Tinker students to endure one less transition

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Danielle Conde
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  New buildings, along with the middle school curriculum, are scheduled to be developed for Tinker Elementary School K-8 to prepare for the 2015-2016 school year at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

"This is a collaborative effort between Hillsborough County Public School district and MacDill AFB," announced Col. Andre Briere, 6th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, during the Council for Education Excellence meeting on March 19, 2015. "We fully anticipate it opening this summer."

In emphasizing the importance of the expansion, Col. Daniel Tulley, 6th AMW commander, said that military children attending Tinker Elementary School K-8 will be able to continue their education at an "A-rated" school that is close to where they live, and endure one less transition between schools.

Once the paperwork has been approved, the construction on the modular classrooms is set to begin in April.

"Within the next two to three years we plan on building two permit buildings for the middle school students," said Jaclyn Rowehl, Tinker Elementary School assistant principal for student affairs.

In addition to the HCPS curriculum, the staff is working to include electives such as band, art, Spanish and business technology for the students.

"We offer opportunities other schools may not be able to provide because of our small size," said Rowehl. "Students will receive more one on one instruction."

By the new school year, Rowehl predicts to have about 120 middle school students enrolled at Tinker, which will bring the attendance of the school up to approximately 650-670 as a whole.

"It is important to understand that our military housing development and Tinker Elementary are the heart and soul of our on base community," said Tulley. "The synergy the school and the housing development produce truly makes the on base community better, something it would not be if either was missing."

For further questions about the expansion, or education in general, parents are encouraged to attend the next Council for Education Excellence meeting on April 13, 2015, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. located in the Corona Room at the Davis Conference Center.

To listen to the most recent meeting please click here.