Clinton High School will offer a JROTC program beginning in the 2010-11 school year.

On Tuesday night, the Clinton City Board of Education gave its stamp of approval to bring the program to the school.

“For the past couple of years, we have been pursuing the program, and every year we hadn’t received the word to bring it here,” said superintendent Dr. Gene Hales. “We would check every year. Last year, we were told we were at the top of the list. We got a surprise letter recently saying ‘Congratulations’ — we got it.”

Although the program is a a federal one, sponsored by the United States Armed Forces, in order to bring the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps to CHS, the school board must agree to fund half the salary of the two needed staff members — one an officer, the other an enlisted position.

“The Board of Education has identified this program as an very important addition to Clinton High School,” said Clyde Locklear, assistant superintendent facility/finance in talking about why and how the program will be funded.

“Due to the current economic conditions, we are looking very closely at all of our instructional programs and the resources provided to each. We know we will continue to be faced with difficult funding decisions. As we prepare our 2010-11 budget, we will utilize all resources, state, federal and local, to provide for this and other programs.”

It is not yet clear just how much the school system will be expected to pay toward the positions.

Clinton High principal Jeff Bell said after the meeting that he was thrilled the board voted to bring JROTC to his school.

“We designed the school with a JROTC classroom and an equipment supply room when we built it,” he said. “We are already prepared to have it here. We just kept crossing our fingers that it would come through and it has.”

Bell said the JROTC was a very popular program at the two other schools he served at (Southern Wayne High and Lakewood High School). “It is very exciting to get it here because it is such a great program. It is a new opportunity for the students, who are wanting a career in the service.”

After four years of JROTC, a student can go directly into the armed forces as a private first class, as well as receive a host of scholarships that the program offers.

“All I have to do now is notify them that the board has approved and we will be on track,” said Bell. “The kids can begin to start signing up this spring and start taking part.”

“We are very excited about the program coming to our system and making it a part of our curriculum here at the high school,” said Hales. “We just appreciate all of the efforts from everyone to bring it here.”

The JROTC program was originally created as part of the National Defense Act of 1916 and later expanded under the 1964 ROTC Vitalization Act.

Clinton High School is one of only three in the county to host the program. Lakewood High and Union high schools are the others.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.