Announcements
Steve Goranson announced that the first board meeting of the new year will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 20, at his home, 729 Milburn, Evanston.
He also announced that there would be a special dinner meeting of the board on Monday, Aug. 3, at one of the Evanston restaurants that participated in the club’s “Taste of Evanston” fundraiser.
Yves Lassare announced that there will be a special meeting of the International Service Committee at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, at Harold Bauer’s home.
Helen Oloroso explained that the Club Service Committee had been asking arriving club members to indicate their availability to help with meeting set-up and/or breakdown. These names will be added to an overall “duty roster” that includes other meeting-related responsibilities such as greeters, presenters of the “Thought for the Day,” and scribes for the Light. The Duty Roster will be emailed to all club members on a regular basis. The committee is asking everyone to find a replacement for their role if the date assigned will not work out for them.
Sam Lovering encouraged all available club members to help with the next Golf Road Clean-up on Saturday, July 25, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot of TJ Maxx.
Roasts & Boasts
Zbig Skiba quizzed the group on a variety of matters regarding the EPA after entertaining roasts and boasts:
Marv Edelstein roasted himself for a training injury that will keep him out of the Marathon.
Harold Bauer roasted Steve Goranson for failing to mention Gustav Mahler’s birthday, and himself for forgetting Mahler as well.
Bruce Baumberger boasted the fact that, if Nigeria can avoid any new cases of polio by July 25, the country will be removed from the polio endemic list.
Program
Evanston School District 65 Update
Superintendent Paul Goren, introduced by Bill Glader
Superintendent Goren began his presentation by commending Horton Kellogg for his many efforts on behalf of Y.O.U., an important community partner in the Evanston school system. He also praised the club and many of its members for their continued support of the schools.
Among many accomplishments of the district is the nomination of three of its faculty for Golden Apple Awards, including one winner.
The Evanston District 65 school system currently serves 7,200 students across 18 schools and employs more than 600 teachers. Forty percent of the students are from low income families, 12% of the students have disabilities, 10% are English learners, and 56% are students of color. Per-pupil expenditures across the district average just over $14,000 per year.
Among the challenges faced by the district are the facts that 375 students identify as homeless, and 40% of the students are not meeting college readiness metrics. An obstacle to addressing these challenges lies in the budget crisis facing the State of Illinois, which will require that the state raise taxes and/or cut spending. Either way, District 65 will be impacted.
The district has thus far avoided making budget cuts that impact the classroom, but this will become increasingly difficult in the future if state finances are not straightened out. This could have an effect on the goal of recruiting and retaining top teaching talent throughout the district’s schools.
On the other hand, Dr. Goren cited a number of opportunities the district can leverage. He believes that the Common Core curriculum gives the district the opportunity to move the curriculum in the right direction and benefit all of the students. The diversity of the Evanston population is another strength of the system, as are the great teachers and engaged parents.
As the district moves into its Five-Year Plan, 2015-20, it is seeking even greater collaboration with the High School District 202, Northwestern University, City of Evanston departments and the abundance of non-profit community partners in Evanston. Dr. Goren is very optimistic about the future and believes that resources can be found to make it possible for the district to close the achievement gap, grow the college-ready population and recruit and retain the very best teachers.
Superintendent Goren, flanked by Goranson and Glader
Anniversaries
Jackie Mack, 3 years
Don Crost-Fink, 4 years
Marcia Abreu e Gouvea, 4 years
Birthdays
Ilana Seligman, July 1
Ann Searles, July 16
Karena Bierman, July 17
Albert Menard, July 17
Guests
Visiting Rotarian: Steve Snyder, past RI director of California
Prospective Members: Anton Dokov, guest of Jackie Mack
Linda Gerber, guest of Bill Glader
Other Guests: Matt Moran, guest of Kristin Brown
Raissa Bailey, guest of Kristin Brown
Jacob Bachman, guest of Jim McGuire
Thought for the Day
Harold Bauer quoted from David Brooks’ recent book, The Road to Character. In the book, David distinguishes between resume virtues which define success in the world, and eulogy virtues which reflect one’s calling to serve the world for the sake of charity, love, and redemption.
Next week’s Thought for the Day: Gerry Baumann
Next week’s greeters: Charlotta Koppanyi and Yves Lassere
