Page 3 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior, October 2019

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High Desert Warrior 3 October 4, 2019
Community
More than $100K awarded to Silver Valley Schools for STEM Initiative By Garrison Public Affairs
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Fort Irwin’s Garrison Commander, Col. Jeanette Martin joined leaders from Silver Valley Unified School District to announce a new partnership with an evidence-based, rigorous national STEM program. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineer- ing and mathematics. This was all made possible, thanks to more than $135,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Defense. The launch event, which included school and military families and students, was for a two-year College Readiness Program from the National Math and Science Initiative that’s being implemented at Silver Valley High School. As a nonprofit whose mission is to advance STEM education to all students and help them reach their highest potential, NMSI has served more than 250 American schools that have significant enrollment among military- connected students. The non-profit’s mission is especially focused on those furthest from opportunity. Col. Martin provided remarks at the event and the NTC Commanding General’s wife, Kelly Lesperance, also attended.
“The event was wonderful and it was great to hear Col. Martin speak, as well as have Mrs. Lesperance in attendance,” Shannon Manion, Manager of the Military Families Mission said.
The Dallas-based NMSI has served more than 1,300 U.S. high schools to improve student access and achievement in STEM education through teacher training, collaboration with campus leaders and student-focused resources. Schools that participate in the nonprofit’s College Readiness Program see immediate and dramatic increases in the number of students taking Advanced Placement® exams and earning qualified scores. The non- profit seeks to give access to high-quality, college-level coursework for all students, particularly those who are underrepresented in STEM programs.
Barracks Update
Command Sgt. Maj. Fedorisin briefed the audience on improving the quality of the barracks and relayed that renovations for building 251 are scheduled to be complete by this November.
The Replacement Barracks Project is set to begin no later than 2025 and would include replacing 390-bed spaces. Renovation designs for five barracks are scheduled to be completed by March 2020 and ready for execution once funding is made available.
Before the town hall, the Garrison Command Team gathered ques- tions from residents through social media, regarding any concerns they had about their housing. Those were addressed during the town hall, as well as questions taken live from the Facebook livestream. Questions from the audience included those about necessary repairs and move- in conditions for families and single soldier housing and barracks.
One new resident asked about pay-and-go fees and the condition of their home once they arrived at Fort Irwin.
“All fees for pay-and-go are paid out dollar-for-dollar what the tenant has paid,” Hay said, confirming no short cuts are taken for quality cleaning upon move-out.
Hay told soldiers and residents that the Villages plans to add three more maintenance workers within the next year, pending government budget approvals.
The Garrison and Offered residents the opportunity to participate in tours of Housing to see exactly where their money is going. There was also a legal representative on hand to help clarify residents’ ques- tions and provide insight into the types of inquiries their office receives regarding housing. Housing representatives were on site to take work orders and address concerns immediately during the town hall.
The date for the next quarterly Housing Town Hall will be released soon. Times and dates may vary to try to accommodate different schedules. The Garrison Commander will also be holding monthly town halls on the Tuesday before each four-day Opportunity Leave and those dates will also soon be published.
From HOUSING, Page 2
Villages Community Director, Adam Hay, clarifies BAH breakdowns, rent comparisons and future improvements to housing.
RCI program manager, Sandra Key, answers questions from residents in the Housing Town Hall audience.
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin