School system joins military coalition
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 4, 2004 1:58 PM
The Wayne County public school system will soon be a card-carrying member of the Military Child Education Coalition.
The school board voted Monday night to join the organization dedicated to forming partnerships between military installations and school systems.
Nancy Mayo, liaison between Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and the public schools, presented the idea to the board and said the base has been a member for the past year.
She said the partnership would help the school system better address transitions to new areas and other educational issues faced by military children.
The organization also works to help people adjust to transfers or deployment and meet the emotional needs of moving students. It also promotes parents becoming involved in the educational process.
"About 12 percent of our students are military dependents," Ms. Mayo said.
Statistically, military children move an average of six to nine times from kindergarten through high school graduation.
Ms. Mayo said she hopes that "together we'll work to make the transition easier for all mobile children."
The membership fee for the school system is $750.