Monthly Archives: January 2012

Dolan in line to be Dixon Unified’s next superintendent

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Dixon Tribune’s Facebook Notes

Brianna Boyd

Dixon Unified’s board of trustees will not have to look any further than the district office to find the person they would like to see as the new superintendent of schools.

At their Thursday meeting, following glowing recommendations from parents, teachers and community members, the trustees decided to move forward with negotiating a permanent contract with Interim Superintendent Brian Dolan.

via Dolan in line to be Dixon Unified’s next superintendent.

Dolan Primed for Permanent Superintendent Position

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Dixon Patch

by Carlos Villatoro

Anyone who happened to attend a meeting of the Dixon Unified School District Board of Education back in July would have seen a much different meeting than what took place Thursday night.

Back in July, the environment was borderline hostile, as union representatives, parents, students, the board and then-superintendent Roger Halberg  would often clash on issues important to the district.

via Dolan Primed for Permanent Superintendent Position.

Artist, instructor a mentor to Solano Community College students

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Daily Republic

by Heather Ah San

FAIRFIELD — Marc Lancet can turn a simple bowl into an elegant work of art.

He often uses wood, fire and hard labor to drastically transform a sculpture. He has traveled the world many times to share his knowledge, learn from other cultures and gather with like-minded artists.

For the past 25 years, Lancet has brought his wisdom, experiences and his enthusiasm for three-dimensional art to his students at Solano Community College.

via Artist, instructor a mentor to local college students.

Students compete in Science Olympiad at Sullivan Middle School

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Daily Republic

by David DeBolt

FAIRFIELD — After three months of toiling with it, Derek Wadsworth unleashed his Rube Goldberg machine Saturday. A tug of the string started a chain reaction of balls bouncing, levers and pulley systems rocking and conveyor belts turning.

The machine is built with toys and other household items and resembles the “Mousetrap” board game, only with more complexity. Wadsworth and teammate Liem Nguyen were a bit nervous about the machine’s motor working.

via Students compete in Science Olympiad at Sullivan Middle.

Immigrant students find solace at Vacaville High

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Daily Republic

by David DeBolt

VACAVILLE — One of the first stops for Sahar Mozan at Vacaville High School was Room 80. The classroom, on the edge of campus and with a view of the school’s farm, is lovingly called the campus’ “United Nations.”

It is where students who recently immigrated and speak little to no English are sent. If a new student indicates English is not the primary language spoken in their home they are given a language development test. If they do not score high enough they spend fifth and sixth period in Room 80, learning the language.

via Immigrant students find solace at Vacaville High.

Shakeup at Benicia High School?

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Benicia Herald

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Some parents are coming to the defense of Benicia High School’s principal following reports that he will be issued a pink slip by the Benicia Unified School District Governing board.

The parents have formed a Facebook group called “Don’t Fire Gary Jensen, BHS Principal!” and are seeking to drum up community support for the administrator.

via Shakeup at Benicia High School?.

Jerry Brown’s fresh start: Local control tied to accountability

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The Educated Guess

By Eric Hanushek

Gov. Jerry Brown made two important statements about K-12 education in his State of the State speech on Wednesday. First, it is very important to have a strong accountability system that makes student achievement the focal point of our schools. Second, within that accountability system, local districts should have discretion to decide how to provide a quality education. Both represent an encouraging move toward improving the embarrassing state of California schools.

via Jerry Brown’s fresh start: Local control tied to accountability – by Eric Hanushek.

Apple Pushes Interactive Textbooks On iPads

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NPR Topics: Education

by NPR Staff and Wires

Apple Inc. on Thursday launched its attempt to make the iPad a replacement for a satchel full of textbooks by starting to sell electronic versions of a handful of standard high-school books.

The electronic textbooks, which include Biology and Environmental Science from Pearson and Algebra 1 and Chemistry from McGraw-Hill, contain videos and other interactive elements.

But it’s far from clear that even a company with Apple’s clout will be able to reform the primary and high-school textbook market. The printed books are bought by schools, not students, and are reused year after year, which isn’t possible with the electronic versions. New books are subject to lengthy state approval processes.

via Apple Pushes Interactive Textbooks On iPads.

Brown sharply differs from Obama on education policy

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L.A. Times – Education

By Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times

January 20, 2012

Deviating sharply from education reform policies championed by President Obama, California Gov. Jerry Brown is calling for limits on standardized testing and reduced roles for federal and state government in local schools.

Brown’s positions, outlined in Wednesday’s State of the State address, align closely with the state’s two major teachers unions, but also embody Brown’s independent streak.

via Brown sharply differs from Obama on education policy.

Vacaville Unified School District’s budget remains in flux, like California’s

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Google Alerts – “Vacaville Unified School District”

Posted: 01/20/2012 01:05:46 AM PST

Calling Gov. Jerry Brown’s ballot proposal to temporarily raise taxes a “risky venture,” Vacaville Unified School District’s chief business leader on Thursday told trustees that the 2012-13 district budget will remain in flux, as several recent annual budgets have, when the next school year gets under way.Kari Sousa, interim assistant superintendent of business and administrative services, said Brown’s $92.5 billion state budget, announced earlier this month, assumes that voters will OK Brown’s initiative to raise income taxes on people who make $250,000 a year or more and boost the state’s sales tax by a half cent.

via Vacaville Unified School District’s budget remains in flux, like ….

Model high school programs linking students to college and careers threatened

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EdSource Extra!

By Monique Smith and Louis Freedberg

Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed budget has cast a darker shadow over the future of hundreds of  model high school programs that help prepare students for college and careers.

About half of the nearly 500  California Partnership Academies, essentially “schools within schools” on high school campuses, were already threatened by a loss of funding they rely on due to legislation that will expire this June.

But in his January budget, funding for the academies are among 42 so-called “categorical programs” that Brown is recommending be phased out, threatening  $21 million which the remaining academies have relied on.

via Model high school programs linking students to college and careers threatened.

Public Input Sought Tonight on Permanent DUSD Superintendent (POLL)

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Dixon Patch

by Carlos Villatoro

How should the Dixon Unified School District Board of Education go about filling an open position for superintendent?

Should it begin looking for qualified candidates, separate the strong candidates from the weak ones and begin the interviewing process? Or should it appoint interim superintendent Brian Dolan to the position?

via Public Input Sought Tonight on Permanent DUSD Superintendent (POLL).

Advertisements at Fairfield-Suisun schools given a go

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Daily Republic

by David DeBolt

FAIRFIELD — In a “just do it” moment, Fairfield-Suisun school board members were unanimous Thursday in a vote to allow paid advertisements on school sites.

The vote updates a long-standing policy on advertisement and promotion to allow Superintendent Jacki Cottingim-Dias or a principal to permit an advertisement if it met certain criteria. The school board has the right to review the criteria.

via Advertisements at Fairfield-Suisun schools given a go.

Brown favoring school inspections

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The Educated Guess

By John Fensterwald – Educated Guess

Call it the right-brain complement to the left-brain world of standardized test accountability. In his State of the State address on Wednesday, Gov. Jerry Brown called for a new “qualitative system of assessments” and specifically cited, as an example, a system of “school visitation, where each classroom is visited, observed, and evaluated.” Brown has given the State Board of Education, led by his adviser Micheal Kirst, the job of developing what he wants. (Read the education section of his address.)

via Brown favoring school inspections – by John Fensterwald – Educated Guess.

Gov. Brown’s school reform proposal should get a passing grade

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L.A. Times – Education

by By Bruce Fuller

Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget aims to give school districts greater flexibility in spending state funds.

Tucked deep inside Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed 2012-13 budget for California is a little-noticed proposal for the most radical reform of school funding in the state since Proposition 13.

via Gov. Brown’s school reform proposal should get a passing grade.

Volunteers read, lead anti-bullying talk at Wardlaw School in Vallejo

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Google Alerts – “Vallejo schools”

Posted: 01/19/2012 01:31:23 AM PST

Surrounded by more than 20 youngsters, volunteers Lois Paula Riturban and Eileen Hidalgo had Mrs. Fetters’ second- grade class hanging on their every word Wednesday.It was story time and the pair was reading “Chrysanthemum,” author Kevin Henkes’ book about a little girl who overcomes teasing at school because of her unusual name.

via Volunteers read, lead anti-bullying talk at Wardlaw Elementary ….

Fairfield-Suisun School Board returns for first meeting of 2012

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Daily Republic

by David DeBolt

FAIRFIELD — Fairfield-Suisun School District board members return Thursday for the first meeting of the year with an agenda that includes next year’s school calendar, changes to board policy and a closed-session meeting to discuss district properties.

via Fairfield-Suisun School Board returns for first meeting of 2012.

People inspire Fairfield-Suisun school names

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Daily Republic

by David DeBolt

FAIRFIELD — It wasn’t just that Principal Cheryl Jones shares a surname with the elementary school she runs, though her first- and second-graders find the coincidence amusing. She was curious about K.I. Jones and found parents and students were, too. So she decided to do something about that.

“The community is very traditional and interested in their roots,” said Jones, who is not related to K.I. Jones. “I thought I would honor that.”

via People inspire Fairfield-Suisun school names.

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