Japan District Advisory Council VTC 25 Feb 2014. Agenda Welcome & Opening Remarks 15 Minutes Review...

Japan District Advisory Council

VTC25 Feb 2014

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Agenda• Welcome & Opening Remarks 15 Minutes

• Review Last Meeting Minutes 5 Minutes

• Old Business 30 Minutes (10 min per Topic)

• New Business 10 Minutes (10 min per Topic)

• Installation Updates 105 Minutes (15 min per Installation)

• NEATA/FEA Update 10 Minutes

• Closing Comments 5 Minutes

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Welcome & Opening Remarks

• School Liaison Officers– Atsugi, Ms. Kina Andrews– Iwakuni, Ms. Felicia Pigge– Misawa, Mr. Steve Zuniga– Sasebo, Ms. Hannah McCarthy– Yokosuka, Ms. Ruth Russell– Yokota, Mr. Robert Newman– Zama, Ms. Lindsey Lyons

• Next JDAC 29 April 2014

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Previous Minutes

• JDAC, 29 October 13, Yokota Air Base• Minutes Signed • Issues/Comments

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Old Business

• Dual High School/College Graduation Credits DSO• Budget Uncertainties DSO• Marching Band Travel DSO

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Old Business

• Budget Uncertainties DSO– Impacts to DoDEA

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Old Business

• Marching Band Travel DSO– "53.2.2.6 Bands and/or chorus. Service may be provided to

transport the school band and/or chorus for performances in DoDEA schools, concerts for U.S. or host nation audiences [DoDDS only], or for participation in local festivities. Transportation of music groups to perform at "away" games of interscholastic athletic events is not authorized."

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New Business

• MFLC Security Clearance Status• Middle School Sports

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JDAC ScheduleSY 13-14

AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

JDAC 29 Oct 25 Feb 29 Apr

AAC 14 Nov

0800-1200 Varies

DEC

Pre-Dec

23 Oct 11 Dec

Pre-Dec

19 Mar 20 Jun

• Installations provide IAC/SAC schedule for 29 Oct 2013 JDAC VTC• PTEC VTC w/PACOM occurs in the fall• PTEC site visit occurs in late winter• CY13-14 PACAF Family Days/Federal Holidays

• 29 November 2013 – Thanksgiving Day• 26 December 2013 – Christmas Day• 2 January 2014 – New Year’s Day• 23 May 2014 – Memorial Day

Atsugi Installation UpdateAtsugi, Japan•Shirley Lanham Elementary School– 514 Students – 50 Professional Staff– 46 Teachers– 12 Support Staff– 2 MFLC (Mr. Manny and Ms. Sarah

10 Jackinah “Kina” Andrews, School Liaison Officer

Atsugi Installation Update

• Hot Topics/ – Student safety:

The school and base are cooperating to ensure that all emergency measures are in place and that there are clear lines of communication in the event of an emergency.

– 2 new MFLEC (Shirley Lanham)and 1 new Children Youth Behavior MFLC for SY 2013-14.

– Japan and U.S. Friendship Sports FEST (26 October, 0900-1400 at Ayasse Sports Park

– Far East Cross Country 3-6 November (5 November race at 19th Hole, NAF Atsugi)

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• Current Issues– A clear understanding MFLC security clearance status,

base access and privileges

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• Current Issues– Student Safety:Bus Security /Safety attendants program (BSAP-SA) notice that went out to all parents. Starting 1 Jan 2014, security/safety attendants will no longer be provided for curricular, co-curricular, shuttle or activity buses.

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• Concerns– Parents have expressed concerns on student

safety in the case of a natural disaster/emergency occurs during students ride to and from base w/out bus monitors

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Iwakuni Installation Update

Iwakuni, Japan•MC Perry Elementary School– 425 Students (Grades Sure Start- 6th Grade)– 52 Teachers (including all instructional staff)

•MC Perry High School (MS & HS) – 222 Students (7th-12th Grade)– 47 Teachers (including all instructional staff)

15 Felicia Pigge’, School Liaison

Iwakuni Installation Update• Hot Topics

– Base Town Hall Meeting – Base-Wide Health Fitness Expo– New School Breaking Ground in May/June – VMGR-152 from Okinawa arriving in June 2014– Perry Schools Performed in the U.S. Friendship Concert– Monday, May 5, 2014 U.S. & Japan Friendship Day

–MCPHS– Far East Drama & Basketball were hosted here this month

• Far East Soccer in May

– MCPHS Career Day– MCPHS celebrates Teacher of the Month

• Congratulations to Ms. Sandra Lewis for the month of February

– Far East Marksmanship Competition • Congrats to the Team placing 2nd In the Regional Competition heading to Far East 16

Iwakuni Installation Update

• MCPHS cont.• New Clubs

• Culinary, Origami Clubs, S.T.E.M. & Robotics

• MCPES • Awards Assembly – 1st Semester

– Commander’s Awards & Student of the Month Recognized• Nominated for Blue Ribbon School Recognition

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Iwakuni Installation Update• MCPES • nominated for Blue Ribbon School Recognition• Awards Assembly – 1st Semester

– Commander’s Awards• Basket Auction • Hero’s tree• Student of the Month Lunches• Deployed Members Group • Family Math Night• Black History Month Contest • Preparing for Family Literacy Night

• No Current Issues

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Misawa Installation UpdateMisawa, Japan•Cummings Elementary School– 288 Students – 36 Teachers

• Sollars Elementary School– 635 Students– 60 Teachers

• Edgren Middle/High School– 367 Students– 51 Teachers

19Steve M. Zuniga School Liaison

Misawa Installation Update

• Hot Topics– None to Report

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• Current Issues– School Liaison to PCS April??– Replacement process for SLO has started

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• Concerns– Possible Volunteer Program for Bus

Security/Safety Attendants• Is District willing to entertain idea?• What are the Legal Issues?• What level of Security Screening is required?• What kind of Training is required?

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Sasebo Installation UpdateSasebo, JapanJack N. Darby Elementary School– 286 Students – 43 Teachers and professional staff

Sasebo elementary School– 306 Students – 43 Teachers and professional staff

E.J. King High School– 240 Students– 37 Teachers and professional staff

23Hannah McCarthy, School Liaison Officer

Sasebo Installation Update

• Hot Topics– Darby ES: Wellness Plan-Lunch/Recess. Proposal to flip lunch/recess

next school year to have recess first and then lunch. SAC and Staff feel it will benefit the students in many ways ( throwing less food away, fewer visits to the nurse, calmer after recess/lunch and being ready to learn.) to warrant implementation. This will be advertised to the community.

– Sasebo ES: On hold for new construction, waiting for direction from above-school level. Participated in Town Halls sponsored by CFAS. The hold on Construction is a big concern with our current building and maintenance concerns that would have been eliminated due to move into temporary structures. The mandated timeline for the contract process will push movement into the Fall/Winter of 2014- if the go-ahead was given today.

– E.J. King: Faculty voted to change the bell schedual. A committee has been formulated to work on creating a new bell schedual. (Tentative)24


• Current Issues– Darby ES: Homework club has started, and the plan is in the progress for the

Mentorship program to become active again with Winter recess over and the third quarter commencing. Darby’s literacy program has continued to grow with the Million Word Readers, Sight Word Stars and the Wall of Fame.

– Sasebo ES: Building capacity is 287 students, we are currently over that number by 19 students. We continue to have “normal” PCS rate and even with the high occupancy in housing we have an increased enrollment. The new school was designed for what was historical enrollment of 250 students. Since the initial charette our average enrollment of has been closer to 300. As noted on Slide2 – timeline shift for movement into the temporary building is going to have significant impact on the entire main base complex (staff, students, stakeholders).

– E.J. King: Funding for construction of sasebo elementary and E. J. King school, parking , safety, funding for E. J. King buildings and parking lots that are replaces building 502. Master schedual in a small school.

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• Concerns– Darby ES : With the increase in students and staff, and the forecast

that population in housing will continue to rise, parking was thought to be a concern. However, additional parking places within Hario community have been approved.

– Sasebo ES: Playground area for students during the construction project. Parking for faculty, handicapped and visiting parents during the construction project.

– E.J. King: Impact of Sasebo elementary construction. Parking issues for faculty, handicapped and visiting parents. Alternate site for tennis courts not resolved.

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Commander Fleet Activities, Yokosuka

• Main Base Yokosuka: – Sullivans Elementary enrollment: 1155 Teachers & instructional staff: 109

– Yokosuka Middle enrollment: 591 Teachers & instructional staff: 61– Kinnick High enrollment: 574 Teachers & instructional staff: 54

• Ikego Housing Complex:– Ikego Elementaryenrollment: 340 Teachers & instructional staff: 21

• Negishi Housing Complex:– Byrd Elementaryenrollment: 32 Teachers & instructional staff: 8

Ruth Russell, School Liaison Officer


• Hot Topics- Closure of Byrd Elementary- Opening New Ikego Elementary- Status of New High School-informing parents- Inclusion of parents in discussion with regard to

possible structure changes at Sullivans- Informing parents about change in TerraNova

testing for 10 & 11 grade students- Use of Transient Personnel Unit for student lodging

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SAC – NEW ISSUES OF CONCERN- Funding for Maintenance for emergency needs only.

Regular repairs are needing to be done as well. SAC has requested that DoDEA provide a rubric of criteria on how decisions to repair or not repair are made. (i.e. to what standard, window of acceptable wait time, etc.)

- Technology concerns regarding our students needing experience with tools such as i-pads and memory sticks for storage which can’t be given with the current security standards.

- Dual HS/college credit Follow up- What is the status of this potential pilot program?

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Yokota Air Base InstallationYokota Air Base, Japan • Yokota High School– Student enrollment 307

• Yokota Middle School– Student enrollment 310

• Joan K. Mendel Elementary School– Student enrollment 559

• Yokota West Elementary School– Student enrollment 292

• Grand Total Students: 1,368

Mr. Wayne Newman School Liaison Officer

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Yokota Air Base Installation

• Hot Topics– Emergency Response: Due to an active typhoon weather season, the

Yokota Emergency Management System has been tested; emergency measures successfully completed, to include notification/communication with Superintendent Rapp. In addition to weather emergencies, Yokota has experienced a WWII-era Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) incident near the East Side Mendel Elementary School--the Crisis Action Team (CAT) gave high marks to the school evacuation in a summer school environment

– New High School Construction: New addition to Yokota High School Campus will break ground in March 2014

– Yokota West Elementary: Pre-External Review Visit – during 29-31 October 13

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• Hot Topics– Free & Reduced Meals Kitchen Equipment: AAFES

need to build equipment inventory list AAFES and develop 3-5 year budget plan for future needs. Additionally, impacts of budget sequestration, manpower reduction and deployments retard Civil Engineer Squadron ability to install and maintain kitchen equipment. This necessitates a need to provide funding via local contracts – must be projected in the 374th AW budget

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• Concerns–Discussed in hot topics

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• Major Events– Yokota Middle School Holiday Band Concerts: 10

December (Beginning Band 1800); 12 December (Advanced Band 1800)

– Far East Track & Field Tournament, 13 – 15 Feb 14• Hosted by Yokota High School

– Far East Wrestling Tournament, 19 – 21 May 14• Hosted by Yokota High School

Zama Installation Update

Zama, Japan• John O. Arnn Elementary School– 412 Students – 37 Teachers; 20 support staff

• Zama American Middle School– 212 Students – 18 Teachers; 9 support staff

• Zama American High School– 307 Students– 29 Teachers ; 15 support staff 35Lindsey Lyons, School Liaison Officer

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• Hot Topics/ Highlights– Students at Arnn Elementary School completed in the school level

National Geographic Bee on January 9. – Arnn Elementary welcomed their new principal, Ms. Gwen Baxter-

Oakley on January 30.– Arnn Elementary Gifted Education students hosted a “Time Capsule

Museum” on February 6.– Arnn Elementary sixth graders participated in the Groundhog Job

Shadow Day on February 20.

Zama Installation Update– Zama American Middle welcomed its new guidance counselor, Ms.

Kristin Meeker on January 27.– Students at Zama American Middle demonstrated their jump roping

skills on February 7 at Arnn for the annual Jump Rope for the Heart Event.

– Cheerleaders from Zama American High attended a workshop with the NFL All-Star Cheerleaders on February 1.

– Zama American High students celebrated their Winter Spirit Week February 4-7.

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• Concerns–None to report

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• Current Issues–None to report

NEATA/FEA Update

• We would like to thank parents for their patience as the school year began. The schools were working through issues of a new operating system that was downloaded on outdated computers as well as glitzes in our grading program Gradspeed.

• We would like to thank all the parents who volunteer their time in our schools and classrooms. As we know class sizes are increasing and budgets are being cut. Their help in our schools has been very much appreciated. These changes has made in impact on education and we appreciate the support from parents working with SAC and PTO.

39NEATA President, Ms. Jeannette Ferguson

Questions?

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Closing Comments

Japan District Advisory Council VTC 25 Feb 2014. Agenda Welcome & Opening Remarks 15 Minutes Review...

Documents

Transcript of Japan District Advisory Council VTC 25 Feb 2014. Agenda Welcome & Opening Remarks 15 Minutes Review...