Kiwanis hear from Superintendent Sam Russ

In 1999, Sam Russ was a high school chemistry and math teacher. Now, as Superintendent of the Sparta Area School District, Russ heads a school system for 2,900 students, plus their broad support staff. Speaking at the Sparta Kiwanis Club meeting, on September 20^th, Russ said, “I’ve seen a lot of changes since then, but the kids are always the same. It’s their childhood that has changed, transformed by technology. Their experience has changed, and we have to meet that challenge and build their trust.”

Russ described the need to build a communal concept of relevance—a bridge of critical thinking to help students and their families understand the value of classroom subjects and a future career—the answer, in essence, to the question asked by students and parents, “Why am I here?”

The 2022-2023 school year could be described as “back to normal,” but Russ said that because of the pandemic, it is actually a “new normal,” being the first full year of actual classroom attendance, held  in the recently reconfigured school buildings.

The plan to close community grade schools, implemented five years ago, resulted in a series of moves not unlike the once popular, Sliding Block Puzzle. Lakeview School was purchased by the City of Sparta for its Law Enforcement Department. Southside School absorbed Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. Hermann School houses Grades One through Four; Meadow View has five through eight; Lawrence-Lawson Montessori has Pre-K through six. High Point moved into the Sparta High School and Virtual Learning, initiated during the John Hendricks administration, increased its flexibility. SALES and Sparta Area School District Administrative offices moved into what was once Maplewood School.

“It has been a learning experience for everyone—Administration, kids and parents,” said Russ. “Classroom teacher-hires remain adequate, but there are many non-credential openings in the After School Programs, particularly for multi-lingual individuals. More than ten percent of our students do not speak English. Many have never attended school.”

“Public School education is our nation’s most important responsibility,” Russ told Kiwanians, and urged them to attend the Annual District Meeting to be held at Meadow View School, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, October 11. He said “There will be a broad review of  SASD programs and an opportunity for presentation and discussion of the Budget.”

The Sparta Kiwanis Club meets every Tuesday, at noon, for lunch and a short program of regional interest. For more information, please contact Membership Chair, Doug Dengel, at 608-633-6092.