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Pocatello trustees ask staff to study Army JROTC option, set timeline for return
Summary
Trustees heard a staffing and eligibility briefing on launching an Army JROTC program, asked staff to collect cost and enrollment details, and agreed to consider an action item in April after receiving additional information and community feedback.
The Pocatello District board heard a detailed briefing on establishing an Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program and directed staff to gather further cost, staffing and enrollment information before taking action.
At the work session, a district staff presenter and an ISU Army ROTC coordinator outlined what the program would require. The district was told an Army JROTC program needs a minimum of two instructors — a retired officer (bachelor’s degree required) and a retired noncommissioned officer (associate’s degree, allowed to complete degree within five years) — and that the Army supplies curriculum materials, uniforms and training equipment. "JROTC program requires a minimum of 2 instructors," the ISU coordinator said, and the program expects the district to cover half of instructor salaries and full benefits.
Staff emphasized enrollment and timeline constraints: a program must enroll either 100 students or 10% of the eligible population by the third year. The district’s presenter noted enrollment and scheduling implications and recommended staff examine whether the program could be run at a single site or rotate among schools. "Within the first 3 years, they have to have 100 students enrolled ... or 10% of the eligible population by the third year," the presenter said.
Trustees raised questions about where instructors would be housed, whether positions would be full time or shared, academic-credit issues and how the Army’s curriculum would be delivered. Fatina Hunchal, ISU’s Army ROTC coordinator, offered to help with contacts and described existing partnerships (drill space, range agreements, and equipment inventory) that ISU and the brigade already maintain.
The board asked staff to compile cost estimates, clarify scheduling and staffing models (full‑time versus part‑time/rotating), and return with a recommendation. Trustees suggested a committee or a more detailed agenda item and agreed to consider a possible action item in April after staff and community outreach. No formal vote was taken.
