Return to the "POINTER VIEW"
                         May 30, 2003

By Spc. Nate Jastrzemski
Staff Writer

The Department of Defense Education Activity is currently studying the operational costs of all of its continental U.S. schools -- or Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools -- to determine the viability of transferring students to local area schools and closing on-installation facilities.

Called the DDESS Transfer Issue, the study consists of impartial and objective evaluations of 58 schools and is being completed in four phases, said Lawanna Mangleburg, West Point and Quantico, Va., school superintendent.

"The first phase is to determine the physical conditions of schools and construction and renovation estimates to bring them to local area, state and federal regulations," she explained.

"Phase two will be an operating and transfer cost study, projecting the costs for transferring each school population to its respective local education agency and survey both local and state education agencies that would be impacted.

She said while the first two phases are being conducted by sub-contracted firms, the final two will be done by DoDEA itself.

Phase three will consist of an analysis of educational offerings for students and related quality-of-life issues of families. It will also collect input from local DDESS school boards and commands.

The last phase of the study will be the development of DoDEA’s final recommendations.

Mangleburg said there are some important things that could affect the outcome of the study.

"The cost of transferring students to local education agencies with or without the continued use of DDESS facilities will be important findings, as will input from installation leadership officials."

That last item is especially pivotal here at West Point, said Tony Brown, director of Community and Family Activities.

"The leadership of the academy is intent on keeping the West Point Schools in the hands of DDESS/DoDEA. WPS is considered one of the highest performing DoDEA schools and as such attracts top-notch staff and faculty for the academy.

"Additionally, our school staff is made up of many family members, affording job opportunities to community members, and the students are safe and secure on the grounds here," he concluded.

Mangleburg said the final report and recommendations are scheduled to be sent to Congress in February 2004.