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FORT BRAGG, N.C. (SEPT. 10, 2008) – A high-level federal delegation led by the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment met on Tuesday at the Fort Bragg Officers’ Club with regional school superintendents to understand the impacts of Fort Bragg growth on area schools. The Economic Adjustment Committee (EAC) Senior Leadership Group met at the Army post for an Education Growth Site Visit, which is one of several scheduled at military bases around the country to discuss on-the-ground knowledge of issues surrounding mission growth, improve communications among all partners, and identify any gaps/lags in capacities. The visiting delegation included Keith Eastin, Assistant Secretary of the Army, Installations and Environment; Patrick O’Brien, Director of the Office of Economic Adjustment; Bill Evers, Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, U. S. Department of Education; John Roberts, Special Assistant to President Bush; and Kathy Facon, Chief for Education Partnership Branch, Department of Defense. The group also toured Highland Elementary School in Harnett County and held a roundtable discussion with Harnett County School Superintendent Dan Honeycutt, Principal Terry Blalock, area classroom teachers, and parents of military-connected students representing several school districts. School superintendents from Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Richmond, and Robeson counties attended today’s meeting as did N. C. Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. June Atkinson. Dr. William C. Harrison, Cumberland County superintendent and Dan Honeycutt, Harnett County superintendent presented to the EAC a county-specific overview that included enrollment projections, building plans and budget and funding information. “The purpose of this EAC visit was to improve understanding and communication about local school impacts, of which construction, expansion, and renovation are obviously among the most important,” said Paul Dordal, executive director of the BRAC Regional Task Force who also attended yesterday’s meeting, school tour and roundtable. Officials on this visit were hoping to gauge the true effects of anticipated student growth, which can be influenced by several factors, including location, timing, and magnitude. “I believe our efforts and challenges here in the region were documented,” said Dordal. “In the 11-county region, the BRAC impact on school construction and administrative costs total over $500 million -- this is needed to accommodate more than 6,600 additional students in the next five years. What our Federal partners take away from this trip will help in future discussions about appropriate federal, state, and local roles in responding to growth at Army installations, including those roles for school-related capital projects,” said Dordal.