Penn Hills JROTC students to continue program at Plum High School

Plum Air Force JROTC students from Penn Hills will be able to continue their journey this school year after a new agreement was approved by officials from both districts.

Penn Hills’ Navy Junior ROTC program was eliminated in 2019 due to a lack of cadets and money.

Both districts had an agreement for the 2019-20 school year to permit Penn Hills cadets in Plum’s Air Force program. They have come to terms on a new memorandum of understanding to continue the arrangement this school year.

The Plum School Board signed off on it last week while the Penn Hills School Board approved it in October.

“We certainly support the ideals of the program and are happy that interested students have this opportunity in the current school year,” Penn Hills Superintendent Nancy Hines said.

The agreement was finalized a few months after two Penn Hills students, junior William Phillips and senior Abdulbasit Odunoye, went before Plum officials to ask how they could remain cadets.

The previous deal had expired and covid concerns put things in limbo for the students.

“I was very impressed with the composure that the two Penn Hills students came with and advocated for themselves,” Plum School Board President Mike Devine said shortly after his board voted on the approval. “That took courage as a teenager to stand up in front of a room full of adults and ask for what they wanted. I am thrilled we have been able to come to terms and allow them to continue with our program. I wish them nothing but success.”

The Penn Hills School District agreed to pay Plum about $1,260 per its students in the program. The students’ families are responsible for transportation. Any future participation beyond this school year must be further negotiated, according to the deal.

Plum has about 100 cadets, four from Penn Hills, in its program led by retired Master Sgt. Kevin Butler.

“The cadets have taken to each other very well,” Butler said. “They have embraced each other as members of the same team. They lead and follow each other as anyone should in a professional organization. I could not be more proud of them.

”Penn Hills has sent some amazing young people to be a part of our program, and I am personally grateful to have them around. Their experiences and intellect only add to our success.”

Butler said they started a new community service program this school year where cadets are able to write letters to veterans in retirement centers. Letters are reviewed by the school prior to being sent out.

Veterans can respond to the cadets. Their letters are sent to the school for review and passed on to cadets.

However, Plum went to all virtual learning in late November through early January due to rising covid cases both in Allegheny County and the district, itself.

That put the JROTC program and other co-curricular activities on pause.

“As soon as we are informed it is safe to resume our co-curriculars and community service projects, our cadets will be back in winning shape and serving our community,” Butler said.