Bentonville School Leaders Honored For Supporting Employee

BENTONVILLE -- Three School District administrators received awards this week for their support of an employee who frequently is called away from the job because of his military work.

Vic England is the district's safety and energy manager. He's also served with the Army Reserve since 2000. Before that he served four years on active duty in the Navy.

England, a captain, nominated his supervisors Michael Poore, Sterling Ming and Paul Wallace for the Patriot Award recognizing bosses for the support they provide to members of the National Guard and Reserve. Poore is superintendent, Ming is director of finance and Wallace is director of facilities for the district.

The Patriot Award is granted by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense organization established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between service members and their civilian employers.

Jon Woodham, chairman of the organization's Northwest Arkansas chapter, made a surprise presentation of the awards at Monday's School Board meeting along with England, who wore his dress blues. The presentation hadn't been listed on the agenda.

Knowing they have their employers' support while serving gives service members peace of mind, Woodham said.

"Indirectly, you are all helping out with the nation's defense," he said. "It really means a lot knowing you all have our backs, so to speak."

The Army Reserve has used England on numerous occasions over the past year that required him to be away from work, England said. Some of those absences were planned. Others occurred with little warning. He estimated he's spent between 40 and 50 business days on Army business over the past year.

During those times, Poore, Ming and Wallace consistently have called to check on his well-being and his family, England said.

"If a need arose, they would personally help to resolve the issue," said England, who lives in Bentonville with his wife, Linda. "I could not ask for a better working relationship with my supervisors."

Since 9/11, the National Guard and Reserve have been used in ways they weren't designed, Woodham said. England served six months in Iraq in 2004; he's also been used to help fill in at Fort Sill, Okla., Fort Knox, Ky., and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., during the past five years.

After Woodham distributed the awards, Poore admitted the district took advantage of one of England's absences this summer.

"We restructured and gave him additional duties with very little compensation," Poore said, provoking laughs from the audience.

What Poore said was true, however: England, who had been energy manager, now oversees safety for the district as well.

NW News on 09/19/2014

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