$5G Allocated to Replace Taken JROTC Items

The Winnacunnet School Board set aside funds Wednesday to replace several items taken out of the Marine Corps Junior ROTC classroom, including a TV and a slew of program manuals, when its instructors .

School Board member Wayne Skoglund said he recently visited the classroom and found that some of the items the program once utilized, including a Marine Corps sign and uniform belt buckles, were no longer in the classroom.

Principal Bill McGowan said a regional director for the national JROTC program gave the authorization for the departing instructors to take some of those supplies, which he said belongs to the Marines, although Skoglund said he was "completely aghast" and "shocked" by that decision.

"It's an embarrassment," said Skoglund. "They finally got their uniforms back [Wednesday].

"I'm not criticizing whoever [took the items]. We're not showing courtesy to the young students committing themselves. There's 'No soldier left behind,' and there should be 'No student left behind.' The program needs assistance. The Marines aren't going to do it. The kids need to be about the program."

Skoglund made a motion to authorize the use of $5,000 to replace the items, which Skoglund identified in his motion as a TV, buckles and manuals.

The motion passed 4-0-1, with Denyse Richter abstaining because she said she feels a "frank discussion" is needed about what items are missing and why things were taken before any money changes hands.

Richter said she wasn't opposed, though, to providing the program with a TV or the other items they "need," and she and several other board members voiced strong discontent about the missing items and the way the board was informed of their absence.

"Why is a school board member bringing it forward?" asked Richter of the WHS administration. "If he had not gone there, would we be none the wiser? It's like finding out accidentally these kids are, like, operating on a shoestring [budget]."

McGowan said the JROTC regional director determined that the materials they currently have in the classroom are "sufficient to continue" the program, which had recently been at the center of .

McGowan said the appropriation for the TV isn't necessary because he can "get one out there." He also said the Marine Corps would be able to reimburse the school for purchasing the supplies, and said that some of the issues — like the belt buckles — have already been resolved.

"As information comes forward, we are trying to resolve them," said McGowan. "As things come up, we’ll resolve them."

Board Chairwoman Maria Brown said that isn't acceptable, though, as she said it was her "understanding as a board member" that nothing was "leaving except two people."

Brown said the board should draft a letter to the national program about the issue, and requested that the district draft a "full report of what was taken" because there "may be more missing than we know."

"Let's not wait for more to come up," she said. "Let's resolve it. Let's look into it. I think they've been through enough. As a board, we need to make sure there are no other interruptions. I think it's shameful. Even the Marines sign was taken. Give me a break."

Two women called out during public comment Wednesday the decision to appropriate the $5,000, pointing out that earlier in the meeting Skoglund took a strong stance about not wanting to add to the budget in any way, including adjusting it to accept an by School Administrative Unit 21.

"I understand Mr. Skoglund talking about a 'bottom line' budget, and on the other hand [he's] coming up with money for other things," said one woman.

Skoglund said the $5,000 was "just a mere attempt to fix something" he saw. He said he doesn't believe the budget will "be jeopardized" by the appropriation, which he proposed as a way to "improve" the JROTC program.

"We've got the money," said Skoglund.

In related news, McGowan said the search to find full-time replacements for the departed JROTC instructors is ongoing. The district will continue to post the openings in various military and civilian publications and online, according to McGowan.

He said they are "still actively looking," and he also said "things seem to be going well" with the long-term substitute instructors, whom are "maintaining" the program.