Riordan Kicks off “Rotary Reads”

By Lookout Staff

March 22 -- Rotarians cracked open the books Monday and began reading at elementary schools across the city as part of the Rotary Club’s literacy week.

Kicked off on Friday by California Secretary of Education Richard Riordan, the “2004 Rotary Reads to Kids” program will target 49 Kindergarten through second-grade classrooms at four Santa Monica public elementary schools and two private schools.

“(Gov.) Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to bring education down to the local community,” Riordan said during the Rotary Club luncheon. “We want to bring a whole community together. The businesses are part of the community.

“We should have a system of education that is seamless from K to senior year in college,” he said. “Let’s hold everybody accountable at every inch of the way.”

District Superintendent John Deasy praised the program, which includes donating books to the schools.

“The support of the community is essential to the District’s success,” Deasy said. “Nowhere is this shown more clearly than in the partnership we have shared with the Rotary Club of Santa Monica.

“For years the district has been the fortunate recipient of Rotary’s valuable time and resources,” he said. “Its award-winning program is an invaluable gift to the children in Kindergarten through Second grade.”

During the current year, the local Rotary Club will have donated thousands of books to schools, two senior citizen facilities and the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica Rotary Branch at John Adams Middle School.