Monthly Archives: September 2015

High school rodeo spurs out of chutes; fire delays 1 opener – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

Friday night lights have already spotlighted the grid stars of area high schools, and gymnasiums have echoed with the sounds of volleyballs being smashed for winners.

Yet to be heard are the less familiar noises of high school rodeo: The thunder of sprinting horses across the arena; the snorts and grunts of bucking bulls and broncs twisting and kicking in powerful exertions to throw their riders; the encouraging cheers and concerned groans of some of the most faithful sporting fans anywhere.

For the six Solano County competitors saddling up for the District 3 2015-16 season, including rural Vacaville resident and Dixon High junior DeLisa Fracchia, the chutes open Saturday and Sunday in Lincoln. Starting time is 8 a.m. each day.

via High school rodeo spurs out of chutes; fire delays 1 opener.

Proceed with caution when comparing California test scores with other states | EdSource

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By Sarah Tully

Comparing California scores on tests aligned with the Common Core standards to those in other states isn’t a straightforward process.

California students’ results are among the lowest when compared to the other eight states that have released Smarter Balanced assessment scores so far. But drawing conclusions may be difficult because California’s student population is much larger and its schools enroll more English learners and low-income students. See charts of scores in eight Smarter Balanced states.

“It’s not just a straight across comparison,” Keric Ashley, California’s deputy superintendent of public instruction, warned during a Wednesday conference call with reporters. “We need to factor in being such a large state as we are – a large percentage of English learners, a large percentage of students in poverty. There are a lot of factors that go into place before making that comparison.”

via Proceed with caution when comparing California test scores with other states | EdSource.

Statement on Test Scores by CA State Board President (CA Dept of Education)

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Test results released Wednesday by the California Department of Education set a new baseline for academic performance of students, schools and districts. The tests set standards at readiness for college unlike the old, multiple-choice tests they replaced. Results, in combination with new online instructional resources and local accountability tools, give parents, educators and stakeholders much more actionable data than ever before.

The results show that 53 percent of California’s students meet or nearly meet the English Language Arts achievement standards, and 48 percent meet or nearly meet the mathematics achievement standards. One of 10 students exceeds the standards for both subjects. At every grade level, English Language Arts results are stronger for girls than for boys. The results for math show much less gender disparity. Results for students from traditionally disadvantaged groups show significant achievement gaps.

These new tests aligned with the Common Core Standards ask a lot more of students than the old, multiple-choice exams. The new tests use computer adaptive technology to provide more accurate information about individual student performance. Along with reading to follow a story, students are asked to cite evidence and draw logical conclusions. They are using math to solve real-world problems.

via SBE News Release for September 10, 2015 – State Board of Education (CA Dept of Education).

Benicia students perform better than state average – Times Herald

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By Irma Widjojo

Benicia school students did well in the inaugural standardized test — based on the Common Core State Standards — compared to the state’s average, according results released this week.

“It’s a real solid first effort,” said Charles Young, Benicia Unified School District superintendent.

Of more than 3.1 million public school students tested in English statewide, only 44 percent met or exceeded standard. In math, only 33 percent met that threshold, according to the state Department of Education.

Meanwhile, 60 percent of Benicia students met or exceeded standards in English and 47 percent did so in math. These results rank the Benicia school district as the highest achieving district in Solano County.

via Benicia students perform better than state average.

Benicia school district’s Measure S projects well underway – Times Herald

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By Irma Widjojo

While Benicia students were enjoying the summer, things were getting built and fixed at their schools.

The upgrades and facelifts are part of the projects funded by Measure S, the $49.6 million general obligation bond that was passed by voters in June 2014.

The money is to be used for district facilities and is paid through property taxes.

During the summer break, some of the improvements included a whole new exterior paint at Benicia High School; overhauling all the school sites’ computer servers and wireless connections, as well as adding exterior wireless access; a new roof and playground at Mary Farmar Elementary School; and a book room at the high school to centralize the textbook inventory.

via Benicia school district’s Measure S projects well underway.

Arty awards gala makes its Vacaville debut – Daily Republic

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By: Amy Maginnis-Honey

The new, and tradition, came together Sunday for the 31st annual Arty awards gala.

For the first time in its history, the awards were presented in Vacaville. In addition to Solano County arts groups, Napa County cast and crew members were honored for the first time.

The event also honored a Solano County trio of arts staples – singer Connie Lisec, actor-director Harry Diavatis and choreographer Sheri Stockdale.

A bevy of awards were handed out amid music interludes, some comedy, compliments of Taylor Bartolucci, and a knock-out solo from Tyler Bertani singing a song from “Urinetown, the Musical.”

via Arty awards gala makes its Vacaville debut.

Firefighters, students remember 9/11 – Daily Republic

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By Ian Thompson

Schoolchildren and firefighters at the Suisun Fire Department paid homage Friday – each in their own way – to what happened 14 years ago on 9/11.

Young participants at the Kids Corner program at Tolenas Elementary School observed the anniversary of terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon by making a 10-foot-long banner honoring American military members.

Suisun City’s firefighters started and ended their Friday by ringing the vintage fire bell in front of the fire station on Pintail Drive in memory of those who died.

The Kids Corner program had a special assembly Friday afternoon in the school’s gym to present their handmade red, white and blue banner to Tech. Sgt. Renata Bernhard and Airman Kyle Nippert of the 60th Communications Squadron from Travis Air Force Base.

via Firefighters, students remember 9/11.

School board OKs extension for 2, removal of 1 on Bond Oversight Committee – Benicia Herald

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By Nick Sestanovich

Benicia Unified School District trustees voted unanimously to approve the reappointment of two members of the district’s Citizens Oversight Committee and the removal of another at a shortened meeting Thursday.

The committee, formed last October in response to the city’s passage of Measure S, must consist of seven members, representing a local business, a senior citizens organization, a taxpayers association and BUSD parents, as well as two at-large community members.

Each member can serve two-year terms, except for two members who drew straws at the committee’s first meeting to serve an initial one-year term.

via School board OKs extension for 2, removal of 1 on Bond Oversight Committee.

Supe: BUSD is ‘good steward’ – Benicia Herald

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By Keri Luiz

Last year Benicia voters approved Measure S, a bond for $49.6 million to make improvements to schools in the Benicia Unified School District. Now, point out BUSD Superintendent Charles Young and Bond Director Mitchell Stark, only a few weeks into the school year those improvements already are making a big difference.

The upgrades and improvements have been listed in four categories: modernization and technology; health, safety and security; infrastructure; and student support facilities.

While Stark has been providing regular updates to the BUSD Governing Board and the district’s social media accounts and website have been used to publish information, both Stark and Young have sought other ways to inform the public the information. So they approached The Herald about providing updates on a regular basis.

via Supe: BUSD is ‘good steward’.

Kairos students score well on new state tests – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Kairos students posted some of Solano County’s highest scores on the recently released new, all-computerized state tests taken by some 3.2 million California public school students last spring, the California Department of Education reported.

While most Vacaville-area school district students, in grades three through eight and 11, failed to meet state standards in English and mathematics, nearly 300 Kairos students did.

At the Elm Street campus in Vacaville, nearly 60 percent of the students at Kairos — an independent charter not formally governed by Vacaville Unified officials — met or exceeded the standard; in math, 52 percent met or exceeded the standard. The CDE did not list Kairos’ scores as part of Vacaville Unified’s, treating them as if from a separate school district.

via Kairos students score well on new state tests.

Board OKs $4,000 trip to Portland by 5 Fairfield-Suisun administrators – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

A $4,000 trip to Portland by five Fairfield-Suisun School District administrators won approval Thursday by school district trustees after one said reading about the Northwest Evaluation Association conference school officials would attend still left him unable to see why the trip is necessary.

Chris Wilson said the travel needed to be discussed rather than described as approved in the school district budget and with available funds that should be spent.

“I don’t like that attitude,” he said.

via Board OKs $4,000 trip to Portland by 5 Fairfield-Suisun administrators.

Fairfield-Suisun superintendent gets support for China trip – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

A weeklong trip to China for Kris Corey, superintendent of the Fairfield-Suisun School District, won approval Thursday by district trustees who spoke about the challenge of getting students “globally ready.”

Jonathan Richardson said he’d read negative comments about Corey’s planned Nov. 9-18 trip but asked that people become partners with the school district in preparing students.

“We have to make tough decisions,” Richardson said of the school board.

via Fairfield-Suisun superintendent gets support for China trip.

Vallejo students perform poorly on Common Core exams – Times Herald

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By John Glidden

A majority of California students are not ready for college, according to results from new standardized tests released on Wednesday.

Forty-four percent of California students met or exceeded the English language/literacy standard, while 33 percent met or exceeded the math standard.

Students in the Vallejo City Unified School District fared even worse.

Only 25 percent of VCUSD students exceeded or met the English standard, while 17 percent met or exceeded the math achievement.

The tests are connected to new Common Core standards, which outline what students should now at the end of each grade level.

via Vallejo students perform poorly on Common Core exams.

Vaca-area students fall short of meeting standards on new state test – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Results of the new, all-computerized tests taken by thousands of Vacaville-area public school students indicate a majority did not meet state standards, the California Department of Education reported on Wednesday.

In Vacaville Unified, 64 percent of those tested last spring, some 6,200 in grades three to eight and 11, failed to meet the standard in mathematics. In English, 55 percent of students overall did not meet the standard of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, or CAASPP for short.

In Dixon Unified, a Title 1 district, meaning the majority of its 3,500 students are classified as low-income and poor, 69 percent of 1,700 students tested failed to meet the standard in mathematics, and 67 percent overall failed to meet the standard in English.

In Travis Unified, with about 5,100 students, many from Travis Air Force Base, some 61 percent of nearly 2,900 tested failed to meet the standard in mathematics, and 49 percent failed to meet the standard in English.

via Vaca-area students fall short of meeting standards on new state test.

Students invited to join 4-H SET program – The Reporter

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High school students are invited to join the Solano County 4-H SET (Science, Engineering and Technology) program.

This is an opportunity for teens to engage in community service, learn new skills, experience teaching firsthand, and have lots of fun. Teens will be trained to teach science to elementary-aged children in after school programs in teams of two-four trained high school students.

A 10-hour training will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Sept. 27 and 5 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the 4-H office, 501 Texas St., Fairfield. Teens must participate in both days of the two-day training. Deadline to register for training is Sept. 24.

via Students invited to join 4-H SET program.

Students can win cash, scholarships in Optimist essay contest – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

The Optimist Club of Solano County is encouraging area students to contemplate the phrase “Lead by Example: Reality or Fiction” as part of the Optimist International Essay Contest for 2015-16.

Essays are due Feb. 5, 2016.

The Optimist Club will judge the local students’ essays, based on the theme. Winners will receive $100 and a club certificate. Winning essays will be sent to the district level where college scholarships of $2,500 are available for top winners.

via Students can win cash, scholarships in Optimist essay contest.

VUSD trustee Jeffreys resigns after serving nine months – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

With nine months of his four-year term completed, Vacaville Unified trustee Jeremy Jeffreys has resigned his post because he will move out of the 12,300-student district today.

In a text message to The Reporter earlier this week, the longtime educator — who has taken a teaching job at Rocklin High, just outside of Sacramento in Placer County — plans to move with his family into a new home in Colfax.

“I would like to thank my board colleagues for their service to our community and have one thought left to leave (sic), for varying reasons this board has made several trustee appointments over the last few years,” said Jeffreys, 40, a lifelong Vacaville resident, reading from his prepared statement early in the governing board’s Thursday meeting in the Educational Services Center.

via VUSD trustee Jeffreys resigns after serving nine months.

Longtime educator tapped as new Buckingham principal – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Newly named as principal of Buckingham Charter Magnet High, Mike Boles counted among his immediate goals the fine-tuning of the school’s Local Control Accountability Plan and boosting student access to the latest classroom technology.

“We’re just going to try to improve,” student success at the Bella Vista Road campus, he said Friday. “We want to continue to be one of the best charter schools in the area.”

After briefly serving as the school’s interim principal, Boles, 61, replaces Jeff Erickson, who left to teach at Heritage Peak, an independent charter school in downtown Vacaville.

As principal, Boles, a tall, congenial man will earn an annual salary of $118,000, oversee 465 students and supervise some 30 employees, including faculty, school-support workers and office staff.

via Longtime educator tapped as new Buckingham principal.

Science teacher hiring, staffing and transportation updates on TUSD agenda – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Hiring a science teacher with a provisional permit, district staffing update and a transportation update are up for discussion by Travis Unified leaders.

Tonight during the district meeting, Chris Hulett, director of human resources, will tell the five-member board that Vanden High has an opening for a physics and chemistry teacher, even after a “diligent” search, he said in agenda documents.

After exhausting all possibilities of finding a fully credentialed teacher for the job, he will recommend that Chad Miller be hired with a provisional intern permit. In California, such permits are available only at the request of an employer.

Hulett also will update trustees on staffing levels for the 2015-16 academic year, including information about new employees across the 5,000-student district.

via Science teacher hiring, staffing and transportation updates on TUSD agenda.

5 Fairfield-Suisun administrators eye $4,000 trip to Portland – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

Five administrators in the Fairfield-Suisun School District plan to travel to Portland to attend a Northwest Evaluation Association conference – a trip costing $2,000 in airfare and $2,000 for hotels.

The out-of-state travel for Shelley Ghannam, Cindy Brown, Jeffrey Kubiak, Jas Wright and Megan Thole to attend the Oct. 8-9 event goes before Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees at their meeting Thursday.

“The Northwest Evaluation Association is a research-based, computerized not-for-profit organization that helps educators measure an individual student’s academic level and growth, then use the resulting data as a transformational teaching tool,” a school district staff report said.

via 5 Fairfield-Suisun administrators eye $4,000 trip to Portland.