More than one surprising proclamation regarding the Holloman base’s “expectations” for Alamogordo Public Schools (APS) was reported by Col. Alfred Rosales School Board Holloman Ex Officio at the October 18th School Board meeting. Beginning at the 41:30 minute mark, Rosales gave the Board a brief outline of their Squadron In Schools program (SIS) on behalf of the entire Holloman Leadership Team. This newly rebranded program was introduced as another way they intend to initiate their new education approach.
Col. Rosales gave recognition to the Board that emails have been going out to schools introducing the Holloman SIS program. He noted that the emails explain that “squadrons would like to become partners with them and come into the schools, engage with the students, and engage with the faculty to help be part of the community more from that perspective.” He went on to state, “We are in the process of doing that . . . that is happening and ongoing.” Rosales’s SIS message seemed to go unnoticed by the Alamogordo School District Board, including Board President Judy Rabon. All sat silent and mounted no questions. Holloman’s resolve was evident, and nothing Rosales presented appeared to constitute a request.
Only some details about the SIS project were presented. However, similar programs exist elsewhere as corporate volunteer partnerships, and those of any size are welcome. Company-sponsored volunteer activities like the Holloman SIS program are available throughout the school year.
The benefits of employee volunteer programs include improved employee satisfaction, increased brand reputation, and more effective talent recruitment. Sources explain that providing additional opportunities for base personnel to give back to our local community benefits their well-being, sense of purpose, and physical and mental health. In addition, their presence will allow students to become more familiar with the similarities between the lives of military members and civilian counterparts. Students can view themselves in these roles, which may benefit recruitment, a positive outcome for Holloman.
APS and the community will also benefit significantly. Members of our Holloman community have a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and connections. These contributions can make a difference for our students, many of whom don’t have access to those opportunities within their families or networks. Holloman personnel can host classroom visits, lead skill-based workshops, and provide specific experiences in the classroom. The community and APS should be excited about this opportunity being made available by the Holloman Leadership Team.
The physical presence of SIS volunteers not only enhances the quality of education but also strengthens all students’ safety. Community and military-connected parents report feeling more detached from the inner workings of APS. These parents also worry because of the rumors and reports suggesting that the APS Board has done nothing to protect staff, teachers, and student safety. The addition of numerous civil cases that assert similar accusations compound this issue. And with the recent murder of a middle school student, intervention by the Holloman Leadership Team is unsurprising. Inserting non-authoritative, educated, trained, and attentive volunteers provides the eyes, ears, and knowledge to observe, listen, and evaluate student safety.
Insight into additional Holloman expectations can only be speculated. Programs like SIS and opening a satellite high school on base to fortify education for “active-duty families, DoD civilians, and international guard reservists connected to the base” seem straightforward. However, the unprecedented scope of the Holloman Leadership Team’s proclamations also appears clear. They do not trust APS with the safety of their students, and they are placing trusted resources into every school capable of providing first-person reports on daily events, classroom decorum, and safe behavior within our public schools. Individuals who, if needed, can step in as formidable protectors.
Military families and the Holloman Leadership Team are showing their resolve.
