[Southsider2k12]

I am glad to see the MCAS is standing behind this program. It is literally a lifesaver for some of the kids in it.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...;ArticleID=1895

JROTC Program Staying At MCHS
Despite loss of an assistant for program, MCAS superintendent says program will remain.

Deborah Sederberg
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - The Michigan City High School JROTC program isn't going anywhere, according to Michael Harding, superintendent of the Michigan City Area Schools.

Marty Pluchinsky has resigned as assistant instructor for JROTC, but that doesn't spell the end of the program, Harding said.

"Marty has done a nice job for us, but apparently, he wants to change direction with his career."

Pluchinsky has said he resigned because his job frequently seemed to be in jeopardy because the future of the program seemed uncertain.

When MCAS faced a $1.8 million cut in state funding in 2005, some talked about cutting the program.

The program survived, but it has been on probation because it is supposed to have two instructors. Senior instructor Maj. Larry Naifeh died in January 2006 and his position was not replaced.

"We are not in the business of trying to close programs," Rob Davis, operations manager for JROTC, said from his Quantico, Va., office. "But public law requires two instructors."

Davis wrote to Harding in January requesting that he hire a second instructor by the end of the school year. Harding said the corporation is advertising for an instructor but one has not yet been hired.

Davis said he hasn't heard from Harding, but Harding said he would call Davis.

Pluchinsky said he wasn't aware of Davis' letter to the superintendent until March. "My family and I cannot go on like this, never knowing whether I will have a job."

The Marine Corps purchases equipment, including uniforms, rifles for marksmanship, books and even some furniture for the program and the school corporation shares operational costs.

In 2004-05, ROTC cost MCAS $76,997. The Marines chipped in $48,647.

Pluchinsky met with Dee Naifeh, Larry Naifeh's widow, to tell her in person of his resignation.

Larry Naifeh worked for 10 years with the JROTC.

"And he was so proud of those kids," Dee Naifeh said.

Enrollment has suffered throughout the country, Davis said, often affected by rising requirements for graduation.

Harding agreed. "Students don't have much room for anything extra these days," he said.

Fewer than 100 MCHS students participated in ROTC last year, he said.

"It's hard to justify providing two instructors for 85 students when high school English teachers routinely see 160 students a day," he said.

"It's not that anybody doesn't support this program," Harding said. "We'll look at the program and the numbers to see if they justify having two instructors."

Several veterans organizations have promised financial support.

"If the Marines insist on having two instructors, maybe we will have to go to the community," Harding said, adding he hopes to work something out with the Marines after he sees final ROTC enrollment figures.

Dee Naifeh hopes ROTC survives.

"This program reached out to so many students who didn't have anything else."



Contact reporter Deborah Sederberg at dsederberg@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Southsider2k12]

It figures, the MCAS keeps the program, but isn't following the rules anyway...

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=38823.06

JROTC Program
Program tottering on the brink

Editorial

The reassurance from School Superintendent Michael Harding that Michigan City High School would have a JROTC program is welcome news. The next step, however, should be letting the Marine Corps know.

Assistant instructor Marty Pluchinsky - the only instructor for the program - resigned because he said he had been told by the administration about the future of the program. At the same time, Rob Davis, operations manager for the JROTC program for the Marines in Quantico, Va., said he hasn't heard from Harding either, although Harding said he plans to contact the Marines.

The JROTC program at Michigan City High School has been treated as a fiscal football by the board and administration. Since the 2004-05 school year, enrollment in the program has declined, but that was also the year that school officials began debating the necessity of the program and considering whether it was worthwhile to invest in it when dollars were tight for the school budget.

The Marines - and public law - require two instructors, and ever since long-time instructor Maj. Larry Naifeh died in 2006, school officials have been less than enthusiastic about continuing the program. Officially, Naifeh was never replaced.

In 2005, MCAS faced a $1.8 million state funding shortfall, and one of the programs that was threatened was JROTC. That financial uncertainty has continued.

"It's not that anybody doesn't support this program. We'll look at the program and the numbers to see if they justify having two instructors," said Harding.

But like Pluchinsky, who would want to enroll in a program when there doesn't seem to be complete support for it? Students know if a program is being fully supported and this is shaping up to be a case where school officials say they support a program, but it might not survive next year's budget.

Harding has hinted that MCAS may be forced to go to the community to get financial support for the program. If so, any number of veterans organizations in the community would be willing to help. JROTC is a program that has helped students who weren't involved in anything else, and it ought to continue to be a part of the curriculum.

[Southsider2k12]

Well this just got interesting...

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=47915.64

School Board Denies ROTC Resignation
Also, superintendent stresses program will not be shut down.

Deborah Sederberg
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - The Michigan City Area Schools board rejected 1st Sgt. Marty Pluchinsky's bid for resignation Tuesday night, even though the former assistant instructor of the high school's Junior ROTC program already has another job.

Board member Beryle Burgwald began the process by asking to separate Pluchinsky's resignation from the rest of the consent agenda.

Superintendent Michael Harding told the board he had no intention of shutting down the program. He recently spoke with the Marine Corps representative charged with supervising ROTC, and he said the Corps and MCAS will work together to iron out a couple of irregularities.

One of those irregularities centers around the number of instructors required for the program. The Marines want two. Pluchinsky, however, has been the lone instructor for a year and a half.

"The reason we need two instructors is because the one instructor does the instruction, just as a teacher would," Pluchinsky said later Tuesday in a telephone interview. "The other fulfills the requirements of the Marine Corps."

That might include qualifying students for marksmanship and practicing for various parades and public appearances, plus a lot of paper work relating to Marine Corps equipment, supplies, uniforms and other issues.

Nonetheless, two people spoke in support of ROTC.

One, Alex Pishkur, will be a senior at MCHS next fall. He has been a member of ROTC since his sophomore year.

He frankly told the board he did not have the self-confidence to join in his freshman year, but said the program has improved his view of himself and his future.

"I gained self-confidence and became a leader," said Pishkur, who has always had an interest in the military.

In addition to the ROTC classes, Pishkur said, he enjoyed working with the program in the community.

"I think the board and the school corporation can take pride in the way JROTC represents them in the community," he said.

Earl Cunningham, a LaPorte County councilman and retired MCHS basketball coach, also urged the board to continue to support the program.

Cunningham counted the late Maj. Larry Naifeh, founder of the local JROTC, as one of his dearest friends.

Harding said the school corporation is advertising for an instructor for the next school year.

As for Pluchinsky, no board member could say whether he might be interested in returning.

Jim Kintzele said, "At least this will leave the door open."

In a telephone interview Tuesday night, Pluchinsky said, "I will have to give (the possibility of returning) a lot of thought."

He does have a new job, which he has said he enjoys.

Contact Deborah Sederberg at dsederberg@thenewsdispatch.com

[Roger Kaputnik]

Weird. But it is MCAS.