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VFW member urges Mechanicville schools to expand 'Veteran Share' visits, scholarships
Summary
Robert Presley of VFW Post 1498 asked the board to adopt a veterans-in-schools program that pairs classroom visits with scholarship opportunities tied to student writing assignments; board members expressed interest and asked administration to study logistics.
Robert Presley, a member of VFW Post 1498, used the board’s visitor comment period to propose a veterans engagement program the post has piloted in nearby districts and to offer help recruiting volunteers.
Presley outlined a three-part model: classroom-based "Veteran Share" visits around Veterans Day to allow small-group presentations and student Q&A; scholarship opportunities for students based on writing assignments tied to the curriculum; and preparatory meetings with schools to vet and prepare veterans. "This helps students, this helps veterans, helps the community," Presley said, describing prior runs of the program in nearby districts and offering a spreadsheet of roughly 100 volunteers.
Board members asked practical questions about grade levels and structure. Scott Deandro said the model has worked for first- through third-grade assemblies in his experience; other members discussed tailoring visits for middle or high school classes (for example, having veterans speak to 11th-grade history classes). The board signaled support for discussing the proposal with administration and reported willingness to schedule planning meetings in the summer or in September.
The proposal did not require immediate board action; members asked the superintendent’s office to evaluate logistics, vetting and scheduling and to report back. Presley offered to meet during the summer to help recruit veterans and coordinate with district staff.
Next steps: administration will review the proposal and return to the board with recommendations on scope, scheduling and any required clearance or training for volunteer speakers.
