Daily Republic: New Solano College trustees to be honored before meeting

FAIRFIELD — A public reception Wednesday will help welcome one incumbent and two new trustees to Solano College.

The Solano Community College District Board of Trustees will hold the reception at 6 p.m., leading up to the final meeting of the year at 7 p.m. Both will take place in the board room in the Administration Building of the Fairfield campus, 4000 Suisun Valley Road.

via New Solano College trustees to be honored before meeting.

Benicia Herald: Benicia supe, chief: City students’ safety is top priority

By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter

In the wake of one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history, Benicia police and schools have collaborated on a message to parents and other residents: Your children are safe.

Benicia Unified School District Superintendent Janice Adams and Benicia police Chief Andrew Bidou released a joint message Monday afternoon to those concerned about school security after a man killed 20 first-grade students and six faculty and staff members of Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Conn.

via Benicia supe, chief: City students’ safety is top priority.

The Educated Guess: National response needed to protect children from gun violence

When will we ever learn?

Almost a quarter century ago, California experienced the horror of an elementary school massacre when five children were killed at Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton.

In that traumatic January 1989 event, barely remembered except among those whose lives were directly touched by the tragedy, Patrick Purdy, a so-called “drifter” with a long criminal record and a history of mental disturbance, entered the school grounds during recess and shot to death five children from Southeast Asian refugee families – Rathanar Or, 9; Ram Chun, 8; Sokhim An, 6; Oeun Lim, 8; and Thuy Tran, 6 – injured 29 others, and then killed himself.

via National response needed to protect children from gun violence – by Louis Freedberg.

The Reporter: Solano County superintendent shares thoughts on Connecticut shooting

Jay Speck, Solano County superintendent of schools, weighed in Friday on school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

“I am deeply saddened about today’s senseless school shooting in Connecticut,” he wrote in an e-mail to The Reporter. “Our hearts go out to the victims, families, school staff, and community that have suffered this unimaginable tragedy. All of us who work with children know how deeply affected they will be. As parents and school staff, we need to reassure our students we will do everything we can to keep them safe.”

via Solano County superintendent shares thoughts on Connecticut shooting.

Benicia Patch: Benicia Unified Responds to Connecticut Elementary School Shooting

By Joshua Staab

In the wake of violence that has reportedly left at least 27 dead, including 18 children, at a Connecticut elementary school, Benicia Unified School District officials are taking a moment to share their perspective on the tragedy and are prepared to answer any questions concerned Benicia residents may have.

When asked about how prepared BUSD is in the event of an active shooter situation, District Assistant Superintendent Michael Gardner explained there are certain precautions each school has taken to ensure the district is a

via Benicia Unified Responds to Connecticut Elementary School Shooting.

FSUSD’s Facebook Wall: Today’s shooting at a Connecticut elementary school touches us all

Jacki Cottingim-Dias, Ph.D.
Superintendent, FSUSD

Today’s shooting at a Connecticut elementary school touches us all as parents, educators, and a caring community of people. Often when a tragedy of this proportion occurs, we all feel helpless and vulnerable. Understandably, our first thought is to protect ourselves and our loved ones from harm, even while mourning the loss we are experiencing for our fellow human beings.

via Today’s shooting at a Connecticut elementary school touches us all as parents, e….

Dixon Tribune’s Facebook Wall: Pinon is new president of DUSD school board

Brianna Boyd
Editor

Dixon Unified School District’s board of trustees selected its new president, vice-president and clerk Thursday during an annual organizational meeting.
On a 4-0 vote, the trustees selected Gil Pinon as president, Irina Okhremtchouk as vice-president and Guy Garcia as the clerk. Trustee Herb Cross was absent from the meeting.

via Pinon is new president of DUSD school board

 

Daily Republic: Children with special needs get a special day

DIXON — There was plenty of magic in the air Friday at the 21st annual Happy Holidays Celebration for Children with Disabilities at Silveyville Christmas Tree Farm.

About 350 youth and their guests were treated to a visit with Santa (gift included), free sleigh rides, refreshments and plenty of socialization. They came from all over Solano County.

Parents from the Dixon area call it the “Dixon May Fair in December,” as that event also offers a day for special-needs youth.

via Children with special needs get a special day.

Daily Republic: FSUSD School leaders discuss campus security

FAIRFIELD — When mass shootings in schools happen, the effects tend to trickle down to the local level as questions about safety are raised by parents.

Fairfield-Susuin School District Superintendent Jacki Cottingim-Dias understands the concerns and talked Friday about how the district is affected emotionally, but not procedurally.

via School leaders discuss campus security.

Daily Republic: FSUSD and VCUSD Teens Helping Teens celebrates 20 years

FAIRFIELD — During the holidays, there are a lot of great fundraisers and drives for children in need.

But Bob Dellarosby wonders, what about the teenagers? Who is fundraising for their needs?

More than 20 years ago, Dellarosby was looking at the angel tree in the Solano mall when he noticed that many on the wish lists written by teens weren’t taken.

via Teens Helping Teens celebrates 20 years.

Benicia Patch: Chronic Absence Will Be a Priority, Says Solano Superintendent

Combating chronic absence among students will become a priority this school year, according to Solano County Superintendent of Schools Jay Speck.

He has joined a nationwide Call to Action in which he is “agreeing to raise public awareness, dig deeper into attendance data, and work with community partners to improve school attendance starting as soon as children enter school,” according to a release from the Solano County Office of Education this week.

via Chronic Absence Will Be a Priority, Says Solano Superindendent.

Benicia Herald: Connecticut school tragedy: What if it happened here?

By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter

 

Officials from throughout California expressed sorrow Friday after learning that a gunman had killed at least 20 children and at least six adults at a Connecticut elementary school attended by about 700 pupils.

“I’m heartbroken,” said Benicia Unified School District Superintendent Janice Adams, who was attending meetings away from the district office Friday. “This is a horrible tragedy.”

via Connecticut school tragedy: What if it happened here?.

Benicia Herald: BUSD Schools’ software upgrade approved

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Benicia Unified School District trustees on Thursday approved a new financial and human resources software program that is expected to both save money and bring the district in line with the systems used by the county Office of Education.

Trustees also approved student achievement plans for Benicia High and Benicia Middle schools, and re-elected Rosie Switzer president of the board.

Chief Business Official Tim Rahill last week presented the software system Escape as a way for the district to join the system currently in use at the county level.

via Schools’ software upgrade approved.

Attendance Works: NAEP Study Connects Absences, Poor Tests Results

Several studies have documented how poor attendance correlates with lower standardized test scores. Now the people who bring you the National Assessment of Educational Progress have connected absences in the month before the national test with weaker performance.

Diving deeper into the data that NAEP provides, researchers found that nearly 20 percent of the eighth graders who scored at the basic level in reading on the 2011 test had missed three or more days in the previous month. For those who scored below basic, the figure was higher than 25 percent.

via NAEP Study Connects Absences, Poor Tests Results.

SCOE’s Facebook Wall: Would you like to be involved in the North Bay Regional Academic Decathlon and see some amazing high school students flex their brains?

Would you like to be involved in the North Bay Regional Academic Decathlon and see some amazing high school students flex their brains? Adult volunteers are needed!

http://www.solanocoe.net/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=279726&id=0

via Would you like to be involved in the North Bay Regional Academic Decathlon and s….

Education Week: Group Tackles Evaluation of Special Education Teachers

From guest blogger Liana Heitin

For several years now, teacher evaluation has dominated education-policy discussions in statehouses and otherwise. But for the most part, the country’s 430,000 special education teachers have been left out of the discussion.

The Council for Exceptional Children is trying to change that. In October, the advocacy group released a paper detailing its position on special education teacher evaluation. And today, about 30 leaders from membership organizations, state and local education offices, and schools gathered in Arlington, Va., to discuss the CEC’s recommendations.

via Group Tackles Evaluation of Special Education Teachers.

EdSource Today: Academic senate influence challenged at community colleges

By 

An Oakland-based policy and advocacy organization is alleging that the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges drew up unlawful regulation more than two decades ago giving excessive power to faculty, in violation of state law.

The nonprofit organization California Competes this week filed a legal challenge against the regulation, which it claims has obstructed efforts to improve student success rates. The legal maneuver relies on a rarely used section of the state education code (§ 70901.5), allowing any outside organization to challenge regulations drawn up by the Board of Governors. California Competes is seeking immediate action by the Board to amend its regulations to ensure that locally elected community college trustees have ultimate authority.

via Academic senate influence challenged at community colleges – by Kathryn Baron.

Daily Republic: Fairfield-Suisun schools project stable near-term budget

FAIRFIELD — The past few years have featured so many cuts and closures for local schools that even a balanced budget is cause for celebration.

The Fairfield-Suisun School District is projecting no budget cuts for the current and subsequent school year, thanks to passage of Proposition 30 in November. That means the $9 million in cuts projected earlier this year won’t be needed.

Trustees were given this report at Thursday’s meeting, confirming what was announced last month by Kelly Morgan, assistant superintendent.

via Fairfield-Suisun schools project stable near-term budget.