School officials are looking for ways to continue the JROTC program at Patrick County High School, but do not yet know if it will be possible to salvage.

The U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) is a congressionally mandated program that focuses on the youth-oriented mission “Motivating Young People to be Better Citizens,” according to online information.

It is one of the largest youth programs in the world, with more than 310,000 high school students participating annually while enrolled in more than 1,700 secondary educational programs.

A JROTC program has been offered at PCHS for many years, but Regina Mabe said she has heard the program may be discontinued.

Mabe, who said she served in the military and now is a nurse, on Thursday asked members of the Patrick County School Board about the local program.

“I was told by a student it was going to be canceled,” Mabe said. As a veteran, she said she feels “children should have” the opportunity to participate in the program that teaches leadership, teamwork, character education, personal responsibility, a sense of accomplishment, and service.

If the program has been cancelled, Mabe said she hopes the board would reconsider.

Schools Superintendent Bill Sroufe said the program suffers from low enrollment. There also are two open instructor slots from retirements/resignations.  Those slots have not yet been filled, Sroufe said, and noted the Army hires the instructors.

He estimated the local share of providing the program at $110,000.

Sroufe thanked Mabe for her service. Noting he also is a veteran, Sroufe said it was difficult for him to recommend the board consider alternatives to keep the program operable, or do away with it entirely.

In lieu of shuttering the program, Sroufe said the division is seeking alternatives to continue it.

Although the program “may go away, we are trying to look at other alternatives,” including an after school option, Sroufe said.

In other matters at their meeting on Thursday, school officials:

*Heard from Trena Anderson, a Patrick resident who discussed priorities, and asked some board members what importance they put on their service to the community. Anderson said that according to her research, Michelle Day, of the Mayo River District, had been lax in attending meetings or arriving to them on time. Still, Day is paid for attending the meetings, Anderson said.

“You need to show up to work,” Anderson said.

In comments to Annie Hylton, of the Peters Creek District, Anderson said she sympathized with anyone suffering from health issues. However, “when you were teaching, would being late have been tolerated,” Anderson asked, and encouraged both to step down from their posts.

Anderson asked Ronnie Terry, of the Blue Ridge District and board chairman, if he and or family members participated in the division’s health insurance policy. Terry said that neither he nor any of his family participates in the division’s health insurance program. Anderson said she would check her information.

Anderson told the two newest board members Walter Scott, of the Smith River District; and Brandon Simmons, vice chairman and of the Dan River District, that they now have had time to get up to speed. Both started their tenure in January.

After the meeting, Sroufe said members of the school board are not offered the option of participating in the division’s health insurance plan.

Anderson also asked Sroufe when the division started splitting debt service payments between fiscal years.

*Met in closed session to discuss personnel reports.

*Approved personnel report when they reconvened.

The next board meeting, a close out meeting, is scheduled to be held June 21 at 10 a.m. in the School Board Office on Rucker Street in Stuart.