Clyde Baldwin Recognized for 20 Years of Service
by Rowan Beck,
March 10, 2011, page 6.....

Clyde Baldwin was recently presented with an award recognizing his long service on the Charlotte Central School Board. Elaine Pinckney, Chittenden South Supervisory Union Superintendent, presented him with a plaque and a handshake at the School Board meeting on February 15. According to Clyde, Town Meeting Day officially marked his 20 years of service. The Charlotte News was fortunate enough to catch up and discuss his thoughts about being a board member.
Clyde laughed as he reflected on his early years of service to the School Board. In 1991 when he attended his first meeting, he said, “There was a gentleman who had served on a school board for 49 years; that was longer than I had been alive.” he chuckled. Like many before him, he began serving on the board because his children were in the school, and there was an open seat. He was no stranger to school boards, as his grandfather had served on a school board in New Jersey for 32 years.
Many Charlotte community members know Clyde as a somewhat controversial figure on the School Board. He often picks hard topics and challenges the board to make tough decisions. Clyde sits quietly at the end of the table during meetings, and when he speaks he often has something important to say. Audience members have to listen closely as he speaks in a low, deep voice. The microphones that litter the table are there for the RETN cameras, not to amplify voices. Clyde believes strongly in the importance of education and sees it as one of the most important tools in life. “No one can take away your education.”
“Education will never be inexpensive,” Clyde said after being asked about the most recent budget cuts. “There is no more that can come out without wreaking havoc.” But there are actions that can be taken that will be of benefit in the long term. It helps to look at the broader picture, which he feels is easier for him because of his lengthy service and no longer having children in the school. For example, he could see a reduction in faculty. “Temporarily it would increase class size to 22 or 23, which over the long-term could work since enrollment appears to be declining.” He feels that next year’s budget planning will be even worse. The boards are being “increasingly compelled to prioritize.” He spoke in a frustrated tone, “Hardships will catch up (with us) sooner or later, but we need to remember that fundamentals and academic excellence are the number-one priority.”
Having served for so long can be frustrating at times for Clyde. He has the benefit of time and experience. Similar issues continue to crop up. He feels that constant board change can hinder productivity and forward momentum. “Sometimes it’s like Ground Hog Day!” he laughed. But, it is that same frustration that keeps him coming back.
Over the years he has gained knowledge and insight through listening to people’s opinions and changes within the school. There have been two building additions, a greater attention to positive behavior, and recently a decrease in parent volunteers, which he believes stems from both parents working. He spoke of his early years serving when they eliminated the computer room and then years later had to put $75,000 back into the budget to update technology. It is those experiences that help him make his decisions.
Board members without children in the school are rare, but Clyde would like to see more. He confessed that he has an easier time separating emotionally from the school since his children no longer attend. He said he believed that it is often a handicap when the board is predominately comprised of parents with children in the school, adding, “They can’t separate issues to function objectively; it’s harder for them.” According to Clyde, typically as children of board members graduate from CCS, their parents leave after finishing their terms.
Clyde has no intention of stepping down in the foreseeable future. He would like to be able to “speak from a visible position about how bad consolidation (of school boards) would be.” Should the CCS School Board choose not to consolidate, there would be a “collection of new issues” that he would like to be involved in. He would like to continue to have a say in curriculum and contract negotiations. He was disappointed with the way the recent negotiations went. He enjoys having a voice and making a difference. Clyde also likes interacting with all members of the school community and watching how that interaction affects budgets, policy and other education related issues.
Clyde continues to live in the house he built with his wife, Pam, a Shelburne schoolteacher. His three children have all left the nest and are in various parts of the world. One can often find Clyde working on some project. He is a voracious reader, currently reading three books, one on Irish history, a biography of Stalin and a book on weight training. He is easily reachable and will discuss any School Board issue if he can. He believes that as a board member it is his duty to serve the community. When I asked him where his plaque was, he said he wasn’t sure. “It may still be in the back of my car.”