The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North

In 1989 the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North (Club 673) embarked on a local project to help and support a Santa Barbara Elementary School, part of the Santa Barbara Unified School District (a disadvantaged School in the District)

The initial project came about because one of our Rotary Members Mr. Ken Compton, then the Administrator of The Samarkand (a local well known Retirement Community) and his wife Ellie Compton a teacher at Adams Elementary School initiated a project whereby our Rotarians would Volunteer at Adams and assist in tutoring the students.  The Class ratio was one teacher to about 26 students.

The School was approximately 70+ % low income, subsidized lunch programs, and although with in the Santa Barbara District needed community support, and assistance with in class tutoring of the students. Our Rotary Club had initially 4-6 class volunteers who each volunteered 4-8 hours per week, and that number has continued for approximately 30 Years.

All of our Presidents, and Past Presidents along with the Club Membership, and District Governors have supported the Program.

In 1989 a Rotarian from Santa Barbara North (Ken Compton) and his wife (Ellie Compton) a Teacher at Adams Elementary School in Santa Barbara suggested a “Partner in Education” program between the Rotary Club, and Adams Elementary School (This was prior to the County Program).   The Program began with Rotary Volunteers helping to Tutor some of the students that needed extra help with Reading, Math, Language and other subjects.  The Program has 1st , continued for 30 years, and 2nd branched out to involve assistance in many areas of the school activities.

One of the Teachers at Adams Kathy Escobar (Paul Harris Fellow) chose to succeed Ellie Compton, and Rotarian Dennis Waid succeeded Ken Compton in continuing the program for about 20 years, Tom Jacobs as Vocational Service Chair has been coordinating the effort the balance of the time.

Adams Elementary School is a school in the Santa Barbara City School System, it was opened in 1954 for 250 students grades K-6.  Today’s demographics are:

Students ~550

English Language learners 37%

Students with Disabilities 16%

Ethnicities-

Hispanic 72%

White 24%

African American   1.2%

Asian   1.7%

Adams School has been awarded the California Distinguished School in 2017, and the National Distinguished School Award in 2018. 

Rotary’s involvement over the years has included:

  • In Class Tutoring
  • Contributing Computers for Kids
  • Books for rewards program
  • Rotary Early Act (First in the District)
  • Support a Chalk Art Square for the kids for Memorial Day at the Santa Barbara Mission.
  • Yearly Rotary 4 Way Test Contest, with Student Awards
  • Assist in purchasing Library Books
  • Trees for the Campus
  • Several Yearly Campus beautification projects.
  • School Site Counsel
  • Trees and Benches for the Rotary Centennial Celebration
  • Approximately $55,000 in Cash Grants, $4,000.00 in a Book Grant
  • RI Matching Grant for $16,000 of Playground Equipment.

Most of the Santa Barbara North members have been involved; Dennis Waid, Sharon Waid, Blas Garza, Perk Darlington, Joe Lanza, Vanessa Baily Joan Young, Terry Straehley, Rey Alcero, Dick Raymond, Finn Sundheim, Suzie Swenson, Joe Dobbs  Dale Morgan,  Steve Young, Tom Jacobs, John Engstrom, Helen Engstrom, Jacquline Duran, Stanley Weinstein, Michael Conte, Amy Owen and others.  Past District 5240 Gov’s. Deepa Willingham, and Wade Nomura; and District 5280 Member Laurence Bender, have also been involved.  One of our Members Past Pres. Stanley Weinstein is the Volunteer Asst. Librarian at the School.   At least one Rotary Club meeting per year is scheduled on the Campus, so that the Club members, Teachers, Staff, and Students can interact, our Club Provides the Lunch for all attendees.

In the late 1990’s through Rotary efforts, every student 4th Grade and above who could not afford a home computer, and with the Parent’s consent has received a free home computer.  Also in some years, through Rotary Grants, every student that read so many words, or pages, certified by a parent or teacher had received free books from the library.  

During the summer of 2005 the California State Safety standards changed and all of Adams Playground Equipment was removed with no budget or plans for replacement.  Our Rotary Club of Santa Barbara North along with our District 5240, and help from 3 Clubs from Mexico (Celaya, Puerto Penasco, Camerino, along with Rotary District 4160)  completed an International matching Grant for $16,500 to help with the replacement.   The playground equipment was installed in March of 2008, and dedicated in June of 2008. Our Club and our Grant Partner Clubs have a Bronze Plaque on the playground equipment, acknowledging Rotary’s contribution. 

During 2012 Rotary District 5280 (Los Angeles County Rotary Clubs) held their annual meeting in Santa Barbara, they wished to have a community project, we suggested Adams School; About 45 District 5280 Members volunteered the day at Adams along with our Club and completed school improvement projects.  In addition the 5280 Foundation donated approximately 1,000 books to the Library that day. During 2008 Rotary North through a District Grant donated $4,000.00 to the Library for books.

 

Rotary North has had a program since 2005 (Joe Lanza) to donate a book to the Library in the name of our weekly guest speakers; we estimate that during the past 14 years with District 5280, and District 5240 Grants we have donated approximately 1,700 books to the school.  We have worked with 6 Principals, Jennie Dearman, JoAnn Caines, Matt Zuchowitz, Marge Variano, Amy Alzina, and Kelly Fresch.

Other Rotary Projects have included the 4 Way Test for Students, The Adams Families Program, and the Volunteer Recognition Program, Paul Harris Fellows. During our time working with Adams, they have won 2 California and National Distinguished School Awards.

Our Rotary Club Santa Barbara North under coordinator Tom Jacobs installed a Rotary Banner depicting our 30 Years Support; and is having a Marble Plaque designed to affix to the front of the Office.

This program has benefited the Community, the School, and Rotary; and will continue into the future.

Our Immediate Past Rotary Club President Jacquline Duran stated :” This has been one of our Club’s key projects for 30 years, and all of our members connect with our involvement at the School; we also have 2 International Water well projects in Africa, and a project with Puerto Vallarta in Mexico.”

Our Vocational Service Chair since 2011 Tom Jacobs Stated:”This type of Program connects Rotary’s business and membership background with the educational community and is a win for all of the participants.” 

ROTARIANS INVOLVED AT ADAMS SCHOOL:

  • KEN COMPTON, ELLIE COMPTON
  • DENNIS WAID, SHARON WAID
  • BLAS GARZA
  • PERK DARLINGTON
  • JOE LANZA
  • VANESSA BAILY
  • STEVE YOUNG, JOAN YOUNG
  • TERRY STRAEHLEY
  • REY ALCERO
  • DICK RAYMOND
  • FINN SUNDHEIM
  • SUZIE SWENSON
  • JOE DOBBS 
  • DALE MORGAN
  • TOM JACOBS
  • JOHN ENGSTROM, HELEN ENGSTROM
  • STANLEY WEINSTEIN
  • MARK GALLO
  • JACKIE DURAN, SON
  • MICHAEL CONTE
  • BARRY SCHULMAN
  • ROBERTO NAJERA
  • STEVE REHAGE
  • AMY OWENS
  • WADE NOMURA
  • DEEPA WILLINGHAM
  • DISTRICT 5280
  • LARRY BENDER
  • ROSA CRUZ FALLA