Board votes to keep Meadowdale JROTC in place for 2025–26, refers broader plan to curriculum committee

The Dayton City School District Board of Education voted 6–1 on March 18 to keep the Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program at Meadowdale Career Technology Center for the 2025–26 school year and to refer broader planning about the program’s location and expansion to the School Programming and Curriculum Committee.

The decision came after more than a dozen students, parents and instructors spoke during public comment, describing the program’s benefits and warning that moving it to Dunbar High School would remove training space and equipment Meadowdale currently provides. "If you move our program to a facility that lacks the space, equipment, and resources we currently have, it will limit what our cadets can accomplish," said Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Wadsworth, who identified himself as a Meadowdale cadet and urged the board to keep the program in place.

Why it matters: Several speakers said JROTC provides students with school attendance incentives, mentorship and concrete post‑graduation advantages such as physical‑education waivers and advanced enlistment credit in the military. Instructors warned that the Dunbar building lacks an indoor drill space, an air rifle range and adequate storage; parents said transporting Meadowdale cadets to Dunbar would impose schedule and family burdens.

Board discussion and action: Board member Dr. Gutwein moved the motion "that for the 2025–26 school year, we do not relocate Meadowdale, but we also kick this conversation to the School Programming and Curriculum Committee." Mr. Walker seconded. After additional comments from board members requesting more analysis of student impacts and facility capacity, the board voted: President Goodwin — yes; Dr. Bailey — yes; Mr. Lacey — no; Mr. Smith — yes; Miss Reinhardt — yes; Mr. Walker — yes; Miss Week — yes (6 yes, 1 no). The motion directs staff to gather additional information and bring recommendations back through the curriculum committee rather than proceeding with an immediate relocation.

Discussion vs. decision: The board did not direct a permanent policy change; it only directed that Meadowdale not be relocated for 2025–26 and that staff report back with further analysis and options. Several board members said they want deeper study of transportation impacts, facility capacity, the effect on students’ military enlistment credits and possible alternatives such as transporting interested Dunbar students to Meadowdale.

Voices from Meadowdale: Speakers included Jeannie Green, a Meadowdale parent who said her son — a first‑year cadet — would lose military advancement benefits if the program moved; Lieutenant Colonel Claudia Mason, Meadowdale senior army instructor, who provided enrollment figures and scheduling examples; Sergeant Major Cleon Humphrey, Meadowdale army instructor, who cited range and storage needs; and multiple cadets including Cadet Major Arthur Thomas, Zach Green and Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Wadsworth. They said the Meadowdale program currently enrolls roughly 50–56 cadets (speakers gave counts in the mid‑50s) and that moving the program would disrupt student schedules, extracurricular participation and training continuity.

Next steps: The board’s referral asks the School Programming and Curriculum Committee to collect and present data on facility capacity, student interest at Dunbar and Meadowdale, transportation implications, and options for growing JROTC across the district. Staff told the board they would package parent and staff feedback and return with a proposal through the committee process.

Ending: The vote leaves the Meadowdale program in place for the coming school year while charging district staff and the curriculum committee to produce a more detailed plan for how JROTC should be organized and where it should be housed going forward.