Maxwell AFB E/MS: Get Involved
Parent Involvement
Research demonstrates that parent involvement is essential for student success. Although you may not become involved in all committees and support organizations in the school, we encourage the following activities for your parental support:
- Join the school parent/teacher association (PTA) and participate in meetings and activities.
- Have lunch at school with your child regularly.
- Volunteer in your child's classroom.
- Establish a daily study time at home (even when there's no homework).
- Participate in the Continuous School Improvement (CSI) efforts at your child's school.
- Keep informed of school events and activities by reading school newsletters and your child's classroom newsletter.
- Communicate frequently with your child's teacher.
- Prepare for and participate in parent-teacher conferences.
- Ensure your child has a well-balanced breakfast and comes to school with completed homework, lunch money and school supplies.
Visiting the School
Parents and other responsible adults are always welcome at school. If you know in advance that you will be visiting your child's classroom, we encourage you to notify your child's teacher ahead of time so they are prepared for your visit. We do not allow students to bring friends or other non-registered students to school due to liability and space restrictions. In addition, parents may not bring younger siblings, other children, or babies with them when they visit or volunteer in a classroom. This can be a serious distraction from the learning environment for all students.
Visitor Badges
DoDEA policy mandates use of visitor badges and positive identification of all visitors and contractors. In compliance with this policy, upon arrival, ALL visitors are required to come to the school office, sign in, show identification, and receive a visitor's badge. All visitors MUST sign out and return the visitor's badge upon leaving the building.
Be a Volunteer!
Volunteers are always needed and are a part of the total school program. They assist in the classrooms, office, special subject and resource rooms, and educational support areas. If a parent is volunteering in a classroom, we ask that you please make alternative arrangements for siblings. They are not allowed in the room during the instructional day. We encourage active participation by parents in their child's education and while, younger children are precious, they may be distracting to students in the classroom. We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your support. Check with you child's teacher for specific opportunities and to complete any necessary forms in addition to the ones below.
DoDEA Policy requires that prospective and current school volunteers shall be subject to a standardized application process that includes completion of an application form and standardized background checks. Volunteer applications are available in the school office or linked below. Please allow 5 business days for processing of all volunteer request forms. Once a background check is completed, a volunteer approval is valid for 3 years. There are many volunteer opportunities for parents eager to get involved with their students education or for other interested community members.
Thank You for Volunteering!
Before you do, please fill out these forms and turn them in to your local volunteer office.
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The Maxwell AFB Elementary/Middle School Board is an elected advisory group. The school board meets monthly, elections are held in the fall after school begins.
Contact the MEMS School Board
Mailing Address: 800 Magnolia Blvd., Maxwell AFB, AL 36112
Phone: 334-953-7804
Email: maxwell.sb.president@am.dodea.edu or maxwell.sb.vpresident@am.dodea.edu
School Board Meetings
Date:
Agenda: If you would like to place an item on the agenda bring a completed Agenda Request Form to the board meeting.
Policy: Board policy provides for two (2) minutes of presentation from the floor. Additional information will be accepted in writing. If responses are immediately available, an answer will be provided by the board. If answers are not immediately available, the Board will initiate fact-finding efforts to respond at the next regular meeting of the Board.
Note: Please use the District Chain-of-Command before bringing an item up in a Board meeting. The chain is: Teacher or Supervisor >>> School Principal >>> District Superintendent >>> School Board
Meeting Minutes
| AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SY1516 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| SY1617 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| SY1718 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| SY1819 | X | X | X | X |
* click highlighted "X" for minutes from a particular school year and month
DoDEA School Boards
Being a DoDEA school board member is a serious responsibility but one that offers significant rewards - the primary reward being the opportunity to actively participate in the process of educating our children.
However, unlike the school boards in the Local Education Authority (LEA), DoDEA school boards act purely in an advisory capacity, providing input to the Superintendent and administrators in the areas of fiscal, personnel and educational policies, procedures and programs. The DoDEA school district superintendent makes final decisions on matters affecting the school district.
School Board Meetings
Board meetings are open to the public. For specific information on School Board agendas, please contact any member of your School Board. Please contact your local school or the District Superintendents Office to get contact information.
Frequently Asked Questions about DoDEA Americas School Boards
Do DoDEA Americas school board members ever participate in deciding matters affecting employees or students?
Employee relations and student conduct are almost always matters handled by the Superintendent, principals, and administrative staff. If, for some reason, school board participation is required, the Superintendent will explain the applicable rules.
Do DoDEA Americas school boards have the same authority as school boards for local education agencies?
No, generally the school board for a local education agency (LEA) makes the policy and rules for schools in that particular school district; the Superintendent and staff implement the school board's policy. DoDEA Americas school boards act in an advisory capacity, providing input to the Superintendent and administrators in the areas of fiscal, personnel and educational policies, procedures and programs. The DoDEA Americas school district superintendent makes final decisions on matters affecting the school district.
Why can't DoDEA school boards make the rules which govern a particular DoDEA school district?
The statute which authorizes DoDEA and the implementing DoD guidance define the roles of the DoDEA Americas school boards. Also, because DoDEA Americas school board members are not officers or employees of the United States as defined in the "appointments clause" of the Constitution, they may not exercise discretionary governmental authority such as: taking personnel actions, expending appropriated funds, or establishing governmental policies.
What happens if the school board disagrees with how the Superintendent wants to handle a particular issue?
The Superintendent and the school board should always attempt to find common ground on all issues. However, DoDEA Superintendents are ultimately responsible for operation of the school district. In rare instances, a Superintendent may find it necessary to take an action with which the school board might not agree. The Superintendent should then provide the school board with the rationale for that action. If necessary, either the Superintendent or the school board may ask for the assistance of the DoDEA Americas Director.
Is training available for new school board members?
Yes, all school board members receive training so that they may better understand the rules which govern the operation of the school board.
Maxwell Elementary/Middle School has an actively involved PTA which serves as a liaison between the Maxwell parents, students, teachers and administration. We are a non-profit organization which contributes academic resources and volunteers their time to make our school a place where students succeed in every way. The PTA is also responsible for providing essential services to the school such as Yearbook, Fall Pictures and Book Fairs. Other past events have included: Holiday Market, Great Grown Up Spelling Bee and Night of the Arts/Silent Auction.
If your family is in-bound, the PTA would like to encourage you to become involved in our organization! There are many ways you can help and volunteers are always needed. We are an ALL volunteer organization and will keep the same school year calendar as your students. We are off on all holidays, teacher workdays, and summers. The different events listed above will have varying degrees of responsibility. Any amount of time you have to share with MEMS students would be time well spent. Please see the Facebook link below and check out our page to get an idea of the fun we had last year!
We look forward to working with you and as always, if you have any questions, email us at the address below.
Contact the MEMS PTA
Mailing Address: 800 Magnolia Blvd., Maxwell AFB, AL 36112
Phone: 334-953-7804
Email: maxwelleaglespta@gmail.com
Facebook: Maxwell AFB Elementary/Middle School PTA
PTA Meetings
Date: Fourth Mondy of the Month
Time: 3:30 pm
Location: MEMS Auditorium
Meeting Minutes
| AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SY1516 | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| SY1617 | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| SY1718 | ||||||||||
| SY1819 | X | X | X | X X | X | X | ||||
| SY1920 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
* click highlighted "X" for minutes from a particular school year and month
Parent Teacher Organization / Parent Teacher Association
The PTO/PTA is a group of parents and teachers working for a better school environment by providing both financial and volunteer support for our school programs. The PTO/PTA sponsors a variety of activities such as book fairs, school pictures, monthly birthday celebrations for all children, the sale of school t-shirts and many other events. The PTO/PTA consists of the following positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. In addition, there are several committee coordinator positions such as volunteer, spirit week, membership and box tops. If you are interested in volunteering, serving on the executive board, or being a committee coordinator, please contact the PTO/PTA.
PTO/PTA Objectives
The PTO/PTA is a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-sectarian organization. It cooperates with the school to support the improvement of education in ways that will not interfere with the education of students or the mission of the school and does not seek to control school policies. Specific objectives include:
- Providing a medium for exchange of information among parents, teachers, and other interested groups.
- Encouraging and developing programs and activities, which serve to enhance the quality of student education.
- Identifying and promoting opportunities for students to secure the highest advantage in their academic, physical, and social growth.
- Encouraging and maintaining a working dialogue between members, the local educational school system, the local government, and the community at-large on matters affecting the general welfare and education of students.
Membership is open to all parents and legal guardians of students attending the school as well as school staff. Contact the school for membership information.