Today’s speaker is our new member, Rene Sanchez, Superintendent of Champlain Valley School District.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30am.
Linda Gilbert shared opening words.
Susan led us in the four way test.
Susan shared the Toys for Kids barrels are in place and Chris is continuing to work on the final list of Gadue’s coat barrel drop off locations.
Susan announced on December 1 the club meeting will be a food project for the Harbor Place housing facility. Non Perishable foods will be collected, packaged and distributed there by our club. Leftover turkeys donated by our club from the Shelburne Food shelf are being donated to Harbor Place so that the cooking team there can prepare a thanksgiving meal for the residents.
Additionally, on January 15, the Winter Festival will be held in Shelburne and our Rotary Club will participate as we have in the past.
Susan received paperwork for “RYLA”, Rotary Youth League Awards which will require distributing the award application and interview process in January. The awards are presented in June.
The Rotary Speech contest will also be forthcoming. Stay tuned for more information.
The Charlotte library is seeking donations for a new book drop system. Margaret Woodruff shared they have a very old book drop and are seeking multiple donors to help them raise money. The cost is roughly $5,000. She will provide more information in the future.
The Shelburne Athletic Club would like to conduct a food drive and would donate two hours for another spin a thon. The date is to be decided.
Chris shared that the bike repair station in Charlotte is plaque ready.
Jerry Lawrence is our guest today.
Joan Lenes shared the thank you from Age Well and Meals on Wheels for the donations the club provides.
Susan introduced Rene Sanchez as our speaker today. Superintendent of Champlain Valley School District, also a member of our club.
Rene shared his history, originally from Edinburg, Texas. His parents were born in migrant camps in Texas in the 1920`s. His mother was a homemaker and his Father served in WWII, after which he worked for the city of Houston in the tax department. Rene married a Vermonter,which is what brought him here eventually, having moved here from Indiana.
His college experience at Notre Dame led him to a career in education, but his heart was to be a lawyer. He returned to Texas after attending Law school at Ohio State, and decided a career in law was not for him. Back in Texas again, he began his career in education in the Austin area. He has taught and been principals in several school districts in Texas and Indiana.
Rene had moved back to Indiana in the Notre Dame area as a superintendent just as the pandemic began. He had the idea of putting wifi on school buses to extend the learning experience and time period. His district made national news once the pandemic occurred because they placed the buses in neighborhoods for the at home students who had limited wifi access.
Rene had the urge to move again and the position at CVSD opened up. It was a great fit for his wife who is from the Brattleboro area so they moved their family here.
His work is focused on efficiency based learning, evaluating the progression toward achieving test standards. This involves a transition to personalized learning and paying closer attention to the social/ emotional aspect of learning. A muti tiered level of analysis is required to be successful.
Rene feels his physical presence in the community is critical to his success. This is by design, community feedback is key. He believes child vaccination and “test to stay” are key components to dealing with the surging Delta variant. The antigen test is turning out to be very accurate and for this reason, he is optimistic. The “Equity policy” is the final piece he is working on along with a five year strategic plan. The community will be asked to participate in this plan.
Susan presented Rene with the book Mindset:The Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck which will be donated to the Hinesburg Library in his name.
Happy fines were collected as members left.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 am.