European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 11, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 2 the stars and stripes saturday february 11,1989 adoption plan faces funding fight senator seeks permanent program by William j. Bartma Washington Bureau Washington the creator of test program that reimburses military families for adoption expenses wants tomake the program permanent and expand it to Federal employees. But while the families who have use the program to Date have loved it sen. Gordon Humphrey r-n.h., will face Tough time expanding it beyond the experimental stage. The response from military families to this new program has been Over whelming Humphrey said in introducing new adoption legislation last month. According to a Survey conducted by the department of defense 97 percent of those participating in the test said the adoption benefits program has improved their  seventy five percent of those surveyed said the program will be a determining Factor in their re enlistment. That s exactly what it was primarily for a retention tool said an army official. So i guess its a  actually the program has barely got ten off the ground. Payments of up to $2,000 for adoption expenses have Bee authorized since oct. 1, 1987. But the first payments weren t made until no vember 1988, when the army became the first service to begin the reimburse ments. To Date the army has made 80 pay ments for a total of $90,000. The air Force began accepting claims in january and the Navy expects to begin its pro Gram this month. But Humphrey s enthusiasm for the program is not necessarily shared throughout Capitol Hill. We received no data Back said a staff member on the House armed services  re going to want to see hard num Bers. It s going 19 have to fight for fund ing in scarce military resources. And a Zero growth defense  in addition to making the military program permanent Humphrey also is proposing separate legislation that would establish a similar program for Federal workers who also would receive up to$2,000 toward adoption expenses. As the nation s largest employer the Federal government should Lead the Way in encouraging pro family efforts such a adoption. Yet we Are lagging far behind Many states and private employers who have made adoption Benefit plans Avail Able to their employees he said. A staunch anti abortionist Humphrey had a difficult time getting his two year test plan through Congress. Legislator were doubtful particularly at a time of tight budgets that the military really needed adoption reimbursement. But Humphrey persuaded his House and Senate colleagues to at least Autho Rize the two year test that ends sept. 30. In the test service members who have been on Active duty More than 179 Days can apply for up to $2,000 per child or $5,000 per Calendar year. To be eligible adoption proceedings must have been initiated Between oct. 1, 1987, and sept.30, 1989. Applications Are available at service finance and accounting offices. Dodds promotion plan causing concern a to a % tit or a i a t of a Bidav Walczak education Miter Wiesbaden West Germany a plan to standardize promotion requirements for school administrators is raising concerns among top educators Over seas Many of whom would Lack the credentials needed for advancement. As part of the plan administrators will need at Leas three years of classroom experience and up to 30 hours in specific graduate level course work to Quality for promotion. Officials of the department of defense dependent schools have sent letters to administrators in an at tempt to ease fears Over the changes. The letters include an explanation of the program by school system director John Stremple. His letter dated Jan. 17, noted that a time limit for meeting the Stan Dards has not been  in addition the letter said administrators can accept lateral transfers regard less of the revised requirements. However the letters noted that those trying to enter management for the first time and administrators seeking promotion must meet the new  members of the Federal managers association Dis manager of Thrift shop fired for theft Wiesbaden West Germany is the Wiesbaden Thrift shop manager was fired from her paid position and directed to perform 500 hours of Community service after she admitted that she stole nearly $7,000 in Cash and checks the Deputy Community commander said Friday. The warrant officer s wife also received a six month suspension of a forced Early return to the United states col. Powell m. Smith ii said. Smith said the woman reported the Money missing dec. 30. During a seven week investigation army investigators became suspicious of the woman and she eventually confessed. The woman also will enter a counsel ing program and repay the Cash. She Al ready has returned the stolen checks Smith said. If she fails to meet any of the require ments or is involved in further misconduct she will be forced to return to the United states. Japanese animator Dies Tokyo a Osamu Tezuka one of Japan s leading cartoonists and animators died thursday of stomach can cer. He was 60. Cussed the changes last month in a meeting in Mann Heim. According to an association member 20 of an estimated 60 school administrators raised their hand when asked How Many lacked one or More of the new requirements. The association is composed primarily of school principals who work for the overseas school system in the Germany and Atlantic regions. Association president elect Lorraine Shanoski said her organization wrote a letter to school system officials in october urging changes to the proposed career program revisions. The suggestions went largely ignored the Karlsruhe elementary principal said. A Dodds spokeswoman said the school system appreciated the organization s interest but dismissed its recommendations As  under the plan All administrators will be give Points for such activities As attendance at training courses education presentations school committee work and the publication of education related articles. Those with the most Points then will be placed on promotion list drawn from All five Dodds regions. All administrators will be required to fill out the forms even those who Are not seeking promotion. Only the top 20 names on the list will be forwarded to Community panels which help choose local Princi pals. Panels include parents teachers and military officials. Those seeking jobs As assistant principals or Educa Tion program managers also will be ranked but chosen by principals. Mahlon Porter who has helped evaluate administrators records since the Germany Region was created in 1983, predicted that the revisions would drastically change school system promotions and transfers. In the past there were five Levels of rating Crite Ria but it did t make much difference. They could select anyone they  Porter said he Wulin t Hazard a guess As to How Many current administrators Lack the classroom teach ing and graduate hour requirements. He said the group could include librarians and Counselor who moved into management. Any time you implement new regulations you can expect glitches to occur he said. The school system s five education division chiefs Are scheduled to meet next week in Washington to work out exact Point equivalents for each Section of the promotion form. Regional level committees plan to begin reviewing applications in March. Hanau colonel 49, Dies after open heart surgery Wiesbaden a West Germany is a 3rd corps support come colonel died thursday of complications resulting from open heart surgery command spokesman said Friday. Col. Heinz Fiebig commander of the 16th corps support group in Hanau died three Days after undergoing heart surgery at the Walter Reed army medi Cal Center in Washington maj. Bobby Little said. The 49-year-old officer was the group s Only commander since its activation in september 1987, Little said. Fiebig entered the army in 1958 As private and received his commission in 1965. He won the Bronze Star with Oakleaf Cluster and a purple heart during his service in Vietnam. Before becoming group commander Fiebig was an assistant v corps chief of staff in Frankfurt. The German born Fiebig is survived by. His wife Gitty three adult children Patricia Peggy and Mike and a grand child. Memorial services will be held at 11a.m. Thursday at the Pioneer Cavern Chapel in Hanau. Services also will beheld on the same Date and time at wies Baden s Haine Berg Chapel. Donations in the colonel s memory May be sent 19 the Walter Reed Chap lain s fund. Fiebig was to be posthumously awarded the legion of Merit Dur ing his funeral at fort myer va., on tuesday Little said. Captain honoured for performance Heidelberg West Germany an 8th inf div officer was awarded on Friday the . Army in Europe s second annual Gen. Douglas Macarthur leadership award in recognition of his Overall outstanding military performance. Capt. Paul f. Abel assigned tothe 708th support in was presented the award by Usa eur commander Gen. Crosbie e. Saint. The award was established in1987 by the Macarthur foundation in coordination with the department of the army. It is Given annually to a lieutenant or captaining each of the major army com mands Reserve and National guard. Reward offered in fran Sves be s death ludwigs Burg West Germany is West German police Are offer ing a 3,000 Mark Reward for information about the murder of a transvestite whose body was found Jan. 31 near the Patton Ville housing area in nearby Ramseck. Richard Bode 74, of Stuttgart often wore women s clothing wigs makeup and jewelry ludwigs Burg police spokes Man Albrecht Simoneit said. He said Bode often spoke to restaurant Patron Sand american soldiers in the ludwigs Burg area addressing them from his car in apparent attempts to initiate Homo sexual encounters. Bode s body was found about 11 . In his White Volkswagen Golf License plates Al 9483, on a path about 500 Yards North of the Road from Gru Buhl to Aldinger. He had been strangled Simoneit said. Police Are seeking details about Bode s habits usual whereabouts and personal contacts and witnesses who saw him after 7 . Jan. 30 or saw anything Rele vant near the crime scene on the night of the murder. Anyone with information is asked Socall 07141-141535. West German police have passed out1,500 fliers describing the Case to Patton Ville residents. An army spokesman said military police Are cooperating with the investigation but said it has no apparent connection to the american Community