MCPSS: Awarded $6 Million For JROTC; Not Requiring Masks

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded $6 million to the Mobile County Public School System (MCPSS), WKRG reports. The grant will be used to expand the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps’ (JROTC) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Leadership Academy. The academy is a summer camp program that uses STEM programs to teach maritime activities, advanced manufacturing, aviation, rappelling and orienteering to cadets, who also participate in career-focused visits to local industry sites and workplaces. MCPSS is the only K-12 system among the 15 awardees from the DoD’s National Defense Education Program.

Additionally, Superintendent Chresal Threadgill has announced that, starting November 1, all MCPSS campuses will still strongly recommend but not require masks, NBC 15 reported. Threadgill explained, “While masks will be optional, we will still implement safety practices such as social distancing as much as possible, the frequent cleaning of our facilities and the use of sanitizers. Our priority will remain the health and safety of everyone. We will continue monitoring positive cases as we approach the winter months and will adjust as necessary.” The Alabama Department of Public Health has removed Mobile from the “high threat” category in terms of the number of positive COVID-19 cases.