JACKSON TWP - The Seneca Valley School Board has yet to direct administrators to hire another instructor for the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program as required by the U.S. Army.

At the board’s Nov. 1 meeting, JROTC parent Richard Weber told the board that the program may be eliminated at the end of this school year.

Weber said the district’s JROTC program was placed on probation in June because it has neither the 100-cadet enrollment minimum nor a second instructor as required by the U.S. Army.

Weber told board members that the Army may allow the program to continue if it sees enrollment increasing, but it will definitely disband the program if a second certified instructor is not hired by the end of the 2010-11 school year.

At the Monday school board meeting, several uniformed JROTC cadets and their parents listened as Assistant Superintendent Tracy Vitale explained the district’s status regarding the program.

“We feel the program is worthy and we are proud of the program,” Vitale said.

She said the second instructor’s position was posted on the district’s website and through the Army in October and November 2008.

She said the district contacted 40 officers across the country regarding the position, and seven were interviewed. She said all seven agreed to relocate should they be offered the job.

Vitale said an officer was chosen in November 2008, but he turned the offer down to avoid moving.

She said the board told administration to hold off on hiring a second instructor because enrollment numbers were in the 40s at that time.

She said the program now has 51 cadets and administration continues to support and recruit for the program.

“We will be looking to our school board for input on this,” Vitale said of hiring a second instructor.

Vitale also said administration must have a document from the Army stating that the district’s JROTC program will continue if both conditions are met.

The board took no action on the matter.