Executive Summary School Accountability Report Card, 2005-06
For Shaffer Elementary School   

 Address:

 1435 California St., Atwater CA 95301-4458   

 Phone Number:

 (209) 357-6145   

 Principal:

 Roger Jackson

 Grade Span:

 K-6   

This executive summary of the School Accountability Report Card (SARC) is intended to provide parents and community members with a quick snapshot of school accountability. The data presented in this report are reported for the 2005-06 school year, except the School Finances and School Completion data that are reported for the 2004-05 school year. For additional information about the school, parents and community members should review the entire SARC or contact the school principal or the district office.

About This School

Shaffer School is located in the agricultural heart of Central California's San Joaquin Valley in the city of Atwater, population 20,000, in Merced County.  Our school is one of seven K-6 schools in the Atwater Elementary School District and serves 519 students in grades Kindergarten through sixth grade. 

Shaffer Elementary is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, awarded by the United States Department of Education, and is distinguished by the high degree of cooperation by teachers, parents and staff working together to help all students reach their many potentials.  We constantly strive to reach to the stars for our students.

We have a vision at Shaffer School, one that is so pervasive and encompassing that all members of our school family, students, parents, teachers, principal and business partners in education share that vision and work together toward its fulfillment.  We envision Shaffer as a place of warmth, mutual respect and caring, where all students are goal oriented with an “I Can” attitude, a school with high academic expectations, where all students will be successful at their maximum levels.  A school where all students will be able to communicate with understanding through language acquisition, a school where all students will have technology skills that will enable them to achieve in tomorrow’s information age.  Each student is encouraged to be a shining star and we are all shining stars! This captures our vision which exemplifies our mission statement, “Working Together Today for a Better Tomorrow.” 

Summary of Most Recent Site Inspection

Repairs Needed

(MODERIZATION PROJECT 2004-2005)

Corrective Actions Taken or Planned

Information about the safety, cleanliness, and adequacy of school facilities, including the condition and cleanliness of the school grounds, buildings, and restrooms or additional information about the condition of the school's facilities may be obtained by speaking with the school principal.

School

District

 School Name

 Shaffer Elementary

 District Name

 Atwater Elementary

 Street

 1435 California St.

 Phone Number

 (209) 357-6100

 City, State, Zip

 Atwater, CA    95301-4458

 Web Site

 http://www.aesd.k12.ca.us

 Phone Number

 (209) 357-6145

 Superintendent

 Melinda Hennes

 Principal

  Roger Jackson

 E-mail Address

 Mhennes@aesd.edu

 E-mail Address

 rjackson@aesd.edu

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Shaffer School is located in the agricultural heart of Central California's San Joaquin Valley in the city of Atwater, population 20,000, in Merced County.  Our school is one of seven K-6 schools in the Atwater Elementary School District and serves 519 students in grades Kindergarten through sixth grade. 

Shaffer Elementary is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, awarded by the United States Department of Education, and is distinguished by the high degree of cooperation by teachers, parents and staff working together to help all students reach their many potentials.  We constantly strive to reach to the stars for our students.

We have a vision at Shaffer School, one that is so pervasive and encompassing that all members of our school family, students, parents, teachers, principal and business partners in education share that vision and work together toward its fulfillment.  We envision Shaffer as a place of warmth, mutual respect and caring, where all students are goal oriented with an “I Can” attitude, a school with high academic expectations, where all students will be successful at their maximum levels.  A school where all students will be able to communicate with understanding through language acquisition, a school where all students will have technology skills that will enable them to achieve in tomorrow’s information age.  Each student is encouraged to be a shining star and we are all shining stars! This captures our vision which exemplifies our mission statement, “Working Together Today for a Better Tomorrow.”  

Our School Site Council creates our annual plan that includes how Federal and State funds will be spent.  Members of the site council are staff members and parents of our students.   The council meets at least five times annually from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in our Library.  All parents are invited to attend.  Meeting dates are determined at the first meeting and published in our school newsletter and posted in the office. The English Language Learner Advisory Council meets quarterly to address the needs of our bilingual parents/students.  The meeting is open to all parents whose children speak other languages in addition to English.  We have several parent volunteers working to raise funds for specific projects and assist in the classroom and on field trips.  New members are always welcome to join our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), which offers opportunities for parents and community leaders to provide input toward curriculum refinement and school-wide enhancement projects.  

 Grade Level

 Number of Students

 Kindergarten

79 

 Grade 1

60 

 Grade 2

78 

 Grade 3

63 

 Grade 4

96 

 Grade 5

93 

 Grade 6

87 

 Total Enrollment

556 

 Group

 Percent of
Total Enrollment

 Group

 Percent of
Total Enrollment

 African American

5.0 

 White (not Hispanic)

26.1 

 American Indian or Alaska Native

1.4 

 Multiple or No Response

1.3 

 Asian

4.9 

 Socioeconomically Disadvantaged

69.6 

 Filipino

0.2 

 English Learners

37.0 

 Hispanic or Latino

60.8 

 Students with Disabilities

11.0 

 Pacific Islander

0.4 

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 Grade
Level

 2003-04

 2004-05

 2005-06

 Avg.
Class
Size

Number of
Classrooms

 Avg.
Class
Size

Number of
Classrooms

 Avg.
Class
Size

Number of
Classrooms

 1-20

 21-32

 33+

 1-20

 21-32

 33+

 1-20

 21-32

 33+

 K

 19.7

 3

 20.0

 3

 21.8

 4

 1

 1

 19.7

 3

 20.0

 3

 20.0

 1

 2

 19.0

 5

 19.8

 5

 19.5

 4

 3

 19.5

 4

 19.3

 4

 19.7

 3

 4

 27.0

 3

 26.3

 3

 30.0

 3

 5

 26.5

 2

 28.0

 2

 30.0

 3

 6

 31.0

 2

 30.0

 2

 27.7

 3

 K-3

 3-4

 4-8

 27.0

 1

 29.0

 1

 Other

 Grade Level

 Percent of Students Participating

 2003-04

 2004-05

 2005-06

 K

 100%

 100%

 100%

 1

 100%

 100%

 100%

 2

 100%

 100%

 100%

 3

 100%

 100%

 100%

A collaborative effort of our school family is our safety plan written by students, staff and parents.  An annual safety survey, a component of Effective Schools Survey, indicates there is a safe, clean, orderly environment at our school.  Shaffer has updated their school safety plan, which is required by law. The plan includes evacuation procedures, how students would be released in case of emergency.  The law includes a public hearing to review the plan before it is submitted to the district.  We held the meeting on Wednesday, December 14, 2004 at 3:45 in the library.  Copies of the plan are available to anyone who wishes one.  

The custodial staff does an excellent job of keeping the grounds clean and safe for students.  The school grounds and playground equipment are inspected by the custodian, principal, and maintenance staff on a regular basis.  

Shaffer’s warm, nurturing climate is felt the moment you step on campus.  The warmth comes from our caring belief in positive reinforcement as illustrated by rewards and incentives.  We provide our students with a positive learning environment.  Co-curricular activities, such as the Student Advisory Council encourage critical thinking, problem solving and collaborative reflection.  Activities are provided for our students that promote independent thinking and build self-esteem

Teachers and staff are positive role models; coaching track, coordinating speech and spelling contests, and organizing intramural sports activities.  Our special needs children are inclusive in all programs that emphasize positive behavior and healthy peer climate.  Our Principal and staff believe in “Working together” by sharing the governance of all decisions.  Teachers meet with the Principal as individuals, staff meetings and monthly grade level meetings.  Test score analysis, program evaluation and curriculum alignment are issues that are discussed.    

 Rate

 School

 District

 2003/2004

 2004/2005

 2005-06

 2004-05

 2005-06

 2006-07

 Suspensions

.05

.17

.30

.19

.20

.21

 Expulsions

0

.003

.007

.003

.005

.004

Shaffer was designed more than 40 years ago, but is fully accessible to students and others with disabilities because of its wide corridors, easy ramp access and multiple double door entrance and exits.  There are three clearly marked handicapped parking zones.  Bathroom facilities have been made accessible and functional by installing assistance side rails in designated bathroom stalls.  Intercoms and telephones are located in each room of the school.  Our noon duty personnel and yard duty teachers have instant communication with the office and each other as walkie-talkies are provided for them to assist in the needs of our students with physical disabilities.  The District provides specialized bus transportation with wheelchair lifts as needed.  An auditory trainer is provided for students with limited hearing, allowing full inclusion in classroom instruction.

The modernization project at Shaffer, a $1.2 million project, was completed in the Summer of 2004 included upgrading the entire electrical system to handle the expansion of the school.  The office was redesigned to install handicapped accessible restrooms in the kindergarten classrooms and nurses station.  New tile, sinks and lavatories were installed in the intermediate restrooms.  Surveillance cameras were installed which will decrease vandalism and increase student/staff safety.   

 Item Inspected

 Facility in
Good Repair

 Repair Needed and
Action Taken or Planned

 Yes

 No

 Gas Leaks

X

 Mechanical Systems

X

MOST CHANGED  MODERNIZATION

 Windows/Doors/Gates (interior and exterior)

X

 Interior Surfaces (walls, floors, and ceilings)

X

 Hazardous Materials (interior and exterior)

X

 Structural Damage

X

 Fire Safety

X

 Electrical (interior and exterior)

X

 Pest/Vermin Infestation

X

 Drinking Fountains (inside and outside)

X

 Restrooms

X

NEED UP GRADE 2009-2010

 Sewer

X

REPLACE 2008-2009

 Playground/School Grounds

X

REPAIR PLAY EQUIPMENT 2006

 Other - Roofing

X

NEED ROOFING 2007-2008

 Teachers

 School

 District

   2003-04  

   2004-05  

   2005-06  

   2005-06  

 With Full Credential

 25

 25

 23

 223

 Without Full Credential

0

 0

 1

 4

 Teaching Outside Subject Area of Competence