 DR.
BILL ANDERSON
Communities in Schools:
Addressing the High School Dropout Epidemic
By John Galles
What a privilege it was to listen and learn from fellow Rotarian Dr.
Bill Anderson as he told us about the "Communities in Schools" (CIS)
organization and its activities in Charlotte. Dr. Anderson was
introduced by John Snyder of Dixon Hughes as an unsung hero with
over 30 years educating students in Charlotte and other area
schools. Formerly the principal at Myers Park High School and an
administrator at Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Dr. Anderson
succeeded Cynthia Marshall as director of the CIS Charlotte
organization.
His presentation was primarily focused upon addressing the high
school dropout epidemic. While the mission of CIS is to help young
people stay in school, successfully learn, and prepare for life by
connecting needed community resources with schools. Initiated in
1985, CIS now serves over 2,000 students in 25 schools. He reported
some staggering dropout statistics. Charlotte has an annual dropout
rate of 1,400 students. In North Carolina, there are 22,000 dropouts
annually. He went on to state that the average high school
graduation rate of 100 students in the 9th grade is 73 percent. In
North Carolina, that rate is 60 percent. One student drops out every
nine seconds in the U. S.
Looking at the impact on American society, dropouts are twice as
likely to be unemployed than college graduates. Dropouts make up 75
percent of state prison populations, costing over $25,000 per year
per inmate. In 2004 in Mecklenburg County, 767 juvenile offenders
cost nearly $21 million. Anderson quoted more statistics on dropouts
from Juan Williams' book entitled "Enough." Of those children born
out of wedlock, 25 percent are white, 50 percent are Latino and 70
percent are African Americans.
To reverse these numbers, Dr. Anderson articulated three factors to
guarantee financial independence. First, students must graduate high
school. Second, when they get a job, they must stick with it until
they find a new one. And third, people need to postpone having
children until they are able to afford them. Annual incomes go up
substantially with education. Dropouts earn an average of $19,169
annually. High school graduates earn $28,645 on average. College
graduates earn an average of approximately $51,554. CIS supports
several programs to address the dropout problem in Charlotte: a
dropout prevention program, teen pregnancy prevention programs, and
college access programs. They target those children with high
numbers of absences, low academic performance, behavioral
difficulties, gang activity, and challenging family dynamics. In
response, CIS develops one-on-one relationships, provides access to
health care, parent involvement workshops, and also college and
career counseling. CIS results are impressive. Of the students in
the program, 99 percent stay in school, 91 percent are promoted to
the next grade, 95 percent graduate and over 200 CIS graduates are
enrolled in college or universities. In addition, CIS operates the
Performance Learning Center on North Graham Street in a partnership
with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. It serves about 100 students
who are behind on credits and not succeeding in school.
CIS is looking for financial support, volunteer support from
companies and from individuals, and is seeking to expand awareness
of its activities. CIS and Dr. Bill Anderson will use all the help
they can get!
Head Table:
Tony Zeiss, Gene Bratek, Luther Moore, John Snyder, Bill Anderson,
John Johnson, Arch McIntosh; Invocation: Matt Joyner
Visitors &
Guests:
John Nicolay; Health &
Happiness: Fred Brown; Song: Biff Virkler; Piano: Thomas Moore
|
*
* *
|
|
NEW MEMBER
APPROVAL |
|
The Classification
and Membership Committee recommend and the Directors approve for
consideration for all members, the following NEW MEMBERS. Should
you question the eligibility of any nominee, please call the
Rotary Office by November 21st. You will be contacted by
a member of the Board. Otherwise, no reply is necessary and
election will proceed according to our bylaws.
|
|
Robert Avossa, Charlotte Mecklenburg
Schools
Classification: Education, Public School
Sponsor: Natalie English
Endorsed: Mac McCarley, Luther Moore
Roberta Smith, Dore Academy
Classification: Education, Private School
Sponsor: Gregg Walker
Endorsed: Rob Thomas, Jesse Hite |
|
*
* *
|
|
Rotary Club of Charlotte
841 Baxter Street, Suite 118, Charlotte 28202
chltrot@bellsouth.net 704-375-6816 |
|
 |
|
|
þ
If you saw Tom Senger
leaving the parking deck last week with barely a peep hole
of space to see out the windshield, you'll get an idea of
just how successful this year's support will be for Crisis
Assistance Ministry. Tom thanked the group for their
generous spirit and encouraged everyone to keep the stuff
coming. Items needed: warm clothing and footwear for men;
bedding: quilts, blankets, sheets; bath towels; housewares:
pots and pans (no knives or glassware). Please bring your
items in boxes or plastic garbage bags for easier transport.
Call Tom if you need to arrange for home pickup.
þ
President Luther thanked
Catherine Browning for
coordinating flu shots. At least thirty had been "shot" by
lunchtime.
þ
REMINDER to those that have signed up to attend the
Rotary Foundation dinner: Thursday, November 16th, cash bar
at 6:30, dinner at 7:00. Renaissance Hotel (Tyvola Road,
Coliseum area, turn onto Yorkmount Rd, turn right onto
Coliseum Centre Drive). Those wishing one-on-one time with
speaker and former Foundation Trustee, Ray Klinginsmith, are
to meet at 4:30.
þ
Gary Scott (Allen Tate
Company) and David Barnhardt
(First Charlotte Properties) contributed to an article on
the housing market in the Business Journal;
Chief Luther Fincher
commented in the Observer's Forum, saying tobacco
manufacturers should produce a "fire-safe" cigarette which
would be less likely to ignite furniture and other material
if left unattended.
þ
David and Lynn Erdman
enjoyed sharing their home and TLC with Suji for the last
three and one-half months, but it's time for her to move on.
Suji will have a three or four day stay with
David and Beth Lewis
before she heads over to the home of
Paul and Jane Schmidt for the next couple
months. Thanks to each of these families for their interest
in the student exchange program.
þ
Contributions to the Powell Majors
Endowment Scholarship are payable to The
Rotary Foundation DAF. Please make a notation in the
memo section (Powell Majors Scholarship). Mail checks to the
Rotary Office.
þ
President Luther
recognized and thanked Ed Turner,
Floyd Davis, Wes Clark, Ron Campbell, Natalie English, John
Galles, Ed Kizer, Powell Majors, Cynthia Marshall, John
Tabor, and Gregg Walker
for sponsoring a new member this Rotary year. Contact the
Rotary Office if you need a membership application.
þ
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
It's time to
Ring the Bell for the Salvation Army.
Volunteers are needed to cover the collection kettle located
at the Square from November 27 through December 15. As in
years past, we are asking for two volunteers per shift
(11:30-12:30 and 12:30-1:30). To sign up on the website,
click here, review the
schedule then type in your name and volunteer date on the
top of the page. Unfortunately - schedules were not picked
up from the tables on Tuesday so if you signed up during
lunch…you'll need to do so again. Thanks to
Biff Virkler for
chairing this important project.
þ
The USO of North Carolina recently opened the
USO CLT Center,
located at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. The
Center was established to serve military men, women, and
their dependents during stops at the airport. Volunteers are
asked to work three-hour shifts. The Center is staffed from
6:00 am to 11:00 pm and a pool of about 200 volunteers is
needed. The Center is set up in the former British Airways
Executives Lounge. If you are interested, contact Center
Director Jack Ahart or Assistant Director Megan Grady at
704-359-5581. Thanks to Charlotte Dilworth South End Rotary
for providing this information. |
|
*
* *
|
|
Attendance
Record |
|
11/14/06 |
11/15/05 |
| visitors &
guests |
12 |
13 |
| club
members |
167 |
173 |
| total
attendance |
179 |
186 |
|
|
New Members | Resignations |
|
|
|
|
Wedding
Anniversaries |
21 Kathy & Steve Montgomery
24 Virginia & Bayard Van Hecke
25 Mae & Gary Scott |
| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
22 Floyd Davis,
White Plains, VA
22 Mac Jackson, Winder, GA
24 Jim Woodward, Sanford, FL
25 Doug Booth, Atlanta, GA
26 John Shell, Olney, MD
27 Gilberto Bergman,
Nicaragua |
|
|
|
|
|
