Monthly Archives: January 2014

Fairfield-Suisun pay hikes on agenda – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

When they meet tonight in open session, Fairfield-Suisun Unified leaders are expected to approve 3 percent cost-of-living hikes — the first in several years — for all school district labor groups, except teachers.

Those soon to receive additional cash in their paychecks include the 165 members of the technical and business services unit, Chapter 302 of the California School Employees Association, with each receiving an average of $1,586; the 463 members of the support/operations unit, Chapter 302 of CSEA, with each receiving an average of $1,092; the 13 members of the Mutual Organization of Supervisors, with each receiving an average of $2,047; and the 102 employees of the Fairfield-Suisun Management Association, with each receiving an average of $3,692.

via Fairfield-Suisun pay hikes on agenda – The Reporter.

California Board of Education to decide on new school funding plan – Sacramento Bee#mi_rss=Education

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By Loretta Kalb

The California Board of Education is poised today to adopt emergency regulations guiding the state’s landmark plan for distributing money to the state’s 6.2 million-student school system.

The expected vote on the rules for the state’s new Local Control Funding Formula drew hundreds of educators, community leaders, student advocates and Gov. Jerry Brown to the meeting.

via California Board of Education to decide on new school funding plan – Education – The Sacramento Bee#mi_rss=Education.

Bypassing the Textbook: Video Games Transform Social Studies Curriculcum | MindShift

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Katrina Schwartz

Educators typically think of using digital and video games as the actual learning tool, but one teacher is using video games for something else entirely — as a replacement for the textbook.

Jeff Mummert, a social studies teacher and department chair at Hershey High School in Pennsylvania, uses games in his class to get students thinking critically about the subject matter the games address, even if they’re completely imaginary, he said. Game designers put a lot of time and thought into developing aesthetically appealing games that they think will draw players into an imaginary world. Mummert says his interest in games in the classroom focuses entirely on asking students to think critically about the game in the same way they would analyze a text or work of art.

via Bypassing the Textbook: Video Games Transform Social Studies Curriculcum | MindShift.

First Common Core Math Materials Adopted – Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

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SACRAMENTO—School districts now have a list of more than 30 instructional materials to choose from that are aligned to the Common Core State Standards for mathematics, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today.

This comes after the State Board of Education completed the 2014 adoption of kindergarten through grade eight mathematics materials for California students. The list is attached.

“Today’s step keeps us on track toward our goal of providing students the real- world skills they will need for college and career, in part through the Common Core,” Torlakson said. “These quality materials will help students achieve the proficiency in mathematics that California’s employers are looking for from this future workforce.”

via First Common Core Math Materials Adopted – Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education).

School board to see Site Council achievement plans | The Benicia Herald

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By Keri Luiz, Assistant Editor

Superintendent of Benicia Schools Janice Adams on Thursday will present each school’s Single Plan for Student Achievement to the Governing Board of the Benicia Unified School District for its approval.

The plan is designed to “create a cycle of continuous improvement of student performance, and to ensure that all students succeed in reaching academic standards set by the State Board of Education,” Adams wrote in a report to the board.

Every year the School Site Councils — which include the principal, teachers, parents, classified employees and, at secondary levels, the students — develop the SPSA.

via School board to see Site Council achievement plans | The Benicia Herald.

College board to consider employee group contract change – Daily Republic

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By Susan Winlow

Solano Community College officials are poised to strike a deal Wednesday with an employee group that will lead to some retroactive pay.

A tentative agreement has been reached between the college district and Stationary Engineers Local 39 in this proposed revision to the 2010-14 contract, which allows certain items to be renegotiated while the base contract remains in effect.

via College board to consider employee group contract change Daily Republic.

Common Core issues top NAACP gathering – The Reporter

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Published by The Reporter:

Malcolm Butler, the assistant superintendent of educational services for the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, will give a presentation on the new California Common Core curriculum at the next meeting of the Tri-City NAACP.

The group will also discuss setting up computer workshops for parents where demonstrations of the key components of Common Core and the related testing materials will be given. The meeting will take place from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, in the Zoe Building, Room V115, located at 1745 Enterprise Drive, Fairfield. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

via Common Core issues top NAACP gathering – The Reporter.

California’s long-running school achievement debate reaches climactic point – Dan Walters – The Sacramento Bee

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By Dan Walters

Years – even decades – of intense academic and political debate over closing the stubbornly wide “achievement gap” that separates Latino and black students from their white and Asian classmates are reaching a climactic point.

This week, the State Board of Education is poised to approve hotly contested regulations to guide the expenditure of billions of extra dollars aimed at improving the educations of poor and “English learner” students.

via Dan Walters: California’s long-running school achievement debate reaches climactic point – Dan Walters – The Sacramento Bee.

Scholarship will honor the memory of DUSD Student – Dixon Tribune | Facebook

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Brianna Boyd, Editor

Dixon Unified’s board of trustees moved forward Thursday with plans to establish a scholarship for high school seniors in memory of a young Dixon man who lost his battle with lymphoma on Oct. 2 of last year.

Devan Lamaar Cox, a 2008 Dixon High School graduate, was just 23 years old when he died. But in those 23 years, he touched the hearts of countless people, both in the Dixon community and beyond, with his strong faith, love for family, contagious smile and passion for music and basketball. Even as he battled both lymphoma and a rare and painful neurological disorder, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, or CIDP, he continued to be positive. His mom, Virginia “Ginny” Clark, said back in October that Devan never complained or said he wanted to give up. Instead, this young Dixon man was a warrior.

via Scholarship will honor the memory of… – The Dixon Tribune | Facebook.

District board eyes policy shift to facilitate Measure Q projects – Daily Republic

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By Susan Winlow

Solano Community College’s governing board will consider a temporary policy shift Wednesday that staff reports indicate will streamline Measure Q construction projects.

Trustees will discuss delegating authority to the college’s superintendent/president and “certain key staff” in approving potential Measure Q construction change orders that fall within the 10 percent construction contingency.

If a potential change order is expected to exceed the limits described in board policy, it will go before the governing board.

via District board eyes policy shift to facilitate Measure Q projects Daily Republic.

Cash for College draws scores to Will C. Wood – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

Dozens of people gathered Tuesday in Vacaville to learn about matters including passwords, how to unlock doors and the chance to win $1,000.

Maureen Mason-Muyco, financial aid lead specialist at Solano Community College, spoke at the Cash for College workshop that took place in the library at Will C. Wood High School about unlocking the doors to college funding, the passwords needed when people apply online and how students completing an exit survey are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship selected at random.

via Cash for College draws scores to Will C. Wood Daily Republic.

MIT room to be renovated in Martin Luther King Jr. Day project. – Vallejo Times Herald

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By Lanz Christian Bañes

A North Vallejo school will receive a much-needed renovation next week.

Mare Island Technology Academy’s multipurpose room will be Rebuilding Together Solano County’s fifth Martin Luther King Jr. Day project.

“We need lots of volunteers,” said Elizabeth Hoffman, executive director of Rebuilding Together Solano County, about the project.

via MIT room to be renovated in Martin Luther King Jr. Day project. – Vallejo Times Herald.

Former San Francisco mayor addresses Vallejo students – Vallejo Times Herald

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By Irma Widjojo

A product of a segregated school in a small Texas town, Willie Brown rose to become one of the most influential politicians in California through education and hard work.

That was the message that officials hope more than 50 local students take home Monday night.

Brown, now 79, was invited to Vallejo by District Attorney Donald du Bain and Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis to address the students at Jesse Bethel High School.

via Former San Francisco mayor addresses Vallejo students – Vallejo Times Herald.

Charter withdraws Travis Unified School District application – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Tonight’s Travis Unified governing board agenda is notable for what’s not on it: an up-or-down vote by trustees for a petition submitted by a Rio Linda-based charter school group to align its Vacaville campus with the Fairfield district.

Officials with Pacific Charter Institute have withdrawn their application for Western Valley Charter Academy, citing apparent disinterest by Travis leaders.

“We figured that they would be more receptive” to the petition, Paul Keefer, CEO of the charter school group, said late last week. “We just agreed to withdraw it.”

via Charter withdraws Travis Unified School District application – The Reporter.

Agencies Can Apply For Energy Efficiency Funds – Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

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SACRAMENTO—Eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) can now apply for $65 million for planning energy efficiency projects in the second round of funding under voter-approved Proposition 39, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today.

“Energy efficiency projects have a unique ability to save schools money even as they offer a whole host of other benefits,” Torlakson said. “Work to make our schools more energy efficient also protects our environment and helps create teachable moments for students along with good jobs for their families.”

via Agencies Can Apply For Energy Efficiency Funds – Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education).

Fairfield-Suisun district eyes Nelda Mundy change – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

About 284 sixth-graders from schools including Nelda Mundy Elementary would move to Green Valley Middle School in the 2015-16 school year if Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees approve the proposed change Thursday – a proposal that has spurred a parent’s online petition opposing the student transfer.

Annette Thurman said keeping Nelda Mundy a K-6 school rather than sending sixth-graders to Green Valley avoids moving children into the adolescent world of middle schools.

“We talk about kids growing up early,” Thurman said. “A lot of that happens because we put them in environments where they have to grow up.”

via Fairfield-Suisun district eyes Nelda Mundy change Daily Republic.

Solano College president outlines key issues for 2014 – Daily Republic

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By Susan Winlow

As 2014 begins and another semester opens to students, the president of Solano Community College outlined a list of several items – from accreditation to the college’s organization structure – that he considers some of the most pressing issues for this year.

The college continues its trek to remove itself permanently from sanctions after being hammered over the past few years from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Jowel Laguerre said the subject of accreditation needs to be continuously looked at and not just under the watchful eye of the accrediting commission that is monitoring the district.

via Solano College president outlines key issues for 2014 Daily Republic.

Fairfield sister city program seeks students to visit Japan – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

The sister city program with Nirasaki, Japan is looking for high school students to be part of next summer’s three-week student exchange visit to Japan.

High school students in the Fairfield-Suisun School District, as well as Fairfield residents who attend schools outside the district, are eligible to apply to be part of the delegation. Nirasaki, Japan is the home of Mount Fuji and famous for peaches, grapes, wine, textiles and jewelry.

via Fairfield sister city program seeks students to visit Japan Daily Republic.

Parent volunteers play a big role in PEP program – Daily Republic

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By Amy Maginnis-Honey

A recent study of more than 1,000 California parents with children in public schools found that parents were less involved in the classroom than they would like to be. The majority cited not having enough time and jobs as the main obstacles.

Yvette Guttmann knows those challenges well. She finds ways to meet them as she has two sons enrolled in the Partnership for Educational Progress at Crescent Elementary School.

“I try to juggle my work schedule,” she said. “At times, it’s a challenge. But I’m not willing to give up PEP.”

via Parent volunteers play a big role in PEP program Daily Republic.

Vacaville Unified trustees back wi-fi proposal – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

After an hour of vigorous discussion, Vacaville Unified leaders on Thursday approved a contract, up to $500,000, with an El Dorado Hills-based

firm to upgrade several district classrooms with wireless computer access in advance of all-computerized testing required by state educational standards that take effect in the fall.

The work – a specific, one-time expense funded by Gov. Jerry Brown’s Local Control Funding Formula – also will include increasing the amount of electrical power available to some school sites to meet the testing demands of the Common Core State Standards. (Approved by 45 states and the District of Columbia, the standards define the knowledge, concepts and skills students should have at each grade level.)

via Vacaville Unified trustees back wi-fi proposal – The Reporter.