SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - It's not easy being a student today. Technologies seem to change daily. If that's not bad enough, peer pressures, jammed athletic schedules and packed social calendars keep the average child in constant turmoil.

Add to the normal adolescence issues changing schools several times from kindergarten through high school and the added anxiety of separation from mom or dad deployed around the world, then you've got some real challenges.

With this in mind Gen. Duncan McNabb, commander of the United States Transportation Command, and a group of Scott military leaders have approached the Mascoutah School board requesting help for military students.

"General McNabb has been assigned four times to Scott Air Force Base," said Maj. Gen. William Johnson, USTRANSCOM chief of Staff. "He has made education of children in military families his number one quality of life issue."

Now McNabb, Johnson, 375th Air Mobility Wing Commander Col. Gary Goldstone, and a number of Scott representatives are working toward making the transition to, and from, Illinois schools easier for military dependent students.

"I've been working with Dr. Sam McGowen (superintendent of Mascoutah District #19) for almost a year now," Johnson said. "Trying to work on an MOA, Memorandum of Agreement, or Memorandum of Understanding, signed between the wing and Mascoutah school district. If you live on base, your kids, because of zoning, must go to the Mascoutah school district.

"Fifty-seven percent of the students in Mascoutah schools are military connected," he continued, "which has a heavy impact on the district. Military-related enrollment secures DOD funding for the district as well as what's called impact aid, Department of Education funding, which is "X"-number of dollars per student. It's $11 million approximately from the Department of Education and Department of Defense to educate our children."

In addition, the Illinois General Assembly is considering a measure to address how Illinois schools will deal with military students. It's called the Interstate Compact on Equal Opportunity for Military Children, Johnson said. It would address what many military members consider inequities their children face when transferring to and from schools in various states. The compact has been adopted by 26 states, with a 27th state close to signing.

Johnson addressed the subject, along with Senior Enlisted Leader Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth McQuiston and several military families, in his testimony Oct. 28, 2009, before the Illinois Legislature's House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee

"The average military student faces transition challenges more than twice during high school, and most military children will have six to nine different school systems in their lives from kindergarten to 12th grade," Johnson said. "With more than half of all military personnel supporting families, the effects of reassignment and long deployments are a key consideration when making long-term life choices.

"The Interstate Compact is not seeking favor for military children but rather a level playing field," Johnson continued. "The compact addresses: transfer of records; course sequencing issues; graduation requirements; exclusion from extra-curricular activities; redundant or missed entrance and exit testing; kindergarten and first grade entrance age variances and power of custodial parents while parents are deployed."

Base officials are focusing on an MOU between the Mascoutah School District and the 375th Air Moblity Wing. It would address most of the issues mentioned in the proposed state-level compact with states but would address the issues at the base and local level.

On Jan. 12 the Mascoutah District #19 School Board met with Scott Air Force Base leaders, including McNabb, Johnson, Goldstone and Tom Hinton, an Office of the Secretary of Defense expert on liaison with DOD and state issues dealing with the military. Also in attendance were Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice, Maj. Gen. Gary McCoy, Mary Hodge, Gloria Robb, Col. Melissa Applegate, Col. Stephen Oliver and Command Sgt. Maj. Tomas Hawkins.

"The schools here are excellent," McNabb said, "with great teachers, great principals and great administrators. My thanks to you and all the surrounding school boards for ensuring quality education for all our kids.

"The one issue we have that would make the schools even better from our perspective is if they were more military transition-friendly. We have worked very hard with all school districts to develop and sign MOAs or MOUs. In the last four or five years, these efforts have resulted in 11 signed MOAs/MOUs in school districts surrounding Scott Air Force Base.

"And this is why the MOU that Dr. McGowen and the wing worked out together is so important to us. Dr. McGowen told me personally that most of the issues in the MOU are already being done. And he his right. When you read the MOU, most of the provisions say 'continue doing X,Y and Z.' The MOU simply codifies how we will work together on other issues."

Goldstone commented, "Dr. McGowen has indicated the District is always attempting to do the best thing for each student, and like those under my command, the district teachers, counselors and employees should not have to guess what he means when he says that."

"An MOU will ensure that any ambiguity is removed, responsibilities outlined and a mutually understood document is available to help everyone keep priorities up front, "Goldstone added. " It doesn't cost us anything."

Johnson is optimistic about the future of the compact and the MOU. "In his remarks, after the presentation (Jan. 12), McGowen said that he thinks he can get to a point where he can sign the MOU, (and) he will work with state organizations that have opposed the interstate compact to hopefully get support.

"All we're asking," Johnson continued, "is that reasonable accommodations be made to military kids because of their unique circumstances."
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