Vallejo City USD Fiscally responsible? – Vallejo Times Herald

Published By Times Herald

How can “Jumpstart” candidate Rozzana Verder-Aliga claim that she is fiscally responsible? You know her history, right? Well, if not, she was the President of the Vallejo School Board when the darn thing went bankrupt and had to be taken over by the state who controlled it for ten years!

She claims that she wasn’t aware of what went down for the 12 years she was on the board. Sure thing Roz, and I have a genuine Rolex watch for sale, it’s a steal at 50 bucks.

* Grand Jury report 2004-2005:

Finding No. 1 – “The Vallejo City Unified School District Board failed in its responsibilities as the governing board…”

via Fiscally responsible? – Vallejo Times Herald.

Vacaville Unified School District, SEIU ink wage hike – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Leaders for Vacaville Unified and the districts classified, or school support, employees have signed a tentative agreement to boost wages by 3.75 percent for the 2013-14 year, the first salary hike for union members in six years.

Settled on Tuesday, the contract calls for a 2.25 percent wage hike and a one-time, 1.5 percent salary “adjustment” after the 2.25 percent increase goes into effect. The wage hike — the same package as the teachers union hammered out late last week — is retroactive to July 1.

via Vacaville Unified School District, SEIU ink wage hike – The Reporter.

Sober youths share stories with Golden Hills students – Daily Republic

By Ian Thompson

Sierra Jeffries of Benicia and Kurtis Akina of Suisun City had plunged so far into their addictions that all the drugs and alcohol they took no longer made a dent.

The two told students Wednesday that the final fall for them was going to either be accidental death from an overdose or suicide from despair.

via Sober youths share stories with Golden Hills students Daily Republic.

Teachers have heads shaved to help Children’s Hospital – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

First they gathered her hair in ponytails and cut them off. Then, as hundreds of students watched, a razor got rid of the rest.

“You don’t look bad,” a teen told teacher Jessica Conover.

The biology teacher is one of more than a dozen instructors at Armijo High School who had their heads shaved to raise money for the Children’s Hospital in Oakland. Conover got the biggest applause Wednesday from students at the campus as other male teachers who’d previously underwent the razor lined up.

via Teachers have heads shaved to help Children’s Hospital Daily Republic.

Fairfield-Suisun school board urged to bring back music – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

With some audience members holding green and orange signs reading “It’s Elementary! Music for our Children,” more than a dozen speakers on Thursday urged Fairfield-Suisun Unified leaders to restore funding for more music instruction in the district’s elementary schools.

Meeting in district offices on Hilborn Road, trustees heard students, parents, teachers and music instructors essentially say the same thing: find the money to pay for it, because music instruction needs to begin in the primary grades; and it boasts many spinoff benefits, among them increased academic achievement, especially in math and reading.

via Fairfield-Suisun school board urged to bring back music – The Reporter.

Vanden High School Halloween decision irks students – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

For the first time in recent memory, Vanden High School leaders have banned Halloween costumes, saying they distract from the school’s educational mission, but the decision, like sour candy, has puckered the faces and feelings of some students.

“I’m kind of upset,” said senior Devon Smith, a member of the Fairfield school’s varsity girls tennis team. “For us seniors, it’s, like, our last year to be kiddish before we graduate and enter the real world.”

via Vanden High School Halloween decision irks students – The Reporter.

Senate Education Committee to Consider EpiPen Bill, Department Nominations – Education Week

By Alyson Klein

States would get an extra incentive to help kids cope with anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions, under a bill slated for consideration by the Senate education committee tomorrow.

Under the bipartisan legislation, which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in July, states that adopt policies to make epinephrine available in schools would get a leg-up in securing federal grants for addressing asthma. The measure, which was sponsored by Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the House minority whip, and Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., passed on a voice vote—which is how Congress typically dispenses with non-controversial legislation that has a lot of cross-aisle love and support.

via Senate Education Committee to Consider EpiPen Bill, Department Nominations – Politics K-12 – Education Week.

Ed. Dept.: Calif. Could Lose At Least $15 Million in Federal Funds Over Testing – Education Week

By Alyson Klein

UPDATED

Ever since California approved a bill to suspend much of its accountability testing for one year, everyone has been wondering if the feds would punish the Golden State for straying far from the accountability requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, which call for states to test students in grades 3 through 8 and once in high school and use the results to make key school improvement decisions.

via Ed. Dept.: Calif. Could Lose At Least $15 Million in Federal Funds Over Testing – Politics K-12 – Education Week.

College students, schoolchildren band together to learn – Daily Republic

By Susan Winlow

After raising her hand eagerly to answer a question, Ashlyn Mills quickly did some air counting Tuesday morning before she said, “Il y a neuf crayons.”

There are nine pencils.

In quick succession, Ashlyn and her classmates reviewed French colors, numbers and days of the week using full sentences. Then, at a slower pace, they learned the names of animals in French.

via College students, schoolchildren band together to learn Daily Republic.

Vallejo schools secure $50,000 student grant – Vallejo Times Herald

By Lanz Christian Bañes

A new grant will aid the Vallejo City Unified School District in better caring for its students, according to a district official.

The $50,000 United Way of the Bay Area Grant will go toward enhancing Aeries, the district’s student information system, district spokesperson Alana Shackelford said.

“What we’re in the process of building is the full-service community school component (of Aeries),” Shackelford said.

via Vallejo schools secure $50,000 student grant – Vallejo Times Herald.

Two Case Studies: How Connected Educators Can Transform Schools | MindShift

by Katrina Schwartz |

Figuring out which new teaching practices or pieces of technology might work in a classroom can feel like a full-time job. Lots of educators spend their free time researching new ideas and connecting with other educators, but there are plenty more that find the process confusing and overwhelming. How much easier would it be to have a dedicated staff person whose job is

via Two Case Studies: How Connected Educators Can Transform Schools | MindShift.

California colleges get reality check via 2 bills – Daily Republic

By Dan Walters

The faculties and administrators of California’s public institutions of higher learning often display a certain disdain for the real world.

Those in the cloisters of academe imply that students, their families – and taxpayers – should simply pony up whatever they say they need to operate, without considering competing public and private demands on limited resources.

via California colleges get reality check via 2 bills Daily Republic.

Changes in the Communications Branch of the U.S. Department of Education – Education Week

By Alyson Klein

Big changes in the U.S. Department of Education’s Press Office: Dorie Turner Nolt, who is currently the assistant director of communications at the Georgia Department of Education, is taking the helm at the press office. (The position became vacant when Daren Briscoe left to become a vice-president at GMMB, a public relations and consulting firm in Washington.)

Does Turner Nolt’s name sound familiar? It shoud … edu-readers know her byline from when she was an education reporter for the Associated Press, based in Atlanta. She’s also written for the Chattanooga Times Free Press and Newsweek.

via Changes in the Communications Branch of the U.S. Department of Education – Politics K-12 – Education Week.

SCC President’s Blog » Measure Q Update

Posted by Jowel Laguerre

How does SCC justify the voter approved Measure Q for $348M in bond funds, and what is the College doing with some of these funds to date?

The Measure Q investment the citizens of Solano County and Winters have made in the Solano Community College District (SCCD) is paying off already. Our proposition before voters was to improve our career programs, enhance transfer programs, to fund basic skills opportunities and to construct state-of-the-art mathematics, science, and biotechnology facilities. We are already making good on these intentions as shown below.

via President’s Blog » Measure Q Update.

Travis School District: John Dickerson Candidate Profile – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

John Dickerson says he brings a broad perspective in his candidacy for a seat on the school board.

His goals include a more diverse technical vocational track for students who prefer that. The Travis district’s financial outlook is improving, Dickerson said.

“We are slowing coming out of this financial quandary,” he said.

via Travis School District: John Dickerson Candidate Profile Daily Republic.

Pick 2 in Travis district election – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic

Three candidates are seeking two seats from Area 2 on the Travis School District’s governing board. They are incumbent Donna Bishop and challengers Riita De Anda and John Dickerson.

This is Dickerson’s second try for a school board seat. He was among four candidates seeking two seats in November 2011. Those seats went to an incumbent and a challenger, providing the board both with continuity and a fresh voice.

via Pick 2 in Travis district election Daily Republic.

Travis School District: Donna Bishop Candidate Profile – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

Do what’s right for the kids. That’s Donna Bishop’s guideline for serving as a Travis School District trustee.

Bishop said when she began on the school board four years ago, the panel lacked a parent’s perspective. She’s tried to bring that to a school district that, like others in California, has seen hard financial times.

“I’ve seen it at the worst,” Bishop said of finances. “It’s looking better.”

via Travis School District: Donna Bishop Candidate Profile Daily Republic.

Travis School District: Riita De Anda Candidate Profile – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

Riitta De Anda likes new challenges and has taken on one in running for the Travis School District’s governing board.

Dissatisfaction with the district didn’t spur De Anda, who owns an insurance agency and has a master’s degree in English.

“I am very, very proud of this school district,” she said. “I want to be a part of that.”

via Travis School District: Riita De Anda Candidate Profile Daily Republic.

Dan Walters: Two bills bring reality to California colleges – Sacramento Bee

By Dan Walters

The faculties and administrators of California’s public institutions of higher learning often display a certain disdain for the real world.Those in the cloisters of academe imply that students, their families – and taxpayers – should simply pony up whatever they say they need to operate, without considering competing public and private demands on limited resources.

via Dan Walters: Two bills bring reality to California colleges – Dan Walters – The Sacramento Bee.