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Entering the Hanover County School Board meeting room last week, there was no mistaking the uniform, crisp and respectful, and the young man’s demeanor confirmed his military background.

Last night, the School Board was scheduled to adopt its 2010-2011 budget. During the Jan. 20 public hearing, two Lee-Davis High School cadets — members of the JROTC — made their plea to save the program.

Whether their reasons for retaining the staff positions were heard and agreed upon by the School Board were revealed yesterday. (Check MLeditor on Twitter, as well as Opinion on our Web site, and http://www.facebook.com/mechlocal for updates from the meeting.)

What the students brought before board members were compelling requests. The training, the discipline, the future — all aspects that attract those to serve our military.

While the voices of parents, personnel and professional organizations expressed various concerns or support for the budget proposal, the students truly put a face on the financial strains our school system is confronting — even as it looks ahead.

No second guessing here, though. This is being written before the School Board acts. However, a work session Thursday evening did generate some questions members were to consider last night. Today, we know what impact the pleas had and what was decided on the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps.

Etc.

+ To offer ease in submitting items for the Calendar, we now have a mailbox address dedicated specifically to that. Please send your Calendar items to: .
+ Also new to The Mechanicsville Local is the addition of archives on our Web site, http://www.mechlocal.com. Complete — as in the entire newspaper — appears online. Check Archives at the menu at the top of the home page and go check out our “shelved” editions. Pretty cool.