May 13 letter she sent to all DoDEA employees - FEA Online!

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
EDUCATION ACTIVITY
4040 NORTH FAIRFAX DRIVE
ARLINGTON, VA 22203-1635 MAY 13 l009
MEMORANDUM FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION
ACTIVITY (DoDEA) TEACHERS
SUBJECT: Kindergarten and Middle School Teacher Staffing and Resource Manager
Proposals
Last week, correspondence was sent to principals regarding DoDEA proposals
relating to Pupil-to-Teacher Ratios (PTRs) and Teacher Staffing Ratios (TSRs) for
kindergarten and middle schools. Also included in this correspondence was information
about an initiative to place a resource manager in schools with more than 250 students.
Unfortunately, this correspondence has caused confusion, frustration and
misunderstanding among our employees and staff. I can certainly understand that some
of the language and data contained in the correspondence was disconcerting and for that,
I apologize. This letter is intended to clarify the terms and language in the
correspondence and examine the methodology we used with regard to these initiatives.
The following should provide you with some clarification on these issues:
• Kindergarten PTR Proposalo
DoDEA's current DoDEA kindergarten PTR is 29:1.
o A kindergarten PTR of 18: I would accommodate smaller class sizes and
increase contact time between students and qualified teachers during the
critical formative early childhood years. This type of contact allows
teachers the ability to better understand their students' needs so that
instruction can be more individualized.
o This proposal would target full implementation of 18: 1 kindergarten PTR in
SY 10-11. However, schools that have adequate classroom space may
implement this initiative in SY 09-10.
o Schools that cannot fully implement the new PTR can proceed with current
kindergarten staffing guidelines during SY 09-10.
o DoDEA will provide furniture and supplies to accommodate any new
kindergarten classrooms.
• Kindergarten Aide Support - Although full-time aide support to kindergarten
classes will be reduced once the 18-1 PTR is implemented, DoDEA is currently
developing a plan to provide aide support to those kindergarten classrooms. There
will be no change to the aide staffing in kindergarten classrooms that do not
reduce to the 18:1 ratio for SY 09-10.

• Middle School TSR Proposal ­
The current 16 to 1 middle school PTR did not take into account projected
enrollment statistics in the out-years nor did it factor in education specialists in the
academic support areas (PTS, Nurse, Information Specialist, Host Nation, Guidance
Counselor and AVID). Ifwe include all the specialists, the current middle school
PTR is 22.4 to 1. The middle school teacher staffing ratio that is proposed, is a PTR
of 25 to 1. This revision may result in a slight increase in the current PTR of 22.4 to
1 which includes the aforementioned specialists.
DoDEA middle schools provide a multitude of programs of study delivered in a
variety of school and grade configurations. DoDEA middle schools should look the same
as much as possible, implement a consistent middle school philosophy and curriculum
and, ensure equity as much as possible. During SY 09-10 DoDEA will establish a
Middle School Task Group to conduct a comprehensive review of Do DE A's middle
school program.
• Resource Manager Proposal ­
o I have made the decision to establish Resource Manager positions in
schools with student enrollments greater than 250. These Resource
Managers are not administrator positions and will assist the principal in the
daily logistical, operational, and resource management of school
operations. They will oversee areas such as facilities, supply, property
accountability, student meal programs, student transportation, and afterhours
emergency coordination.
o This additional support will enable principals to be instructional leaders to
support their teachers, curriculum, instruction, highest student achievement,
and increased accountability.
o The establishment of these positions will not decrease the number of
teachers in the classroom. DoDEA has the work years to accomplish this
initiative in SY 09-10, and this initiative is completely independent from
the kindergarten and middle school PTR proposals.
I welcome honest, professional and productive discussion ofthese issues. As with
any new initiative, unnecessary rumor and speculation about topics that are not fully
staffed can lead to misinformation, bad feelings, and misguided intentions. Collectively
we owe it to our students and customers to conduct business in a manner that is free from
unfounded rumor, personal bias and damaging accusations. We also owe it to our
students to ensure that everything we do is a step forward to ensuring the very best for
their future. This week, principals are receiving additional correspondence that clarifies
what they originally received. In keeping with the tenets ofcontinuous improvement, we
will collect, review and evaluate the information and data they provide us so that we can
make an informed decision that is in the best interest of our students and their
2

Area Offices:
DoDEA Staffing Changes
Current Prol}osed
Education Staff 104 75
Functional Support 145 116
Total 249 191
District Offices:
Superintendent 15 14
Assistant Superintendent 21 16
ISS 82 157
Financal & Business Operations 280 266
Total 398 453
School Level:
Resource Manager 0 159
K·3 1712.5 1807.0
Total 1712.5 1,966