teacher

Secretary         Teacher 

2. SAC Meetings held during the reporting period:

Date:                                       Attendance:

03 October  2002                        SAC Board members, teachers, parents

14 November 2002                     SAC Board members, teachers, parents

03 February 03                           SAC Board members, teachers, parents

18 March 2003                           SAC Board members, teachers, parents

                01 May 2003                              SAC Board members, teachers, parents 

       3.   The goals and objectives of the Patch Elementary School (PES) SAC were: 

a.       Improve Communication between Patch Elementary School (PES) and the public.

b.       Support PES efforts in the School Improvement Process (SIP).

c.       Improve PES Food Services – Dining Facility, Menus, etc.

d.       Support educational excellence through the following characteristics:

                                                                                       i.      A clear vision and shared sense of mission

                                                                                      ii.      A challenging, up-to-date curriculum

                                                                                    iii.      Policies and practices to ensure a safe campus conducive to learning

                                                                                    iv.      Evidence of family involvement

                                                                                     v.      A commitment to help all students achieve high standards

e.       Make efficient and streamline SAC procedures/practices. 

          4.    Measure of success in achieving each goal: 

                        a.        The PES SAC was successful in improving communication with the creation of a new bulletin board in the front lobby that displays the minutes, agendas, members and suggestions for the SAC and their meetings. We also created a new PES web page that is easier to read, has more information, and is more intuitive.  The web page is the cornerstone of future communication improvements and will continue to be a work in progress.  With input from teachers, parents, and administrators the web page will serve as a place where all can go to obtain the latest information, and as a historical database where one can go to obtain information from previous years. 

                         b.       The SAC supported the School Improvement Process by focusing discussions on the PES SIP and making suggestions to the teachers and administrators as requested.

                          c.       This years SAC made improvements to the school food services program by conducting a survey of foods that kids like and dislike.  Once the information was collected the results were shared with Food Services representatives for incorporation into future school lunch menus.  PES also made improvements to the school cafeteria rules.  In previous years the cafeteria became extremely noisy and many students were not able to enjoy a meal in an orderly, stress free atmosphere.  This year a subcommittee was formed to provide order and structure to the cafeteria.  The results are a much calmer and quieter cafeteria.

                          d.       The SAC supported educational excellence through the characteristics listed above.  The new web page reflects the efforts of PES to follow the characteristics listed for educational excellence and displays for the public the efforts that PES has achieved this year, and in previous years, despite not having been recognized for such efforts.

                           e.        The SAC improved practices and procedures by modifying current operations. The first change improved the timeliness of the minutes recorded during the SAC meetings.  Instead of waiting for the next meeting to approve the minutes from the previous meetings, the minutes are sent electronically to all SAC members for approval.  The minutes are then approved within days of the meetings vice weeks and are then posted for all to read prior to the next meeting.  This helps the public understand issues and allows them to act on issues more quickly then in the past.  Secondly, we developed a way in which SAC elections could be held in conjunction with school registration.  Although there is room for improvement the elections went well.  Improvements should include an accounting method for each vote to avoid duplicate voting, the constant manning of the voting booth (the difficulty was in obtaining volunteers, perhaps next year the school can look for help inside the school with teachers, aides and others sharing the duty during their lunch hours and/or down time), and better advertising among the school staff.   

        5.        Other matters addressed: N/A

        6.        Major achievements: New Web page.

        7.        Concerns: Need to improve SAC election procedures.  Need to continue to develop new webpage to include marketing it and creating a more appropriate webpage address (something like PatchElementary.gov…..)

        8.        Actions taken to improve strengthen SAC board: New web page to improve continuity and document achievements.

        9.        Recommendations to improve the local Education Advisory Program: N/A 

        Questions regarding this report may be addressed to the Chairman.

Return to SAC Page

5/30/03