The U.S. Navy has tackled some formidable opponents in its long and glorious history, but it has now run afoul of the state's schoolmarm. Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson, who last year won a courtroom constitutional fight with the Perdue administration over who's in charge of the state's public schools, has vowed to, um, stand in the schoolhouse door over the Navy's consideration of plans to put a practice jet landing field near 10 schools in northeastern North Carolina. Khaner Walker with the PR agency French/West/Vaughan, sends along Atkinson's remarks following a meeting with representatives of Camden and Currituck counties Wednesday to discus the potential impact of an outlying landing field (OLF) on schools in that area:
“There are approximately 10 schools located less than three miles from the proposed site in Camden,” commented Atkinson. “The impact on these children and costs to soundproof the buildings will be severe. In addition, the loss of tax base will be crippling… An OLF would disrupt the learning of our children and harm northeastern North Carolina’s school systems. I will not remain silent and allow this to happen.”
The Navy wants to build a practice jet landing field for aircraft carrier pilot training, and need a place in a rural area that's dark enough to simulate nighttime landings on a carrier. It earlier targeted a site in Washington and Beaufort counties near the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, but environmental and citizens groups challenged that plan in federal court and forced the Navy to look at new sites in Virginia and North Carolina that are not too far from the Navy's master jet base near Virginia Beach.
