Members from the Rotary Club of Boerne and the Boerne Sunrise Rotary Club made a presentation to the Boerne Independent School District Board (BISD) meeting on January 22, 2024. The presentation focused on the impact that Rotary has made in Boerne Schools and the community.
Featured programs within the school district are the First Knight Program at Kendall Elementary School, an Early Act Club at Fabra Elementary, and Interact Clubs at Champion and Boerne High Schools. Joe Anzollitto, president of the Rotary Club of Boerne introduced Rotary Club of Boerne members Ruben Cardenas and Naomi Jendrusch and Boerne Sunrise member Cha Karulak to the BISD Board.
Ruben Cardenas spoke about the First Knight Program; describing attributes of the program and how it has helped build character within the student body. Naomi Jendrusch, the on campus sponsor of Early Act, spoke about the program at Fabra and how it has created an awareness among students and teachers for getting involved in community service. Additionally, the Fair Oaks Rotary Club are sponsors of an Interact club at Champion High School and Early Act club at Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary School, in BISD.
Cha Karulak spoke about Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and the Rotary Youth Exchange. Early Act, Interact, and RYLA provide age appropriate opportunities to develop leadership and character development. He informed the board of the scholarships offered by the Rotary clubs to graduating seniors and the support given to non-profits that benefit BISD students and families. Several of these programs are: Blessing in a Backpack, Christmas with Santa, Hill Country Daily Bread, and the Kendall County Women’s Shelter. Also, the Rotary Club of Boerne sponsors Cub Scout Pack 102 and the Boerne Sunrise Club sponsors Boy Scout Troop 18 in Boerne.
The presentation was well received by the board, and the new BISD superintendent, Dr. Craft, which included comments of appreciation of how Rotary benefits BISD students and our community.