School board OK’s purchase of Mission Solano property on Travis Boulevard – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

A proposal for the Fairfield-Suisun School District to buy the Mission Solano Community Outreach Center at 740 Travis Blvd. won school board approval Thursday.

“We’ve had our eyes on it for many years,” said Kim Van Gundy, director of facilities and construction for the school district.

Mission Solano is offering to sell the 1.9-acre property to the district for the remaining balance of the current loan at the time of title exchange – plus a $160,000 deposit, a report to trustees states. Mission Solano will continue to operate on the site for the next 12 to 18 months and continue to pay on its current loan of $280,000, the report adds.

Source: School board OK’s purchase of Mission Solano property on Travis Boulevard

$249M Fairfield-Suisun school bond measure heads to June ballot – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

A $249 million bond will go before voters June 7, Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees decided Thursday.

“This is a very small portion of what we need,” Trustee Kathy Marianno said before the unanimous school board vote.

She and other school district officials cited the $1.3 billion in projects they said the Fairfield-Suisun district needs to undertake.

Superintendent Kris Corey said not a lot money is left for the improvements the bond would fund when 85 percent of the school district’s $190 million budget goes to salaries and benefits.

Source: $249M Fairfield-Suisun school bond measure heads to June ballot

Solano County 4-H Presentation Day: From Bees to Robotic Engineering – Benicia Patch

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Fifty-nine Solano County 4-H’ers won gold, or the best-of-the-best for their presentations at the annual Solano County 4-H Presentation Day, held Saturday, Feb. 27 at Willis Jepson Middle School, Vacaville.

The gold winners each received a pin for their 4-H hat and a certificate. They are now eligible to compete at the 4-H Sectional Presentation Day, set March 26 at the University of California, Davis.

Source: Solano County 4-H Presentation Day: From Bees to Robotic…

Ability to opt out uncertain in lawsuit requiring student data release | EdSource

By Theresa Harrington

A judge’s order requiring the California Department of Education to release personal data for 10 million students as a result of a lawsuit over special education rights does not state whether parents’ objections will automatically trigger the removal of their children’s records from disclosure.

Many parents throughout the state want to opt their children out of the data release, which includes records dating back to 2008. Information to be released could include Social Security numbers, addresses, demographics, behavior and discipline information, special education records and mental health or medical details.

Although Judge Kimberly Mueller is accepting letters or objection forms from parents, or former students who are 18 or over, through April 1, her order does not indicate whether she will block the release of data based on them. However, it does clearly state that failure to submit an objection “will be deemed a waiver of your right to object to the disclosure of your or your child’s protected personal information and records.”

via Ability to opt out uncertain in lawsuit requiring student data release | EdSource.

Charter school in Vallejo seeks better offer – Times Herald

By John Glidden

The debate surrounding the relationship between independent charters and school districts reached the Vallejo school board during its meeting Wednesday night.

Several parents with Caliber School — a new independent charter in the Vallejo City Unified School District — spoke to the board, demanding the district offer a better school site for the upcoming 2016-17 school year.

The district is offering the use of the former Vallejo Middle School site, while Caliber parents and representatives are eying the former Farragut Elementary School site.

via Charter school in Vallejo seeks better offer.

Contractors, business owners invited to Vacaville Unified meeting – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Vacaville Unified officials are inviting local contractors and business owners to an outreach meeting to learn about opportunities under Measure A.

The event, dubbed Local Business & Contractor Fair, begins at 5 p.m. Thursday in the school district’s main office, the Educational Services Center, 401 Nut Tree Road.

If you are a general contractor, an electrical or plumbing contractor, or operate a printing or silk screening business, then it may be of interest.

via Contractors, business owners invited to Vacaville Unified meeting.

County spelling bee set for March 7 – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Will Vacaville’s top elementary-school speller, Notre Dame sixth-grader Ellison Domingo, come out on top at the county bee?

We will know March 7, when the 40th annual Solano County Elementary School Spelling Bee ends at the Joseph A. Nelson Community Center in Suisun City.

The event, open to students countywide in grades four to six, from either public or private schools, begins at 6 p.m. in the 611 Village Drive center.

The county competition is an oral contest. District staff, school staff, and the contestant’s family are welcome to attend the event, said Ken Scarberry, a spokesman for the bee.

via County spelling bee set for March 7.

Ways to Object to Disclosure of Student Data – Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson reiterated his strong commitment to student privacy today, calling it a top priority of his administration. “We have fought vigorously to protect students privacy rights and will continue that fight,” he said.

As part of that commitment and to comply with a court order, Torlakson reminded parents, guardians, and some former students over 18 that they can object to the release of personally identifiable information to plaintiffs in a court case, Morgan Hill Concerned Parents Association vs. California Department of Education.

Plaintiffs in the case have sought numerous documents and data stored in databases maintained by the California Department of Education (CDE).

The CDE for nearly three years has consistently fought requests by the plaintiffs to produce documents that contain the personally identifiable information of students and has produced documents with that information removed.

via Ways to Object to Disclosure of Student Data – Year 2016 (CA Dept of Education).

Vacaville High School student celebrates Sweet 16th birthday, defying the odds – The Reporter

By Dom Pruett

When Marissa Hernandez was born, doctors told her family she wouldn’t live past the age of 1.

And even if she did, she would never walk nor possess the ability to lead any fulfilling or comfortable life due to her disability.

Hernandez was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome — a condition with symptoms throughout the body, with the most noticeable being adverse effects on one’s physical development.

The odds were never in Hernandez’ favor to say the least. But on the 16th anniversary of when her parents were informed about all the things their daughter wouldn’t be able to do, Hernandez stands as living (and walking) proof of how mistaken those doctors were.

via Vacaville High School student celebrates Sweet 16th birthday, defying the odds.

Travis Credit Union offers $1,500 scholarships – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

For college-bound high school seniors, getting ready to fill out federal financial aid applications or nervously expecting an acceptance letter may occupy some of their time at this time of year.

But by taking a few hours to fill out a scholarship application, it also could mean money in otherwise empty pockets, thanks to Travis Credit Union.

Based in Vacaville, the nonprofit financial institution announced earlier this year that it will award 20 scholarships, of $1,500 each, to those who qualify.

Each applicant must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, be bound for a two– or four–year college or university, and be a member of Travis Credit Union.

via Travis Credit Union offers $1,500 scholarships.

Dixon Unified leaders considering new school bond – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

With a mixed recent history of school bond passage, Dixon Unified leaders are once gain considering a property tax measure, likely for the fall 2016 ballot, to ask voters to pay for the building, repair and improvement of the district’s eight campuses, some of them built in the 1950s.

When the governing board meets tonight, several agenda items refer directly to a possible new bond measure.

At the same time, as part of other money matters, trustees are likely to approve the refinancing of Measure J, a $29 million bond passed by voters in 2002, and hire a San Francisco-based law firm to help them do it.

via Dixon Unified leaders considering new school bond.

Vacaville Unified officials propose later school start times – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Vacaville Unified officials have proposed later start times for the school district’s elementary and middle schools, a plan, if approved by the governing board, that would affect thousands of students and parents and hundreds of teachers across the city.

Unveiled at the Feb. 4 trustees meeting, the plan, said Mark Frazier, the district’s chief academic officer, is “the start of a conversation,” that may result in a proposal for a timeline to implement the change, possibly at the board’s March 3 meeting.

In a computerized slide presentation, Frazier showed off a sample start schedule for five elementary schools and the district’s two middle schools.

Basically, the plan calls for the five elementary schools to begin classes 15 minutes earlier, from 8 to 8:30 a.m., depending on the school, and the middle schools to start 50 minutes later, at 8:40 and 8:45 a.m., respectively.

via Vacaville Unified officials propose later school start times.

Fairfield’s David Weir Academy Receives $5,000 Wells Fargo Grant – Dixon Patch

By Dave Colby

David Weir Elementary School in Fairfield has received an education grant as part of the KNBR Step Up to the Plate for Education grants program. With the $5,000 offered, the school wants to fund a student field trip to OSU and USC.

The education grants program, funded by Wells Fargo, presented checks to 29 Bay Area schools on Friday, who received a total of $100,000 to support their sports, musical, art and education programs.

via Fairfields David Weir Academy Receives $5,000 Wells Fargo….

Fairfield may pay $50,000 to school district to demolish Mission Solano site on Travis Boulevard – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

The city would pay $50,000 to the Fairfield-Suisun School District to demolish structures at Mission Solano’s outreach center on Travis Boulevard in a proposed agreement to ensure that the school district acquires the property for a future expansion.

Fairfield City Council members take up the proposal Tuesday.

It’s expected the school district will acquire the Travis Boulevard property in 2017, according to the city staff. The Fairfield-Suisun Adult School is next to the Mission Solano site.

via Fairfield may pay $50,000 to school district to demolish Mission Solano site on Travis Boulevard.

Solano College board eyes $6M in changes for new science building – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

The Solano Community College governing board on Wednesday will consider approving $6 million in changes to plans for the new science building at its Fairfield campus.

The costs of the proposed changes would be funded from Measure Q program reserves, bond interest income and an adjustment of the Vallejo site improvements budget, according to a Solano College staff report.

The recommended changes would increase the square footage of the new building significantly and could require construction of a partial second story to the building, though a preference for a one-story structure will be included in the design-build request for proposal, the staff report said.

via Solano College board eyes $6M in changes for new science building.

Land swap between Fairfield, school district heads to council – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

A land swap between the city and the Fairfield-Suisun School District that gives control of the former Sem Yeto Continuation School to the city – while the school district receives about 2 acres off Cement Hill Road for an elementary school – goes before City Council members Tuesday.

The school district has agreed to remove all buildings from the downtown Sem Yeto site at 421 Madison St., a city staff report said, and when the property exchange is completed Fairfield plans to sell the site for residential development.

via Land swap between Fairfield, school district heads to council.

School sets Spanish-English program info meets for parents  – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

The Spanish-English Dual Immersion Program at B. Gale Wilson School will host a series of parent informational sessions this week.

Sessions for families interested in enrolling incoming kindergartners for the 2016-17 school year include:

  • 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in English; 7 to 8 p.m. in Spanish.
  • 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday in English; 7 to 8 p.m. in Spanish.
  • 9 to 10 a.m. Friday in English; 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Spanish.

via School sets Spanish-English program info meets for parents .

Fairfield school schedules open house in response to boundary changes – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Cleo Gordon Elementary School will host an open house Thursday to introduce families to the school.

The event will occur be from 5 to 6 p.m. at 1950 Dover Ave.

The school sent out approximately 110 invitations to families who will now be in the Cleo Gordon attendance area for the 2016-17 school year. Teachers are volunteering their time to welcome new families. There will be a short presentation about the Leader in Me and 7 Habits program at the school. Families will then be welcome to visit classrooms and talk with teachers.

via Fairfield school schedules open house in response to boundary changes.

Solano County teachers target of free training program – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

The School Water Education Program is offering an eight-hour water training program for Solano County teachers.

The session will take place Feb. 27 at Solano Community College.

This training supports the Project Water Education for Teachers program curriculum, a kindergarten-through-12th-grade hands-on, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics-friendly science education program with a water theme.

via Solano County teachers target of free training program.

At Browns Valley, learning Black History Month ABCs – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Black History Month, February, may pass quietly in some corners of America, Canada and the United Kingdom, where it is celebrated each year, but it is duly observed these days in teacher Emily Berg’s third-grade class at Browns Valley Elementary in Vacaville.

During an afternoon lesson Thursday, Berg, standing in room 27, an aging portable, guided 25 students through a brief passage of facts about President Barack Obama, the 44th and first black president in U.S. history.

via At Browns Valley, learning Black History Month ABCs.