Category Archives: Charter schools

Kairos Public Schools earns state award for pandemic response – Daily Republic

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Kairos Public Schools has received the state 2022 Pivotal Practice Award for its pandemic response – the only Solano County school to receive the recognition.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced the award Tuesday.

“We are proud of the courageous efforts of our staff and students as they responded with student-centered decision-making in the most challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic. The team’s perseverance and dedication to create learning systems for our scholars in a time when no school was prepared speaks to our spirit of innovation,” Jared Austin, the executive director of Kairos, said in a statement.

Source: Kairos Public Schools earns state award for pandemic response

Vallejo City Unified School District sends notices to four charter schools – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

The Vallejo City Unified School District announced in a news release Tuesday that it sent out draft Notices of Violations and Opportunity to Cure to Griffin Technology Academies (GTA) concerning its four charter schools.

Those schools include Mare Island Technology Academy middle and high schools as well as Griffin Academy middle and high schools.

The VCUSD’s Board of Trustees will review, consider, and vote on whether to formally issue the draft notices sent to GTA’s four schools on Thursday at 5 p.m. during a special board meeting.

Source: Vallejo City Unified School District sends notices to four charter schools – Times-Herald

Buckingham vendor fair helps support teachers and students – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

McKayla Klein brought her handmade jewelry collection to the vendor fair to help support her school, Buckingham Charter on Saturday.

The seventh-grader began making jewelry for Girl Scouts and found it so relaxing she just couldn’t stop creating.

Last year she began selling her creations at craft fairs with the help of her parents.

Source: Buckingham vendor fair helps support teachers and students

Thompson, Garamendi announce nearly $4 million for Solano County schools – Times-Herald

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Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi announced on Thursday that Solano County schools will receive $3,944,431 from the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Emergency Connectivity Fund Program (ECF).

This includes $2,013,524 to the Vallejo City Unified School District and $657,375 to the Benicia Unified School District.

The ECF program, which was created as part of the American Rescue Plan, helps schools and libraries ensure that students can connect to the internet at home, allowing them to take advantage of online learning and do their homework. Known as the “homework gap,” students who lack access to the internet at home often fall behind their peers as curriculums and educational opportunities rely more and more on the ability to conduct online research and connect to the web.

Source: Thompson, Garamendi announce nearly $4 million for Solano County schools – Times-Herald

Caliber Public Schools appealing VCUSD denial – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

Once denied, Caliber Public Schools is still attempting to open a high school in Vallejo to accompany its current kindergarten to eighth grade campus in the city — Caliber: ChangeMakers Academy.

Earlier this week a public hearing was held in front of the Solano County Office of Education for the Caliber High School petition. In December, the Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) denied the petition on the basis of fiscal impact.

Caliber’s high school petition was originally submitted in September of 2021.

Source: Caliber Public Schools appealing VCUSD denial – Times-Herald

Board of Education holds hearing for proposed Caliber High School in Vallejo – Daily Republic

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By Matt Miller

The Solano County Board of Education held a spirited public hearing Wednesday at City Hall concerning a petition from Caliber Public Schools to start a high school in Vallejo.

Caliber Public Schools filed a petition in January to appeal the decision in December of the Vallejo City School District governing board. The Vallejo board unanimously denied Caliber’s petition to establish a new high school because of the district’s ongoing fiscal troubles.

The Solano Board of Education held the first public hearing Wednesday to consider the level of support for the petition by teachers employed by the school district, other employees of the school district, and parents.

Source: Board of Education holds hearing for proposed Caliber High School in Vallejo

Buckingham Students Plan For The Future – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Joel Rosenbaum

America Perez-Ochoa, 14 (right) a freshman at Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy takes notes as she speaks with Dr. Jacquae Walker (left,) a family practice physician, with Kaiser Permanente in Fairfield during the school’s annual career fair Thursday at the Georgie Duke Sports Center. Students from the school were able to speak and network with a variety of professionals from a range of careers including, medical, military, engineering, public safety, and journalism during the school-wide event.

Source: Photo: Buckingham Students Plan For The Future – The Vacaville Reporter

Solano Board of Education schedules public hearing on Caliber schools plan – Daily Republic

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The Solano County Board of Education will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday to hear input on the Caliber Public Schools petition filed earlier this year.

The hearing will take place at Suisun City Hall in the City Council chamber, 701 Civic Center Blvd. The Vallejo City School District Governing Board in December denied Caliber’s petition to establish a new high school. Caliber in January asked the county board to appeal the decision.

The county board, in accordance with Education Code Section 47605(b) and board policy, will conduct a public hearing to consider the level of support for the petition by teachers employed by the school district, other employees of the school district, and parents.

Source: Solano Board of Education schedules public hearing on Caliber schools plan

Kairos principal gets a colorful makeover – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Ethical question: Is it OK for students to throw colorful powder at their principal?

The answer: No, unless the students raise $6,100 for a charitable cause and have the blessing of their principal.

It might sound farfetched, but that is exactly what happened Wednesday at Kairos Public School Vacaville Academy, where students took turns tossing radiant dust at Executive Director Jared Austin, which was their reward for raising money for the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge. It was a win for all: Kairos students got to donate to charity, and Austin got to walk away with a new quasi-tie dye shirt.

Source: Kairos principal gets a colorful makeover – The Vacaville Reporter

Is state going to break ‘education contract’ with American families? – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

There may still be debates about Covid-19 and the medical response to the pandemic.

But the nearly three dozen people who attended the second “Above the Noise” forum in Vacaville on Wednesday seemed far more concerned about what decision they may have to make about their children’s education choices if California follows through with the mandates to vaccine all students 5 or older.

The mandate would not likely be implemented until July at the earliest, and even later for the lower grades.

Source: Is state going to break ‘education contract’ with American families?

Second ‘Above the Noise’ Covid forum set in Vacaville – Daily Republic

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A second forum to discuss Covid-19 vaccine mandates in schools is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Journey Downtown.

“Continue the conversation to navigate the recently announced vaccine mandate for school-aged children,” an announcement for the event states.

The first, held Oct. 20, drew about 120 people, plus the online listeners, not long after the Governor’s Office announced the mandates, which will likely not be implemented until at least July.

Source: Second ‘Above the Noise’ Covid forum set in Vacaville

Kairos Public Schools recognized by US News and World Report – The Vacaville Reporter

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Kairos Public Schools was identified as one of the top elementary schools and middle schools by US News and World Report Monday.

Kairos Public Schools operates two educational options within Vacaville: a TK-8 classroom-based option on Elm St with 500 students and a K-8 Independent Study/Homeschool program with 130 students on Alamo Drive.

“We are proud of our scholars and our staff for their commitment to excellence and we are thrilled to be recognized nationally,” Jared Austin, co-foudner and executive director, said in a statement. “We are committed to empowering a generation of learners to think critically, analyze and apply knowledge strategically and utilize relevant tools to interact thoughtfully with a global community and this recognition is another example of how we are meeting our mission.”

Source: Kairos Public Schools recognized by US News and World Report – The Vacaville Reporter

Officials unveil plans for new Kairos learning center, campus – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Kimberly K. Fu

Dozens gathered at Nashe Mesta Park in Vacaville’s Brighton Landing neighborhood Friday to enjoy food, fun and celebrate progress of Kairos Public Schools’ school expansion.

As students scampered around the playground during the Kairos Innovative Scholars Program annual picnic, parents and education officials perused renderings of two phases of the planned Kairos campus. It will be located just beyond the park, on 11 acres owned by the school.

Jared Austin, Kairos co-founder and executive director, detailed the soon-to-be 11,000 square foot learning center complete with ample bells and whistles.

Source: Officials unveil plans for new Kairos learning center, campus – The Vacaville Reporter

Kairos Schools growing in Vacaville thanks to cash infusion – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Kairos Public Schools hosted its annual Kairos Innovative Scholars Program family picnic Friday with a little more to celebrate this year.

The school will soon be opening an 11,000-square-foot Kairos Learning Center in the Brighton Landing Development area. The Silicon Schools Fund gifted the school $125,000 at the picnic Friday with about 75 families and children in attendance.

“At the moment we are going through the city to get everything approved,” Kairos co-founder and executive director Jared Austin said. “We are looking at developing this over five years.”

Source: Kairos Schools growing in Vacaville thanks to cash infusion

Buckingham grads march to their futures – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Newly-minted Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy graduate Jackson Andrews expressed candidly Friday how many of his classmates felt after enduring the 2020-21 academic year, more than nine months amid a pandemic, at the Vacaville high school.

“It was a pain in the butt, but I made it through,” said Andrews, 17, one of 97 seniors who picked up their diplomas Friday morning during commencement at Tom Zunino Stadium on the Vacaville High School campus on West Monte Vista Avenue.

After all, as Vacaville Unified Superintendent Jane Shamieh noted in her remarks spoken on a temporary stage on the field, the school’s class of 2021 “missed sports, prom, choir concerts, robotics and so much more …” due to public health restrictions.

Source: Buckingham grads march to their futures – The Reporter

Buckingham honors graduates, notes their ‘zest for life’ – Daily Republic

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By Matt Miller

It was the 26th senior class but the first under the rebranded name, Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy, honored Thursday under sunny morning skies at Tom Zunino Stadium.

The charter school also dedicated a new campus this year, now located at 100 McClellan St. Many of the 97 graduates faced hybrid learning like many others in the Vacaville School District, but these Knights were able to enjoy the new grounds in the early spring.

“They were very limited in their extracurricular activities, but we were so glad to be able to have a graduation ceremony and to open our new campus,” new Principal Samantha Working said of the job for the past three months. “We had hybrid learning but most came back by March.”

Source: Buckingham honors graduates, notes their ‘zest for life’

Buckingham 2020 class finally gets in-person graduation – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

As of Friday, graduation season is now in full swing in Vacaville.

However, the season did not start with the Class of 2021 — which will have in-person ceremonies throughout next week — but rather the Class of 2020, which had to forego traditional ceremonies in favor of them due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, they will have their due, starting with Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy, whose 2020 seniors graduated at Vacaville High School’s Tom Zunino Stadium Friday evening.

The last year has been a tumultuous one for Buckingham, which saw a name change — from Buckingham Charter Magnet High School, the continuation of distance learning and a relocation to a bigger space in the former Country High School campus on McClellan Street. However, the familiar sight of maroon caps and gowns filled the stadium as Buckingham began its return to normalcy.

Source: Buckingham 2020 class finally gets in-person graduation – The Reporter

Buckingham students prove selves as vocabulary masters – Daily Republic

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Students from Buckingham Charter High School have distinguished themselves across the state and nation as wordsmiths of great renown.

A total of 1.3 million students across North America competed for the past seven months on behalf of their schools to master the most words in Vocabulary.com’s seventh annual Vocabulary Bowl, the company said in a press release.

Students answered 450 million questions, mastered a collective total of 36.6 million words and expanded their lexicons in the classroom and at home, according to the press release.

Source: Buckingham students prove selves as vocabulary masters

ELITE Public Charter to feature sports in 2021-22 – Times-Herald

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By Matt O’Donnell

Since Hogan High School closed its doors in 2010, the city of Vallejo has featured four high schools with sports competition — Vallejo, Jesse Bethel, St. Patrick-St. Vincent and North Hills Christian.

A fifth — ELITE Public Charter School — will give local athletes another option starting in the fall.

The Whitney Avenue campus featured classes for the first time in 2020-21. ELITE has about 500 students.

The Eagles will feature competition in six sports — football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer and track and field. ELITE will be an independent program in the Sac-Joaquin Section, meaning the school will not be part of any conference.

Source: ELITE Public Charter to feature sports in 2021-22 – Times-Herald

Inaugural event in Vacaville to celebrate special needs – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Since its inception last year, Vacaville People’s Forum has sought to highlight the various people who make up Vacaville and give everybody a voice.

This Saturday, the organization will host an event to highlight the differently abled community. In honor of Special Needs Awareness Month, Vacaville People’s Forum will be hosting a celebration in Andrews Park titled “Be You.”

The event will feature a parade, music, speeches by local dignitaries and resources to connect with different agencies.

Source: Inaugural event in Vacaville to celebrate special needs – The Reporter