Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ISL typical of other international schools?
- Who owns the school?
- Who sends their children to ISL?
- Who is responsible for the school?
- Is the school independent?
- What is the budgeting process?
- What is the school's current financial position?
- How does ISL's financial situation compare with other international schools?
- Who are the teachers?
- How are salaries set?
- How are human resources allocated?
- What is the School's capacity, and what will happen if it is reached?
- What is the Luxembourg law concerning private schools and what are its effects on ISL?
Is ISL typical of other international schools?
Yes, the organisational structure, financial structure and philosophy are quite similar to that of most international schools.
Who owns the school?
The International School of Luxembourg, a.s.b.l. is a legally-registered "Association" within the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The School is a non-profit organisation.
The facilities are owned by the government and are provided to the school at no cost. The furnishings and land, known as the "Campus Geesseknaeppchen," are also owned by the state.
Who sends their children to ISL?
The parents come predominantly from the expatriate business and diplomatic communities and seek an English-language education that can be easily transferred to their home country or to another international setting. In addition, there are families that refer to Luxembourg as home; however, many of these families have some international dimension such as two or more passports or a previous expatriate experience. Their reasons for choosing ISL are highly diverse. Finally, a growing number of Luxembourg families choose to send their children to the school because ISL is seen as providing a viable educational alternative to the local public school system.
The majority of the students (65%) come from Continental Europe. Of the school's 40 different nationalities, the largest countries represented are the USA (16%) and the UK (12%), the remaining 7% of students come from 15 other countries throughout the world. Although a large number of parents have their fees paid for by companies, many parents pay their fees themselves.
Who is responsible for the school?
- The Association. The Articles of Association state that "The Association shall have for its purpose an English-language school in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg" and "the promotion of all school or school-related activities." All current parents or legal guardians in the School are eligible to be members of the Association; to become a voting member of the Association they must sign a membership roster.
- Board of Governors. The Association is governed by the Board of Governors. There are ten voting members of the Board, each with two-year terms. Six of these members are required to have children currently attending the School; they are nominated and elected by the members of the Association. Four members are nominated from the "community at large" by the existing Board and are approved by the members of the Association; these Community Board members are often selected from outside the School according to their expertise. In addition, there is a non-voting representative from the Embassy of the United States.
School Policy 1.20 states that, "It is the responsibility of the Board of Governors to establish (and revise as necessary) a mission statement and strategic objectives for the School, to design policies that flow from the mission statement and strategic objectives, and to assist the School's (and in particular the Board's and Director's) progress in achieving the mission statement and strategic objectives. The Board is also responsible for the School's financial condition and facilities. The Board is responsible for organising itself in such a manner as to effectively fulfil these roles." - Director. Article 10(B) of the Articles of Association requires that the Board of Governors hire a director of the School and determine his/her responsibilities. School Policy 1.40 states that "the Director is the chief executive officer of ISL and is responsible for managing the School in accordance with the mission statement and strategic objectives adopted by the Board of Governors and for hiring all other members of the School's administration and faculty."
Is the school independent?
ISL is private and independent in the sense that the School can make its own decisions in most matters, as long as they conform to Luxembourg law. According to Luxembourg law, ISL is eligible for a per capita subsidy from the Luxembourg government. In order to receive this subsidy, the school must submit, to a governmental committee, its financial accounts for review and its tuition fees for approval.
ISL is accredited by the Council of International Schools, and by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation means that the School must conform to exacting standards and is subject to an inspection every five years; the most recent inspection took place in April 2008. ISL is a member of the International Baccalaureate Organisation. By offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, ISL agrees to provide an externally written and assessed curriculum during the final two years of secondary school.
Because the School does not own its facilities, any expansion or significant modifications to the facilities must be approved by the government.
What is the budgeting process?
School Policy 2.21 sets the School's fiscal year as 01 July to 30 June. This cycle accommodates (1) transient families whose relocation tends to occur in the summer months, and (2) the hiring process of international school teachers. This fiscal cycle is normal among international schools in the northern hemisphere.
The Board of Governors is responsible for setting the tuition fees, for presenting a budget proposal to the Association, and for reviewing financial reports from the administration throughout the year. The Association has final authority for approving the annual budget for the new fiscal year and for discharging the Board of Governors of its responsibilities for the previous year.
The administration presents a detailed preliminary budget to the Board of Governors in March. Typically, two-thirds of these costs are salary related; these expenses are largely prescribed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement and are automatically adjusted according to a State cost-of-living index. In response to demands from companies and parents, School Policy 2.51 requires that the Board set the tuition fees by 01 May of the preceding year; however, fees must be set with only an estimate of what the enrolment will be in September. Enrolment projections are based upon the number of new enquires and upon soft data obtained from parents and companies. Based upon its history, the School can expect around 20% of the students to leave at the end of each year.
A financial reserve is the only tool the Board has to protect the long-term viability of the School, since there are no other significant assets. School policy 2.24 states that as a "financial goal, the School will strive to build and maintain a contingency fund equal to a six-month operating budget. This is in order to limit stress decisions in situations when enrolment figures decrease for whatever reasons or other crises arise. Insofar as circumstances permit, the Board of Governors shall maintain a balanced budget for the fiscal year, balancing planned expenditures with anticipated income."
What is the School's current financial position?
As of June 2006, the School held net assets of €3.2 million which are predominantly cash, but also include fixed assets such as computers, office furniture, playground equipment, and other items purchased by the School in recent years.
How does ISL's financial situation compare with other international schools?
Because most international schools own their own facilities, their net assets are often greater. When they decide to expand their facilities, they generally borrow the funds using their current facilities as collateral. The funds to repay the loan are either embedded in the tuition or added as a separate capital fee.
Each year, ISL tracks its tuition costs relative to 26 international schools in Europe. The School's ranking has decreased from 7th place in 1999 to its current 20th place. This ranking is based upon the actual tuition fees and does not take into account such variables as state subsidies or additional capital fees.
Who are the teachers?
It is important that the School hire teachers who have already proven themselves successful with the particular demands of an international school. In most cases, ISL's teachers are recruited at international recruitment fairs hosted in Europe and North America from February through June. These fairs are highly competitive, often with only a 3:1 ratio of candidates to recruiters. There are currently 20 nationalities among the faculty and support staff. The School must apply for a work permit for those teachers who do not hold a European Union passport. As required by law, all open positions are listed with the Ministry of Employment.
How are salaries set?
Salaries and benefits are negotiated between the Board of Governors and the staff as part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. As is common practice in schools, all staff members are paid according to salary scales based upon their years of experience and their level of post-secondary education. Since most teachers are recruited from abroad, the Board sets the salaries at a level that is competitive with similar international schools.
How are human resources allocated?
Staffing assignments take into account the particular nature of an international school:
- Typically, 20% of the students are new each September; in addition, new students arrive throughout the school year. Families are dislocated and rely upon the School for various support services.
- More than half of the students are not native English speakers. The School provides intensive English language instruction, to those students who need it, up to age 15.
- The School provides French language instruction from age 4, and German language instruction from age 11. Instruction is offered at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels for every age group.
- A number of students have special learning needs. The school provides learning support for these students.
- A majority of the families will reside in Luxembourg for only a few years; many do not speak the local languages. Therefore, they tend to rely upon the School to provide extra-curricular programmes, including sports, as well as social activities.
Enrolment is expected to reach 900 students during the 2008-09 academic year. The ration of teaching professionals to students stands at about 8.5:1. This includes teachers, counsellors and librarians. In addition, teaching assistants are assigned to the early years classrooms, grade 1 and 2 as well as the libraries. There are 85.9 full-time-equivalent teachers, counsellors and librarians on the staff serving 730 students (September 2006). Therefore, the ratio of teaching professionals to students is 8.5 to 1.
The administration includes the director, two principals, three assistant principals, a business manager and bookkeepers, the athletic director and his assistant, the information technology staff, a communications coordinator, a registrar, secretaries, maintenance staff and one full-time and two part-time nurses. There are a total of 175 members of staff, though not all of them are employed full-time.
The number of students in a typical "homeroom" classroom is 18 or fewer.
What is the School's capacity, and what will happen if it is reached?
Enrolment has grown significantly since 2000 and has currently reached its capacity of 850 students. The Board of Governors anticipates further demand upon enrolment resulting from an increase in the number of expatriates and greater interest from the local Luxembourg community. The school is working closely with the Luxembourg government to address this challenge.
What is the Luxembourg law concerning private schools and what are its effects on ISL?
A law concerning private schools became effective on 01 January 2004. The law is intended to eliminate previously existing "indirect" subsidies which the various private schools in Luxembourg received. There are two major provisions that affect ISL.
First, the School receives a per capita subsidy. The Government sets the amount each year based upon a maximum of 40% of its own per capita contribution to the primary and secondary schools in Luxembourg. This provision has enabled the school to keep its tuition fees low.
Secondly, the School must pay 20% of all future expansion or improvement of its facilities. The Board of Governors has stated to the parents that funds may be accrued for this purpose.
