Lew-Port eyes Air Force program
LEWISTON — The School Board is expected to close the deal on running an Air Force Junior Reserve Officers training course at Lewiston-Porter High School when it meets July 15.
Principal Paul J. Casseri said he has recommended the board hire two retired Air Force veterans, a commissioned and a noncommissioned officer, to run the program, which is slated to begin in September.
Casseri said he needs to have the officers on board by Aug. 18 to do the work needed to start up the program. He said he has selected both candidates, one from Maine and the other from Colorado. One is a woman. Both candidates have been to the district to visit and look for living quarters.
The candidates’ names will remain confidential until the board considers the resolution to hire them.
The board approved moving forward with the program 17 months ago, and Interim Superintendent Don W. Rappold and Casseri signed an agreement with Air Force officials in April to bring the program to the district.
Casseri said he has run a successful recruitment campaign during the past two months that saw 91 students sign up for Air Force ROTC. The Air Force, which will pay half the retired officers’ salaries, requires at least 80 students to enroll before it will allow the program to start.
“I think there’s even going to be more kids involved once the incoming freshmen get here,” Casseri predicted.
The high school’s Junior Air Force unit number is NY-281.
Casseri said he wants the elective program at the high school because it will provide participants with an advanced curriculum in science and technology that will enhance what they learn in their course work.
“This program helps today’s students become tomorrow’s space-age citizens . . .,” he said. “It’s a rigorous, comprehensive program that not only offers military training, but a significant academic program that focuses on the science behind aerospace science. Sixty percent of it is dedicated to aviation and aerospace science, and 40 percent involves leadership training and subjects linked to military history, military science and aeronautics history.”
Casseri said the program also has a physical education component.
Students who go into Junior Air Force ROTC are in no way committed to join the military, but the program enables them to compete for Air Force ROTC college scholarships and apply directly to military academies.
