New program pitched to Brooke County school board
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WELLSBURG -- Leaders of the West Virginia National Guard's Future Leaders Program have asked Brooke County school officials to consider offering it to students at Brooke High School and the Brooke County Alternative Learning Center.
West Virginia National Guard Lt. Col. Dave Eldridge told the board the program isn't intended to recruit future members but to foster personal growth in students through a program focused on leadership, citizenship, life skills and military science.
In its second year, the voluntary program has been established at 13 schools in six counties.
Eldridge said participating students earn ranks to establish a chain of command, engage in community service ranging from collecting food for those in need to appearing in color guards at public events, and learn financial management, the dangers of drug abuse, first aid and map reading.
"Our goal is to make your kids successful in high school and beyond," he told the board.
Lee Weppler, principal of Brooke High School, said he and Michael Lewis, principal of the alternative learning center; began talks with leaders of the program a year and a half ago.
Weppler said some parents had asked if an ROTC program could be established in the schools but that wasn't feasible.
Deborah Patterson, a manager of the program, spoke of students who were able to overcome shyness and apathy through the program.
Superintendent Jeffrey Crook said "It is a topnotch program. We're excited to be in the planning stages of this."
Board members asked about the program's cost and who would serve as instructors.
Eldridge said National Guard staff would be the instructors for the program, which costs the participating school district $80,000, though a $40,000 grant is available.
Information about the program can be found at www.wv.ng.mil/Future-Leader-Program.
The board also heard from Bill Haught, past commander of the Follansbee American Legion Post, who expressed support and discussed the Boys State and Girls State programs supported by the American Legion.
He noted the program aims to teach selected high school juniors about government and patriotism.
Haught said while the post wasn't able to send Brooke High School students to the program last year, he hopes they will be able to participate this year.