News Release
For Immediate Release November 9, 2010
Contact: Charles Pyle, Director of Communications (804) 371-2420
Julie C. Grimes, Communications Manager, (804) 225-2775
The Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact for Military Children will be briefed by a retired Air Force general tomorrow on the impact of childhood obesity on military readiness.
The council is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m., Wednesday, November 10, in the Newport News School Board auditorium at 12465 Warwick Boulevard in Newport News.
Major General Frank R. Faykes, US Air Force (Retired), was one of more than 100 high-ranking retired military leaders who wrote to Congress in September about the impact of childhood obesity on military readiness. In their letter, the retired officers and civilian defense officials cited obesity as the leading medical reason potential recruits are disqualified from military service.
The council also will be briefed by Newport News Public Schools staff on steps to ease the transition for military children transferring into or from Virginia public schools, and by Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) staff on provisions of the Interstate Compact for Military Children and relevant Virginia laws and regulations.
Senator John Miller of Newport News serves as chairman of the council. The other members are as follows:
- Delegate M. Kirkland Cox of Colonial Heights;
- Patricia I. Wright, superintendent of public instruction;
- William C. Bosher Jr., distinguished professor of public policy at the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University;
- James S. Lander, senior systems engineer at Acquisition Solutions Inc. and currently a reservist on active duty;
- James G. Merrill, superintendent of Virginia Beach Public Schools;
- Winston O. Odom, superintendent of Hopewell Public Schools; and
- Susan McIntosh, education services officer, Marine Corps Base Quantico (ex officio)
The Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact for Military Children was created by the 2009 General Assembly to coordinate Virginia's efforts to serve military children and implement the provisions of the compact. VDOE provides staff support for the council.
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