1999-2000 School Accountability Report Card

Frazier Park School

"A Good Place to Grow"
 3149 San Carlos Tr. 
Frazier Park,    CA 93225 
(661) 245-3312 email:    
mrslee@frazmtn.com  

FRAZIER PARK SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT

THE MISSION OF FRAZIER PARK SCHOOL IS TO PROVIDE POSITIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES WHICH EMPOWER OUR STUDENTS TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL, LIFELONG LEARNERS.

WHAT IS AN ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT CARD?

How does a school measure effectiveness? Proposition 98 mandated that schools produce a report focusing on the quality of the programs and other yardsticks of performance. We are proud of our school, staff, students and community. What follows is our report, highlighting our accomplishments and needs. We invite you to take an active part in the education of your children.

ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY

Frazier Park Elementary School served kindergarten through third grade during the 1999-2000 school year. The student enrollment was 373. Located in the town of Frazier Park, it is one of three schools in the El Tejon Unified School District. The campus had 21 regular education classrooms, one Special Day/ Resource Class, a cafeteria, library and computer lab.

Many families are dual income and commute to jobs out of the area. Businesses and vocations are oriented toward the building and service industries. The United States Forest Service provides a variety of year-round recreational activities. Several small communities are served by the school including Lebec, Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods, Pinon Pines, Pine Mountain Club and Lockwood Valley.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Individual student progress was measured by daily work samples collected throughout the year, teacher and publisher-made tests and observation. Student progress was communicated to parents during parent conferences, notes, phone calls and on trimester report cards. The California STAR Testing Program was administered to 99% of all second and third grade students in April. This assessment measured and compared students with other students throughout the state and across the nation. Scores were based in national percentiles at each grade level, with 50 or above as the goal. Our teachers will continue to modify the academic program to meet the needs of the students, California grade level standards and the requirements of the STAR Testing Program. The California Academic Performance Index (API) Growth Report indicated that our students improved their academic performance from 610 in 1999 to 705 in 2000. We are proud that our second and third grade students showed a growth of 95, far surpassing the required growth target of 10.

Stanford 9 Percentile Scores

MEASURING OUR QUALITY

In previous years, Frazier Park School has asked the parent community to tell us how they feel about the programs offered at their child's school. Are we meeting students' needs and does our academic program meet the California State Content Standards? The latest survey results showed that our parents are satisfied with the instructional program at Frazier Park School. Other data told us that the parents believe our fine teaching staff is responsive to the individual needs and concerns of our students and parents.

CLASS SIZE REDUCTION

Thanks to additional funding from the State of California for class size reduction, all of our classrooms in grades kindergarten through third grade had 20 or less students in each classroom. Our 1999-2000 school average was 18.4 students per class.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

Student attendance has a significant impact on student performance. Student attendance was carefully monitored to identify those students who exhibited poor attendance patterns. On an average day at Frazier Park School, 88% of the students were in school. It is important to note that the primary source of state income to schools is based upon student attendance. New attendance laws provide this funding only when students are in school, regardless of whether the absence is excused or unexcused. The higher the absences, the less state funding is available to provide for the education of our students.

ABOUT THE STAFF

Frazier Park School had a staff of 21 full-time teachers, four part-time teachers, 1 Resource Specialist/Special Day Class teacher, 1 part-time Speech and Language Specialist, 1 part-time Speech and Language aide, 1 district-wide school psychologist, 1 part-time library clerk and one full-time principal. Additionally, there were 17 part-time instructional aides, 7 Resource/SDC aides and 4 full-time support personnel in non-instructional assignments. Twenty-three teachers were fully-credentialed to teach the grade level to which they were assigned.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

Teachers are provided with ten days of sick leave per year. The District makes every effort to replace an absent teacher with the best available substitute. The substitutes are from an approved list from the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office. In order to maintain the basic educational program, at times, administrators or specialist teachers have substituted when no other substitute was available. We are fortunate to have many great substitute teachers living in our own community.

TEACHER EVALUATION

All teachers were regularly evaluated by the site Principal based on the California Teaching Profession Standards and the district certificated personnel evaluation process. The purpose of evaluation is to promote quality instruction. Evaluation criteria included planning for instruction, instructional techniques, class control and management, personal qualifications, teacher-parent-community relations, professional preparation and growth and other site and district duties. Opportunities for professional improvement for teachers are provided by fellow teachers, visiting other classrooms, three (3) staff development days, five (5) extended staff meeting days and conference attendance. These staff development days were done on Saturdays or after school.

DISCIPLINE AND CLIMATE FOR LEARNING

Frazier Park School recognizes that a positive learning environment is essential to quality education. Expectations for students are high. This is promoted by a school-wide Positive Discipline Program consisting of clear rules, consequences for misconduct as well as positive rewards for following school rules in the classroom and on the playground. Students learn to solve their own problems through class meetings and conflict resolution techniques. Frazier Mountain High School students worked with Frazier Park students on conflict resolution skills. During the 1997/98 school year we had 0 suspensions, 1998/99 - 5 suspensions and 1999/00-2 suspensions. Students receive Frazier's Finest Awards for academic and behavioral achievement. Students are encouraged to be in school through Perfect Attendance Awards and assemblies.

SUPPORT STAFF

Special services available to students last year included a Resource Specialist Program. The Resource Specialist worked with children who qualified for assistance in academic areas. There were also two part-time RSP aides who worked daily in the classroom with the children who qualified for RSP services. A Special Day Class Teacher and two part-time aides provided services to qualifying students. A Speech and Language Specialist was available three days per week. A library Clerk was available daily for three and one-half hours. A Student Assistant Team provided classroom teachers assistance with children experiencing academic and emotional difficulties. Frazier Park School, in collaboration with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office participated in a Drug Abuse and Safe Schools Prevention Program. Counseling services were also available to children through Clinica Behavioral Center.

TEXTBOOKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Teachers, parents and administrators are involved in textbook adoptions that are conducted on a seven-year cycle by subject area, ensuring that textbooks are always current and meet state content standards. Last year, the district adopted the Harcourt Brace science series. State-approved textbooks are provided for each student in the core curriculum. Supplemental instructional materials, such as a fully equipped library, math manipulatives, calculators, science materials, and sets of core literature books are provided by the district. Computers in the classrooms and in a computer lab, age-appropriate computer software and other audiovisual technology are also used to support the academic program.

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Thanks to G.A.T.E. funding and Healthy Start funding, the 1999-2000 was the second year that Frazier Park School provided after-school activities. Students participated in music, drama, jump rope club, computer technology, and remedial reading programs. Efforts will continue to expand the after-school program to include a wider variety of activities for our students.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Parents and the community were invited to our many school-wide events, such as Back-to-School Night, Open House, Math Fair, Young Author's Fair, and the Invention Convention. The community and school also participated in community events such as the Lilac Festival, Fiesta Days and Veterans of Foreign War activities.

TRAINING AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

Teachers participated in a variety of district and site in-services throughout the school year. Last year, the state approved three staff development days, which the teachers attended after school and on weekends. These included training in technology, state standards and assessments and state accountability.

In addition, many teachers attended workshops and conferences throughout the county and the state, observed at other schools and collaborated at grade levels to insure that the staff is trained to provide a quality program using good practices and provide activities and opportunities for our students in all curricular areas. These training sessions included technology, English Learners, crisis intervention, math, science, reading strategies, and CPR.

The El Tejon Unified School District is committed to continued staff development and curriculum improvement. Frazier Park School has a high-quality instructional program. A concerted effort has been made by the staff to align our curriculum with the state frameworks and standards. Community surveys indicate full confidence in the abilities of our teaching and administrative staff.

SCHOOL BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES

During the 1999-2000 school year, Frazier Park School spent an average of $5,247.07 per student for our educational program. In addition, Frazier Park School received funds from the federal and state government for Title I students, G.A.T.E. students, Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Prevention, Safe Schools, School Improvement Program, a library grant, and Title VI Innovative Strategies, class size reduction, and remediation funding to augment the program. All students were served by the School Improvement Program at the rate of $96.20 per student and Title I funds at a rate of $217.90 per student. The majority of these supplemental funds were used to hire paraprofessional instructional aides to work with the students.

SALARY COMPARISONS

The following salary information compares El Tejon Unified School District salaries with statewide average salaries:

MINIMUM DAYS

The El Tejon Unified School District had 11 minimum days during the 1999-2000 school year for holidays and school events.

SCHOOL FACILITY AND SAFETY

Frazier Park School, built in 1963, provides a safe, clean environment for learning. The facilities are regularly assessed for immediate and long-term maintenance. Routine cleaning and groundskeeping are provided by 1 full-time custodian, 2 part-time custodians and 1 part-time maintenance person. Monthly fire and earthquake drills are held according to a comprehensive school safety plan. Emergency supplies are stored on site in an emergency cargo container. Some staff members attended a Crisis Response Training In-service. To insure safety on the playground and cafeteria, supervision of students was provided by both certificated and classified personnel. The Parent-Teacher-Student Organization installed a security fence to increase safety on the campus. A Positive Discipline Plan, which seeks to insure a safe and orderly environment for students and staff, was in place. We were fortunate to have a Kern County Sheriff's Department Safe School Officer assigned to our school to interact positively with the children and provide lessons in keeping safe at school, home and at play.

COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!

Parents, grandparents and other community members participated in a variety of volunteer activities that directly and indirectly benefited the students. Volunteers helped in the classroom, served as after-school reading tutors, chaperoned field trips and other special events. If you have an hour or two a week to spare, please consider spending them with our students. In 1999-2000, we were thankful for the thousands of hours of volunteer time. Your efforts help our staff provide more individual attention to our students and provide the best possible instructional program for our students.

You are invited to join us each month at our School Site Council Meetings and Parent-Teacher-Student Organization Meetings. If you are interested in the operations of the school district, you are also welcome to attend the monthly meeting of our Board of Trustees on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 P.M. at the District Office. Be an informed parent.

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