Published: June 29, 2009 11:10 pm      

Gaining military families could be coup for district

DUNCAN — Editor’s note: This is the final story focusing on what Duncan leaders are doing to attract and prepare for the possibility of growth in connection with BRAC/Fort Sill.



Duncan Public School district has fewer than 30 students enrolled who are children of active military.

But that number could increase over the next two school terms if city leaders can attract the military families that will be moving to southwest Oklahoma over the next 18 months from the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas, region.

“Dr. Sherry Labyer and I have been to several meetings at Fort Sill to stay informed and to make sure we are being considered for soldier relocation,” said Assistant Superintendent Glenda Cobb.

And while the obvious factor plays a role — that of a school district’s numbers generating revenue, as Cobb notes, “Students generate revenue and more students would mean more money allocated (from the state coffers)” — there’s an intrinsic value that must be considered.

“The kind of students associated with military have lived in a variety of places. To bring them to our community, we bring students with greater diversity and experience,” Cobb said. “Local students who may have not had the opportunity to live around the country and world would benefit from those students. It’s a win/win situation.”

Cobb said military students also exhibit a good work ethic and are well-behaved.

“It’s a coup to have them in your district.”

Interest to attract military families has also grown since she attended a special meeting at Fort Sill for officers’ wives who were visiting from Fort Bliss. Cobb said that each school district with representatives at that meeting was allowed a two-minute presentation, basically a “sales pitch.”

Cobb doesn’t recall representatives there from any other Stephens County school districts (specifically Central High, Marlow). She does remember Lawton, Cache and Elgin, all schools directly closer to Fort Sill, having representatives there.

Some of Duncan’s presentation included a quick review of what the district can offer to students and to their families. That includes a variety of sports — soccer, swimming — and the continual push for advancement within the district.

“We offer a good learning environment and a safe place for kids to come to school. We have AP (Advanced Placement) math and science that some of the smaller districts might not be able to do,” Cobb noted.

Cobb said there also was a gathering at Fort Sill for the soldiers and that Duncan has extended an invitation to them, and even support civilian workers and businesses.

“We invited them to take a look around and consider Duncan,” she said.

“I don’t have any idea if any of those outreach efforts had a positive impact. We’ll continue to recruit soldiers to consider relocating to Duncan.”

In that marketing pitch, other factors are playing a crucial role, she said.

“We feel hopeful — last summer when the price of gas shot up so high, we didn’t have a lot of hope — at this point, gas prices are not nearly so high.”

The high fuel prices could keep those relocating deciding to choose a home closer to Fort Sill, even though a 30-minute commute doesn’t seem like much.

Duncan Chamber of Commerce Director Debra Burch also said that Duncan has an advantage over other districts in attracting those relocating.

“They (Lawton) have not been able to pass a school bond issue and they needed that to get things done. We just passed one,” she said.

Burch, who lived in Lawton at one time and worked to increase tourism there, said that while it was a bigger city with a few more things to offer — retail and entertainment venues — the quality of life that Duncan has to offer is greater.

She, too, feels positive that Duncan will attract some of those relocating.

“Anytime a person moves, some are looking for smaller communities, schools. The drive to Duncan is easy, a short commute, 30 minutes. You can’t get across El Paso in 30 minutes.”