Slocum, principals meet
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on December 11, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
4th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Mark Slocum, left, and Superintendent of Wayne County Schools Dr. Michael Dunsmore speak before an annual principals meeting held at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Wednesday. School officials and principals from most public schools met to gain information and ideas of how schools and the base can work together to improve local schools.
Mark Slocum, commander of the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, is not in the business of running schools, but on Wednesday he told a group of principals he is prepared to do battle with them for Wayne County's kids.
Wayne County Public Schools' principals and school officials held their December meeting on base, also hearing from their own "commander" -- superintendent Dr. Michael Dunsmore.
Both have been working in recent months to make the local educational system stronger.
"Why am I so interested in the schools?" Slocum asked. "Because this is having an impact on my mission. I have people right now who are getting out of the Air Force or who are not moving their families here or choosing to leave here because in their mind they can't get a quality education for their kids."
Others have moved their families to larger cities, like Raleigh or Chapel Hill, and commute to their jobs on base, he said.
"I literally have two leaders living in campers in our trailer park for two or three years on base because they refuse to bring their kids to this county," he said.
Whether it is a real problem, or a perceptual one, Slocum said the conversation and developing partnership between the base and the school system is a much-needed one.
With 1,950 school-age children coming from the military side, that represents about 10 percent of the public school population, he said. In addition to that, a recent survey put out by the base elicited 500 responses from parents.
"Over 200 of them do not volunteer but want to volunteer in the school system to help," he said. "Who would like to have some extra manpower in their school?
"I'm telling you, with the experience they have and the things that they're motivated to do, they've got a vested interest and they want to help. I think we have failed to make that connection."
Dunsmore, who became superintendent July 1, said he is trying to work with the base as much as possible.
On a daily basis, he said, he hears countless things the district is doing right. But that "1 percent" is getting a lot of his attention and gaining traction.
"You know what the biggest one is -- I met with all 33 of you -- a huge disconnect with the central office," he told the principals. "We're working on that.
"The disconnect out in the schools -- 'I'm ignored.' 'I sat in the waiting room; nobody said hello.' 'Nobody greeted me.' 'Not responding to emails, returning phone calls.' 'I've asked questions; how do I get help?'"
Dunsmore challenged the staff to pay attention to the voices of the community.
"If it gets to my level, it's an issue," he said. "It's a huge issue and I'm going to address them as best I can."
He said he has been taking calls and responding to emails and will continue the practice.
It's the "customer service" piece in the schools, he said.
"Please, have your teachers follow up with parents," he said. "I also tell people a lot of times, and this is one of the gauges I use, 'Parents call me upset, madder than a hornet.' It's their child -- put yourself in their shoes for one second. And particularly if it's an EC (exceptional children) parent.
"I'm not singling out EC. But even behavioral issues."
The superintendent reminded the staff that he does not like suspensions, thanking them for efforts to address that.
"Sending kids home in this day and age is not the answer, particularly our high poverty and our high needs kids," he said. "We're just fast tracking them to quitting school.
"When you're dealing with discipline, with parents, understand. What if it's your kid? 'I'm at work. My wife works. You're pulling me away from work, you're pulling me away from my paycheck. And my kid's acting up.' So just let's be a little empathetic to that."
Dunsmore was not all gloom and doom. He told the gathering he remains impressed with the school system but wants to see it becoming more of a thriving commodity.
"I think we are on the track to greatness here," he said. "I think we have a fantastic system.
"We've got a lot of work ahead of us. We've got great kids."