Monthly Archives: May 2014

High school graduation dates set – The Reporter

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

With credit given to Oscar Hammerstein lyrics from “Carousel,” June will soon be bustin’ out all over and that means lots of high school graduations in the Vacaville area.

In Vacaville Unified School District, the times, dates and locations are (in order):

• Country High — 6:30 p.m. June 5 at Tom Zunino Stadium, 100 W. Monte Vista Ave., Vacaville.

• Buckingham Charter Magnet High School — 10 a.m. June 6 at The Mission, 6391 Leisure Town Road, Vacaville.

• Will C. Wood High — 7 p.m. June 6 at Zunino Stadium.

• Vacaville High — 9 a.m. June 7 at Zunino Stadium.

via High school graduation dates set – The Reporter.

Special Needs Kids Day a hit in Dixon – The Reporter

Posted on by

By Kimberly Fu

Joy bubbled over in Dixon Friday as hundreds of “differently-abled” youths from all over Solano descended on the May Fair grounds for a taste of fun before the event opened to the public.

Hurriedly streaming off school buses in waves shortly after 9 a.m., the students, their helpers and myriad school officials surged onto the fairgrounds for the annual Special Needs Kids Day event, sponsored by the Vacaville Rotary Club.

 

via Special Needs Kids Day a hit in Dixon – The Reporter.

SACS2014 Budget Software Release Letter – Financial Reporting (CA Dept of Education)

Posted on by

The 2014 budget version of the Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) financial reporting software (SACS2014 Budget) is now available on our Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/sf/fr/. This version of the software includes only those components necessary to complete the 2014–15 budget reports. A second release is planned for early July 2014 and will include, in addition to the 2014–15 budget components, the 2013–14 unaudited actual and the 2014–15 interim reporting components of the software.

This year our efforts were primarily focused on required changes. The most notable changes relate to the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), GASB Statement 63 (GASB 63) and GASB Statement 65 (GASB 65), and modifying the SACS2014 software to mitigate the worst of its incompatibilities with Windows 7. For additional information on the changes made to the software, please refer to the “What’s New” section of the SACS2014 Software User Guide.

via SACS2014 Budget Software Release Letter – Financial Reporting (CA Dept of Education).

Recess consultant would cost Travis school district $47,900 – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Ryan McCarthy

A $47,900 contract with Oakland-based Playworks that includes “recess implementation training,” “consultative visits,” and a “coordinated recess system that helps shift the entire school culture” goes before Travis School District trustees on Tuesday – with an option for additional $2,000-a day-consulting, plus travel costs.

Consultant visits include recess observations, modeling of games with students and a playground assessment.

The contract pays $30,000 for 20 consultant visits.

via Recess consultant would cost Travis school district $47,900 Daily Republic.

Fairfield instructor wins Teacher of Year honors – The Reporter

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

A Fairfield-Suisun Unified teacher who likes to challenge herself and her students to excel in the classroom, especially by using technology, has been named as the 2014-15 Solano County Teacher of the Year.

Michelle Labelle-Fisch of Vacaville was accorded the honor, topping a field of six others, during a celebration Wednesday night in Suisun City. The Solano County Office of Education hosted the event, during which she received the award and $1,000, money donated by event sponsor Brandman University and contributors to the Crystal apple Partnership, to be used for classroom materials and supplies.

In addition, the county named Phillip Green, Benicia High School’s Isolated Classroom Environment Supervisor in the Benicia Unified School District, as the Classified School Employee of the Year.

via Fairfield instructor wins Teacher of Year honors – The Reporter.

Vanden High School graduate selected in first round of NFL Draft – The Reporter

Posted on by

By Matt Miller

The celebration came a day early.

Deone Bucannon expected a call from an NFL team today when the second and third rounds were held. Instead, it came Thursday. The former Vanden High School and Washington State University star was selected in the first round of the draft, pick No. 27 overall, to the Arizona Cardinals.

“What an amazing event. This is a dream come true,” Bucannon said from his mom Sonji’s Vacaville home. “I didn’t expect it yet. I’m ready to go. I’m ready to go out, play hard and show the coaches what I can do.”

Bucannon was home with his family and friends, unlike many other first round selections who were at Radio City Music Hall in New York, taking the stage and shaking the hand of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Agent Cameron Foster knew Bucannon’s stock was on the rise, but it’s hard to predict how drafts turn out.

via Vanden High School graduate Deone Bucannon selected in first round of NFL Draft by Cardinals – The Reporter.

Ed. Dept. to Extend NCLB Waivers Without Considering Teacher Evaluation – Education Week

Posted on by

By Alyson Klein

The U.S. Department of Education told state chiefs today that it will grant extensions on their waivers from the No Child Left Behind Act, without taking into account how each state is progressing when it comes to teacher evaluation, Deborah Delisle, assistant secretary of elementary and secondary education said in an email to Friday. That would give states extra time to put teacher evaluation systems in place that confrom to the department’s principles, which include measuring student achievement based on growth on state assesments.

Under the plan, states would essentially be given extensions based on their progress on two of the three big areas of waiver implementation (standards and assessments and turnarounds.) States ‘teacher evaluation-plans would then be reviewed separately. It was not immediatly clear what the impact of the decision would be on the proposed timeline for fully implementing teacher evaluation systems.  That’s supposed to happen next school year.

via Ed. Dept. to Extend NCLB Waivers Without Considering Teacher Evaluation – Politics K-12 – Education Week.

School board candidate to speak at taxpayers meet – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Jeremy Jeffreys, a candidate for the Vacaville School District board, is the guest speaker at Monday’s Solano Taxpayers Group.

The gathering is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Pietro’s No. 2, 679 Merchant St. Jeffreys will talk at about 7:15 p.m., after the conclusion of the business meeting. All are welcome to hear him speak.

For more information, call Ourania Riddle at 678-9438 or Drew Garska at 678-6161.

via School board candidate to speak at taxpayers meet Daily Republic.

Split Vallejo board moves to relocate charter school – Vallejo Times Herald

Posted on by

By Lanz Christian Bañes

A divided Vallejo school board voted Wednesday night to move the Vallejo Charter School to the former Springstowne Middle School campus, over the protests from the district’s other charter school.

“We have 800 middle and high school students that are housed in 40-year-old portables. … those are the facilities our students have had now, and they are literally falling down,” said Lynn Vaughan, a board member at Mare Island Technology Academy and one of scores of people who turned out for the vote.

At issue is the Vallejo City Unified School District’s plan to relocate the Vallejo Charter, a K-8 school, from its current location at the former Davidson Elementary School site to the Springstowne site. That is now occupied by the Regional Education Center (formerly the Vallejo Adult School).

via Split Vallejo board moves to relocate charter school – Vallejo Times Herald.

Solano College honors staff, alumni – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Ian Thompson

Louise Walker was still at Solano Community College when she got her job at First Northern Bank and began working her way up to the job of president and CEO of that local financial institution.

Karen McCord used her education at Solano College to do what she wanted most, work with at-risk students to improve their lives. She now does so as a professor of psychology at the school and coordinator of its ethnic studies program.

Walker and McCord were two of 12 alumni honored for their success and support for their community Wednesday at the college’s Celebrate SCC 2014 event, organized by the Solano Community College Educational Foundation.

via Solano College honors staff, alumni Daily Republic.

Sensitivity training for educators on foster youth issues needed, advocates say | EdSource Today

Posted on by

By Susan Frey

Under the new school finance system, the state will soon be sending districts lists of their foster students so schools can direct more resources to them. Although the students will benefit, they fear their personal lives may be widely exposed and they may be stigmatized if educators don’t handle the information sensitively.

“Foster kids are very nervous about this,” said Michael Paynter, the Foster Youth Services liaison for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. “They don’t want to be called out in public or identified in a way where they aren’t choosing the moment. We need some sensitivity training around the release of these lists.”

via Sensitivity training for educators on foster youth issues needed, advocates say | EdSource Today.

K.I. Jones Elementary instructor is teacher of the year – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Ryan McCarthy

Michelle Labelle-Fisch, sixth-grade teacher at K.I. Jones Elementary School in Fairfield, was named teacher of the year and Phillip Green, a classroom supervisor at Benicia High School, was named classified employee of the year during the 2014-15 Solano County Educators of the Year awards ceremony Wednesday.

A total of 14 educators were honored at the event at the Joseph A. Nelson Community Center in Suisun City.

via K.I. Jones Elementary instructor is teacher of the year Daily Republic.

Vallejoans who want to go to college urged to check out city scholarship – Vallejo Times Herald

Posted on by

Times-Herald staff report Posted:

College-bound Vallejo kids have until Friday to apply for a new scholarship funded by the Participatory Budgeting process.

The project, called College Bound Vallejo, was approved and funded last year and is a partnership between the city, the Vallejo City Unified School District and the Willie B. Adkins program.

About 45 youth have applied so far, but there is opportunity for at least another 30 to step up, a city employee said.

Albert Mayzeles said the program is a great opportunity for Vallejo youth. If awarded a scholarship, the recipient get $4,000 over two years. The recipients also must put in 150 hours of service.

via Vallejoans who want to go to college urged to check out city scholarship – Vallejo Times Herald.

Vallejo teachers might be able to get a raise – Vallejo Times Herald

Posted on by

Times-Herald staff report Posted:

Vallejo teachers could get a 2.5 percent raise if the school board approves a new agreement.

The public will get a chance tonight to view the new deal between the Vallejo City Unified School District and the Vallejo Education Association, which has been in negotiations for about a year.

The tentative agreement would give teachers a 2.5 percent pay raise retroactive to July 1 — in line with pay raises offered or approved for the district’s management and classified employees — among other changes.

The raises for teachers is expected to cost the district an additional $1.2 million.

via Vallejo teachers might be able to get a raise – Vallejo Times Herald.

VUSD leaders hear proposed major course changes at Buckingham – The Reporter

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

In the coming weeks, Vacaville Unified leaders will consider several proposed changes to course offerings and graduation requirements at the city’s charter high school, Buckingham, leading to a revised charter for the Bella Vista Road campus.

At a governing board meeting Thursday, school Principal Jeff Erickson, in a computer-aided slide presentation, outlined not only the costs of the changes, which include grading practices and course requirements, but also the reasoning behind them.

Among the proposed changes for the 2014-15 year are the addition of a biotechnology science course, the start-up costs of which would be an estimated $40,000 in the first year for equipment and supplies and $6,000 the following year.

via VUSD leaders hear proposed major course changes at Buckingham – The Reporter.

House Education Chairman Seeks Special Education Funding Increase – Education Week

Posted on by

By Christina Samuels

U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., the chairman of the House education committee, wants to see a big increase for federal special education funding, to the tune of $1.5 billion, in the next spending bill for the U.S. Department of Education. That would bring aid for special education to $13 billion, and the federal share of such spending up to 18 percent of the excess cost of educating a child with disabilities.

The feds originally pledged to pony up 40 percent of that funding when Congress first approved what is now the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act back in the 1970s. But they’ve never come close to that threshold, and right now it’s about 16 percent. On Tuesday, Kline sent a letter asking for the increase to lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee. He was joined by Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind., who oversess the House education subcommittee that deals with K-12 policy, and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., who has a son with special needs.

via House Education Chairman Seeks Special Education Funding Increase – On Special Education – Education Week.

U.S. House of Representatives Set to Consider Two Bipartisan Education Bills -Education Week

Posted on by

By Alyson Klein

The big partisan education-legislation logjam seems to be breaking, at least a little bit, for more targeted bills. The U.S. House of Representatives is slated to consider not one, but two bipartisan education bills this week.

One piece of legislation would seek to make it easier for high-quality charter school operators to proliferate, while the other is aimed at making federal K-12 research more relevant to educators in the field. Both bills sailed through the House Education and the Workforce Committee. The research bill, a reauthorization of the Education Sciences Reform Act, was approved unanimously with almost no discussion. And the charter school legislation was approved 36 to 3, with only a few Democrats dissenting. The House approved a similar bill with broad bipartisan support in 2011.

 

via U.S. House of Representatives Set to Consider Two Bipartisan Education Bills – Politics K-12 – Education Week.

Title I Acadamic Achievement Schools Named – Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education)

Posted on by

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that 106 public schools will be receiving the 2013-14 Title I Academic Achievement Award.

“I am proud of what these schools have accomplished under often challenging circumstances,” Torlakson said. “Their administrators and teachers are committed to giving their students every opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills that will help them in school and throughout their lives.”

The Title I Academic Achievement Award is given to schools receiving federal Title I funds as authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Title I, the single largest federal educational program for K-12 public education, assists schools in meeting the educational needs of students living at or below the poverty line. Of the approximately 10,000 schools in California, more than 6,000 of them participate in the Title I program.

via Title I Acadamic Achievement Schools Named – Year 2014 (CA Dept of Education).

California Distinguished Schools for 2014 – Year 2014 CA Dept of Education

Posted on by

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today named 424 public elementary schools California Distinguished Schools for their strong commitment and innovative approaches to improving student academic achievement. For the complete list, visit the 2014 Distinguished Elementary Schools Web page.

“I applaud these strong, thriving schools that are making such impressive strides in preparing their students for continued success,” Torlakson said. “This award is well-deserved by these school communities for their enduring dedication to high standards, hard work, and unwavering support.”

The 2014 California Distinguished Schools Program focuses on Californias students right to an equitable and rigorous education, and recognizes those schools that have made progress in narrowing the academic achievement gap.

To apply for Distinguished School honors, schools must meet a variety of eligibility criteria, including accountability measures. Once schools are deemed eligible, the California Department of Education CDE invites them to apply to be recognized as a California Distinguished School. The process consists of a written application, which includes a comprehensive description of two of the schools signature practices, and a county-led site validation review process focused on the implementation of those signature practices.

via California Distinguished Schools for 2014 – Year 2014 CA Dept of Education.

Vallejo school board to consider moving charter school – Vallejo Times Herald

Posted on by

By Lanz Christian Banes

The Vallejo school board on Wednesday will consider the relocation of Vallejo Charter School to the Springstowne campus.

Vallejo City Unified School District officials said at a meeting last month that the move would benefit both the Vallejo Charter School, a K-8 school currently at an elementary school site, and the Regional Education Center (formerly the Vallejo Adult School) that now occupies Springstowne.

The Springstowne site at 2833 Tennessee Street was formerly the site of Springstowne Middle School. In 2011, the school board restructured much of the Vallejo City Unified School District, closing several schools and relocating Springstowne to the former Hogan High School campus, renaming it Hogan Middle School.

via Vallejo school board to consider moving charter school – Vallejo Times Herald.