Posted by William Reilly on Oct 25, 2021
Dr. Patrick Tutwiler is starting his fourth year as the Superintendent of the Lynn Public School District.  Lynn is one of the five largest school districts in Massachusetts with over 2200 teachers and staff, 25 buildings to maintain and nearly 17,000 students to educate.  To say he has a lot on his plate would be a massive understatement.  However, when he was recently asked by three Lynn Rotarians and former LPS educators, Steve Upton, Dick Ruth and Ray Bastarache, to consider a Rotary Corporate Membership for his school district, he responded with a smile, “Absolutely! Why wouldn’t we team up with Rotary?”
 
Tutwiler has seen firsthand the many benefits this partnership between Lynn Rotary and the school district has delivered to Lynn students.  These include:  multiple college scholarships to high school seniors; eighth graders, who have overcome challenges, are recognized three times a year with a special lunch, a citation, a certificate of deposit at a local credit union, and a gift card to Barnes & Noble.  In the 18 Lynn elementary schools, over 1300 dictionaries are distributed annually to all third graders through Rotary International’s Dictionary Project, as well as the Club’s 50-year sponsorship of the “Special Games” for the many Lynn elementary students who are challenged by physical or learning disabilities. 
 
One of the reasons Upton, Ruth and Bastarache were meeting with the Superintendent recently was to get the “green light” so to speak, to host the annual pre-Thanksgiving Luncheon for the three public high schools; English, Classical and Lynn Vocational Technical, along with the KIPP Academy charter school and St. Mary’s High School.  The first luncheon was held in 1921 and the next one will be the 100th.  Dick Ruth, who serves as chairman and Master of Ceremonies, was advised by Dr. Tutwiler to consult with Lynn’s Director of Health before he solicits funding for the event and sends out invitations.  After consulting with Michele Desmarais, Director of Public Health, it was decided to postpone the 100th Annual Football luncheon until 2022.  The risk to the students and to other attendees of contracting Covid-19 was determined to be too great at this time.  The hall where it would be held does not have the adequate space to allow for the social distancing required for a safe event. The Rotary Board concurred with that decision.