School liaison officer available at MAFB

  • Published
  • By Carol Phillips
  • Malmstrom School Liaison Officer
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The education of our military children is a quality of life issue for our Air Force families. Because of frequent moves, our school-age children can face challenges with differing services, reciprocity and quality of education from place to place. To help with transition and relocation, the Air Force established the school liaison officer position. 
 
As the SLO, my charge is to assist parents and caregivers of school-age children in understanding the local education community. I also educate school administrators, counselors and teachers on the military lifestyle and how it impacts children. I help develop and maintain partnerships between parents, base leadership, local schools (including home schools and private schools), and the community. 

Since becoming the SLO earlier this year, I have been working on growing the relationship between Malmstrom and the schools in Great Falls. For the first time, six private schools and the Malmstrom homeschool group will be present to give out information and answer questions at the base picnic Aug. 21. I'm also working hard to build on the good relationship the base has with the public schools our children attend, and make those ties even stronger. Along with the Military SLO, I will attend the Great Falls Public School Board meetings, keeping abreast of issues that may affect our children and informing them of deployments and other issues with which our children may be dealing with.

On Aug. 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Great Falls Public Schools will be holding an information fair at Loy Elementary. This is a perfect time for new families to get their children registered, especially if they will attend Loy, North Middle School, or C.M. Russell High School. Even if children will be attending a different school, there will be many people available to answer questions about busses, food service, Special Education services, Malmstrom Youth Programs and more. 

For questions or concerns about getting your child(ren) settled in school in Great Falls, please come by or give me a call. I am located in the Airman and Family Readiness Center in the lower level of Building 1191 and can be reached at 731-4900.