Officials at the Watertown City School District are studying a high school Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or JROTC, program.

Superintendent Terry N. Fralick presented information at the Board of Education's meeting Tuesday from his meeting last month with Thomas Piroli of the Carthage JROTC program.

"We met with Mr. Piroli to discuss how we could apply for the program and how much it would cost," Mr. Fralick said. "He said it might be possible for us to get some grants to supplement the cost."

Mr. Fralick said he is not sure how much the program would cost, or whether he could obtain a grant to cover it.

"I think the board is very interested in the program and is considering putting some school funds toward it," he said. "We are very interested in getting this up and running in our school district. Studies have shown that this type of program is very beneficial to the school climate. This will show our interest in supporting our military families and certainly our interest in offering character-building curriculum."

Mr. Fralick said two retired Army officers would have to be hired to run the program. He said having that daily connection to a rigorous, challenging curriculum will help students prepare for the future.

High School Principal Stephen J. Todd and lead guidance counselor Terry E. Freeman also were at the meeting with Mr. Piroli, and Mr. Fralick said they both showed interested in the program and said they knew of many students who would be interested in it.

At Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, board member Patrick J. Powers said he also was interested in the program.

"With a military base in our backyard, this seems to be the next logical step," he said.

Mr. Fralick said he is beginning the application process and once the district can figure out funding for the program, he will start trying to find room in the high school to house it.