On June 30, Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Liberty County School System Superintendent Dr. Valya S. Lee to the State Council of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission. Lee will fill the position formerly held by retiring Houston County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. James R. Hines.

The state council was formed in spring 2012 and consists of members appointed by the governor, selected ex-officio members and school-liaison officers from all the school systems located near Georgia’s military installations.

Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield Garrison Commander Col. Kevin Gregory, who also is a military/Department of Defense representative, and Fort Stewart School Liaison Officer Greg Cooke also serve on the state council from the Fort Stewart/Liberty County district.

The purpose of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployments of their parents. The commission facilitates the timely enrollment of children of military families while ensuring they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of education records from previous schools. The commission facilitates the student-placement process through which children of military families are not disadvantaged by variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content or assessment.