YUHSD military program to be districtwide
Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) courses will be offered districtwide on Kofa High School's campus this fall.
The Yuma Union High School District board unanimously approved an agreement Wednesday allowing students from across the district to be a part of the program.
Kofa Principal Gina Thompson said students can enroll in MCJROTC at any grade level, but it is designed to start at the freshman level and build from that point. “I believe the opportunities and pathways expand for them every year they are a part of the program.”
Thompson explained that for the program to exist, 100 students must be enrolled for the first three years.
“We know we're not going to have any problem doing that in this community... I think it will be a really exciting thing for the whole community, not just for Kofa but for all of us and for all of our students,” said Thompson.
To help meet the enrollment goal, regional director of MCJROTC Lt. Col. Newbold will visit local middle schools so eighth-graders can begin making decisions now about entering the program.
Superintendent Toni Badone noted that parents must either drive their student to a Kofa bus stop to allow for them to be taken to the campus or provide transportation for their child themselves.
Badone said the district had been working to be approved for the MCJROTC program since 2008. She said Marine Corps Air Station Yuma plans to work in partnership through this initiative.
The board will approve curriculum and graduation requirements for the program at future board meetings.
Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSSarahWomer or on Twitter at @YSSarahWomer.
