An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

ArticleCS

New school project now officially underway

  • Published
  • By Giancarlo Casem
  • 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  

The school renovation project at Edwards Air Force Base, California, is one step closer to fruition after a ground breaking ceremony at the site of the old Branch Elementary School, May 13.

 

Kevin Cordes, Muroc Joint Unified School District Superintendent, hosted the event and invited Edwards leadership, local civic leaders as well as future students of the school.

 

“What we anticipate is in about two years, we’ll get back together again as a group, and we’re going to cut a ribbon and we’re going to open up the two elementary schools,” he said. “Then we’re going to be able to transition to the high school; within five years or so, you’re going to see all brand new schools.”

 

Bailey Elementary School will be a transitional kindergarten through third grade school, Branch elementary, will be a fourth to sixth grade school.

 

This construction is made possible by the Public schools on Military Installations Program through the Office of Economic Adjustment, funding is derived from 80 percent Department of Defense dollars with a 20 percent match from local school districts, Cordes said.

 

The school project went through many iterations, including not renovating Bailey Elementary School at all during the early planning stages, Cordes said.

 

“We were just talking about renovating the existing Branch Elementary School, we realized that wasn’t the best course of action and overtime our plans evolved…and we reached the point where we thought wouldn’t it be the best idea if we were to create a feeling like on a college campus, where you have a large learning complex and we break the kids out into more appropriate age groups,” he said. “Split them up so they can be in smaller settings and enjoy moving from one school, graduating up to the next level.”

 

One of the key components of the school project on Edwards is the use of shared building spaces that tie all the schools together, this includes common areas such as gyms, quads and libraries. Cordes said he and the school district are working to ensure the students get the best possible resources to succeed.

 

“You kids deserve the best that we can possibly give to you, we try and give you the very best teachers, the very best support staff, the safest environment to learn in, and we feel that these schools, which were built in the 1950s and 1960s, needed to be replaced.”

Slide show

New school project now officially underway

  • Published
  • By Giancarlo Casem
  • 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  

The school renovation project at Edwards Air Force Base, California, is one step closer to fruition after a ground breaking ceremony at the site of the old Branch Elementary School, May 13.

 

Kevin Cordes, Muroc Joint Unified School District Superintendent, hosted the event and invited Edwards leadership, local civic leaders as well as future students of the school.

 

“What we anticipate is in about two years, we’ll get back together again as a group, and we’re going to cut a ribbon and we’re going to open up the two elementary schools,” he said. “Then we’re going to be able to transition to the high school; within five years or so, you’re going to see all brand new schools.”

 

Bailey Elementary School will be a transitional kindergarten through third grade school, Branch elementary, will be a fourth to sixth grade school.

 

This construction is made possible by the Public schools on Military Installations Program through the Office of Economic Adjustment, funding is derived from 80 percent Department of Defense dollars with a 20 percent match from local school districts, Cordes said.

 

The school project went through many iterations, including not renovating Bailey Elementary School at all during the early planning stages, Cordes said.

 

“We were just talking about renovating the existing Branch Elementary School, we realized that wasn’t the best course of action and overtime our plans evolved…and we reached the point where we thought wouldn’t it be the best idea if we were to create a feeling like on a college campus, where you have a large learning complex and we break the kids out into more appropriate age groups,” he said. “Split them up so they can be in smaller settings and enjoy moving from one school, graduating up to the next level.”

 

One of the key components of the school project on Edwards is the use of shared building spaces that tie all the schools together, this includes common areas such as gyms, quads and libraries. Cordes said he and the school district are working to ensure the students get the best possible resources to succeed.

 

“You kids deserve the best that we can possibly give to you, we try and give you the very best teachers, the very best support staff, the safest environment to learn in, and we feel that these schools, which were built in the 1950s and 1960s, needed to be replaced.”

Edwards provides care, opportunities for children aged six weeks through high school graduation

Edwards provides care, opportunities for childrenaged six weeks through high school graduation

The Child and Youth Program at Edwards AFB provides care and opportunities for kids ages six weeks old through high school graduation. A brief summary of those services follows:

  •                    The Child Development Center cares for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, with a DOD-wide curriculum. The curriculum is focused on learning through play activities supporting social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Installations across DOD follow the curriculum on the same timeline to allow seamless permanent change-of-station transitions for youth enrolled in care.
  •                    The School Age Center provides before and after-school care and summer camp for children ages 5 to 12. During school breaks, full-day camps are offered. SAC promotes cognitive, social, emotional, cultural, language and physical development through programs that encourage self-confidence, curiosity, self-discipline and resiliency.
  •                    The open recreation program at the Main Youth Center provides a safe space for ages 9 to 12 to attend after school. Programs include Power Hour, STEM, Torch Club, social recreation, youth camps, special events and more.
  •                    The youth sports program provides intro and league opportunities for ages 3 to 12, and promotes inclusiveness, self-discipline, commitment, resiliency and social skills. There are four sports offered annually for ages five to 12: baseball/softball, soccer, flag football and basketball. Smart start programs are available to ages 3 to 5. There are many other sports and camps offered throughout the year.
  •                    The Teen Center is available for ages 13 to 18 during the school year. Programs offered include Military Youth of the Year, Keystone Club, social recreation, STEM activities, college trips, leadership camps and more.
  •                    Youth programs (SAC, open rec and teen) are affiliated with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and 4-H.
  •                    Family Child Care homes – there are currently three FCC homes on the installation. They can provide care for ages two weeks to 12 years. FCC providers are trained by Child and Youth Program training and curriculum specialists and have the flexibility to determine their hours of operation and the ages of youth within their care. The program’s new dedicated manager, Jennifer Stegmann, may be reached at 661-275-7529.

Although CDC enrollment capacity is 317, not all slots are currently filled because of a shortage of childcare workers. School Age Center enrollment capacity is 156. After-school care enrollment is 130. Before-school care enrollment is 75. Summer Camp 2022 was at its capacity and enrollment for Summer Camp 2023 opens April 3.