PA Report of the Admin Board meeting 14th October.

The following people attended the meeting:
Mr Harald Feix, Deputy Secretary of the European Schools and Chairman of the Administration Board of the European School Karlsruhe
Mrs Anne Javelle, Representative of the European Commission
Mr Tom Hoyem, School Director
Mr Bourgeois, CdP representative for the secondary teachers
Mrs Spenle, CdP representative for the primary and kindergarten teachers
Mrs van Velzen, President of the Parents’ Association
Mrs Winthrop, member of the Parents’ Association
Mr Saidi, PAS representative
Dr Baron, Representative of the ElfER
Mrs Bräunsdorf, Representative for the CdC
Mrs Braunschweig, secretary of the meeting
Mr Dannenmaier, Bursar
Mr Da Torre, Deputy director secondary
Ms Dietrich, pupil representative
Mrs Gorey, representative of Etoile Education
Mr Albert Kuhn, Chief Assistant to the Secretary General of the European Schools
Mr Paquay, Representative of the European Commission
Mr Perkumas, Pupil representative
Mrs Pavicikova, deputy director primary
Dr Tamborini, representative of ITU

Information from the ESK Management Team
Mr Hoyem pointed out that two Administration Board meetings per school year are not enough. Enough time should be allowed for all issues to be discussed without due time pressures.
The Kindergartentagesstätte, KITA, will open on the premises in September 2010.
Together with KSC, the SSC and the Otto Hahn Gymnasium in the Waldstadt, the plans for a boarding facility is well underway. The cities of Berlin, Stuttgart and Karlsruhe support this initiative, and the opening is planned for 2012. Mr Kallas has shown great interest if the children of Commission employees will be given the possibility of also staying during the weekends and holidays.
Mr Dannemaier informed the Board that the new canteen is functioning fully and that up to 600 hot meals were being served. The school has a new security company. Electronic cards have been introduced which are used at the entrance of the school, in the library and in the canteen.
Mr Da Torre reported that a number of seconded teachers were not sent by their governments and the renewal of CdC (Chargé de Cours) contracts were again necessary. This will have a impact on the budget of the school. In the secondary school, the information system is now being finalised and will be extended to the whole school community as far as the budget allows. Mr Da Torre thanked all those who helped make the integration of the 1st year students a comfortable one. It was felt that the soft transition programme from Primary to Secondary cycle was successful.
Mrs Pavlicikova reported that the new movement room in Bau B is being inaugurated and all the Administration Board members are welcome to attend. Ten mother tongue languages are being taught this year. These SWALS (Students without a language section) pupils need support in the language of the language section they are in. The Dutch and Italian sections still have classes in years 4 and 5 and the pupils are being systematically prepared for the transition to the other 3 language sections. Integration hours demand a lot of organisation and flexibility in timetabling.

Mr Feix acknowledged that unfilled seconded posts were an on-going problem but hoped that the situation will improve. Mrs Gorey pointed out the situation had been going on for some time now and it was a financial burden for schools. Pupils requested that the school appoint a 4th educational advisor. Mrs Winthrop supported this request as the increasing number of SWALS needed more support while being integrated into different sections.

Up-date on the Reform of the European Schools
Mr Feix gave a résumé of the reforms which are being introduced into the system. Primarily the governance has changed and the Board of Governors will no longer decide on every point. It is hoped that the reforms will lead to less expenses. There will also be changes in the Baccalaureate and the curricula for years 6 and 7 are being looked into. The Baccalaureate reforms are planned for 2013. The Annual Activity (AA) Report will be enlarged to include a pedagogical part and the Administration Board meetings should take place in April/May when the AA report is presented.

Up-date on the School Advisory Council (SAC) development at ESK from Mr Hoyem
Reforms for more school autonomy are being welcomed by the schools. The SAC will be a tool for a dynamic development plan.

Proposition of 2010/2011 Calendar
The Bureau Central will inform schools when a final decision on the vacation calendar has been made. Clarifications are still necessary and proposals are still being collected. The goal is more harmonisation of all school calendars.

Pupils’ comments and questions
Pupils are satisfied with the timetables and the new canteen system. The election system for the student representatives has substantially been improved. Over 600 students voted and Fréderic Freitag was elected the new president of the SMV. A survey amongst the pupils was held and over 350 participated. The results were:
1. The information system in the secondary school should be improved
2. Assurance that not too many test are written on the same day.
3. Improvement in the organisation of the canteen (long queues etc)
4. Improvement of the Project days (engagement in creative activities etc)
5. Improvement in the procedures for school photographs.
6. Ensuring smokers stay in the smokers’ area in front of the school.

Mr Da Torre responded that the extension of the information system is under way. A calendar for tests is in the staff room to ensure that no two tests are held on the same day. Projects are planned for this year’s project days. Next year’s Open Day will offer visits to lessons. This will alternate in the future.

ITU comments and questions
ITU is glad about the reforms of the European Schools but wishes assurance that the rights of Category I pupils are not forgotten. This is an important issue when Type II and Type III schools are established. In the Spring, 25 primary school teachers visited ITU. ITU is willing to welcome the secondary teachers as well. 60 – 70 teachers have already shown their interest. ITU welcomes the services of the KITA on the premises. It shows that the school is adapting to the needs of the parents. For scientists wanting to come to ITU, this is a crucial factor. The next European School Science Symposium (ESSS) is to be held in Luxembourg. One f the jury members will be a scientist from ITU. Again ITU will hold its Sommerfest on the School premises. The date will orient itself around the Bac exams.

PA comments and questions
A Welcome back party was organised at the beginning of the school year which was a great success. Last year’s goals for the PA were the 3 “C”s: canteen, community and communication. This year’s goals are the 3 “L”s: language, ligne Directive and Lost hours. The website of the PA will continue t be up-dated. 2000Euros will be given to the deputy directors for the project days and the PA will sponsor prizes for students on Open Day for special achievements in different fields. Eurosport, which was strongly supported by the PA was a great success and the school community is very proud that all went so well. A partnership with a local sports store, InterSports has been set up. InterSport will sponsor sports events, the first on being in November where professional basketball players will come to the school to run a workshop.

Etoile Education comments and questions
Mrs Gorey hoped that the proposed changes to the category II contract will be less restrictive. Etoile Education greets the reforms being introduced to the system and fully supports the establishment of SAC in the school.

Mr Hoyem informed the Board that 25 apple trees were planted on the premises of the school and it is hoped that in 2012,when the school celebrates its 50th anniversary, the first apples can be harvested and distributed.