Monthly Archives: August 2014

VCUSD Trustee Adrienne Waterman will not seek re-election this fall – Vallejo Times Herald

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By John Glidden

Citing a desire to spend more time to with her family, to heal after her partner, Jay DeYoung, died recently from cancer and to work on her nonprofit organization, Vallejo City Unified School District Trustee Adrienne Waterman said hours before the 5 p.m. candidacy deadline Friday that she will not be seeking re-election to the board this fall.

Waterman said that “the sacrifices my family has made to cancer and to my service to the district,” led her to decide not to seek re-election.

“I have a nonprofit I need to double-down on, so it’s time for me to redirect my energies to healing (from the death of DeYoung) and toward building my nonprofit,” she said.

via VCUSD Trustee Adrienne Waterman will not seek re-election this fall – Vallejo Times Herald.

Fields for local, state, federal races set – Vallejo Times Herald

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By Irma Widjojo

The fields are set for the upcoming local, state and federal elections as the window to declare candidacy closed Friday, except for the Vallejo City Unified School District.

The district’s deadline is extended until Wednesday, since incumbent Trustee Adrienne Waterman chose not to seek re-election.

The local races as of Friday are as follows:

Vallejo City Unified School District:

• Trustees Tony Ubalde and Hazel Wilson will face challengers Ruscal Cayangyang, Burky Worel, Shelee Loughmiller, John Lewis, Richard Porter and Brisbain Pucan. Three positions are open.

• Measure E — $239 million facilities general obligation bond for renovation of district buildings.

via Fields for local, state, federal races set – Vallejo Times Herald.

First-year teacher taps into enthusiasm, empathy – Daily Republic

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By Susan Winlow

Mallory Caruso was awash in a sea of books last week.

The 24-year-old first-grade teacher sat on the floor of Room 109 at Fairmont Charter School, a Vacaville School District charter school, sorting what looked like hundreds of children’s books into piles.

“I have been garage saling – a whole lot,” she said, with a smile. “If you don’t do it right your first year, you’ll go broke.”

Also amid the pile of books and other classroom decorations were borrowed and donated items, coming from a teacher who is on maternity leave. She’s also discovered TeachersPayTeachers.com – an open-networking marketplace for teachers, where she copiously hunts for the “free stuff.”

via First-year teacher taps into enthusiasm, empathy Daily Republic.

Nine candidates seeks four seats on Vacaville school board – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Nine candidates seeks four seats on VUSD board

The race in Vacaville Unified for four trustee seats took final shape Friday with the last three intent-to-run filings at the Solano County Registrar of Voters.

Running on a common platform of classroom-centered decision-making, transparency and student safety, Jeremy Jeffreys, Judith Ruggiero and Tracee Stacy turned in their completed documents before the 5 p.m. deadline.

Their submissions bring the total number of candidacies to nine, with seven seeking three four-year terms and two seeking a single two-year term.

Since the election is at-large, candidates living in any sector of the city are eligible to seek office on the Nov. 4 ballot.

via Nine candidates seeks four seats on Vacaville school board – The Reporter.

Could Video Games Measure Skills That Tests Can’t Capture? | MindShift

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By Anya Kamenetz

Imagine you’re playing a computer game that asks you to design a poster for the school fair. You’re fiddling with fonts, changing background colors and deciding what activity to feature: Will a basketball toss appeal to more people than a pie bake-off?

Then, animal characters — maybe a panda or an ostrich — offer feedback on your design. You can choose whether to hear a compliment or a complaint: “The words are overlapping too much,” or, “I like that you put in the dates.”

“They’re not just measures of what the student already knows, but attempts to measure whether they are prepared to continue learning when they’re no longer told exactly what to do.”

You can use their critiques as guides to help you revise your poster. Finally, you get to see how many tickets your poster sold.

This little Web-based game isn’t just a game. It’s a test, too.

via Could Video Games Measure Skills That Tests Can’t Capture? | MindShift.

Kairos takes root; new Vacaville charter school opens doors – Daily Republic

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By Susan Winlow

There’s new life at Elm Elementary School in Vacaville.

The sound of children at recess will once again permeate the Vacaville neighborhood where the 65-year-old school just off of Merchant Street sat largely empty since 2004 when it closed due to declining enrollment.

Kairos Public School Vacaville Academy, an independent charter school with transitional kindergarten through eighth-grade classes, will open the doors for its first year with 465 students and 300 on the waiting list.

via Kairos takes root; new Vacaville charter school opens doors Daily Republic.

Take a breath and prepare for your LCAP’s next stage | EdSource

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By Megan Sweet

After all, with all of the uncertainty, controversy, hard work and unrealistic deadlines, we sure deserve a little break.

Only one year ago, most of us were not aware that California’s educational funding system was changing; just eight months ago, we still did not have budget guidelines or a draft LCAP template to plan toward. Nonetheless, here we are today, and each school district and charter school has submitted a final LCAP to their county office of education and is now awaiting final approval of their plan.

via Take a breath and prepare for your LCAP’s next stage | EdSource.

Vallejo schools need better marketing, trustees say – Vallejo Times Herald

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By Lanz Christian Bañes

Vallejo school board members agreed Wednesday that the Vallejo City Unified School District must do a better job informing the public.

“It’s time for us as a district to market ourselves,” trustee Hazel Wilson said during a board workshop on revamping the district’s goals.

Wilson’s comments, echoing those of other board members, came during a point in the discussion when audience members pointed out that the district’s goals — divided into broad categories of equity, excellence, educational effectiveness and economic sustainability — did not list specific programs or means of achieving them.

via Vallejo schools need better marketing, trustees say – Vallejo Times Herald.

Solano College study session reveals $2.6M budget deficit – Daily Republic

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By Susan Winlow

Solano Community College is looking at a $2.6 million deficit in the 2014-15 budget unless something changes, a college official said at the governing board study session Wednesday night.

That’s $200,000 more than was thought just a few of days ago.

“We have our work cut out for us,” Yulian Ligioso, vice president of finance and administration, said, based on enrollment trends over the past four years.

The college has seen declining enrollment since 2011-12 and did not meet needed target enrollment numbers during the spring and summer semesters.

via Solano College study session reveals $2.6M budget deficit Daily Republic.

Vacaville Unified School District trustee race heats up – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

VUSD trustee race heats up.

Two more file intent-to-run papers; four seats up for grabs.

Two more city residents have joined incumbent Michele Dally by filing intent-to-run papers for one of four Vacaville Unified trustee seats ups for grabs on Nov. 4.

Incumbent Dave McCallum filed Tuesday at the County Registrar of Voters and Vacaville small-business owner Deloris Roach filed Wednesday.

Their filings boost the declared candidacies to nine, and the deadline for filing is 5 p.m. Friday at the downtown Fairfield registrar.

The at-large election, meaning candidates living in any sector of the city may file, will determine three four-year terms and one two-year term, the latter currently held by trustee Chris Flask.

via Vacaville Unified School District trustee race heats up – The Reporter.

VUSD trustees to hear update about ‘family math night’ – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

When they meet in open session tonight, Vacaville Unified trustees will hear a Measure V bond update and an update on Common Core family math parent involvement.

Measure V, a $101 million bond measure approved by 68 percent of Vacaville voters in 2001, paid for upgrades to schools and other projects, such as improvements to Zunino Stadium, a new gymnasium, and a new science building. Since that time, nearly all the money has been spent. Superintendent Ken Jacopetti will lead the discussion.

He also will lead the update about family math night.

Its primary goal is to “strengthen the mathematical aptitudes of students through the power of family interaction,” according to wording in the agenda packet.

via VUSD trustees to hear update about ‘family math night’ – The Reporter.

Civic Education Initiative – Initiatives & Programs (CA Dept of Education)

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Revitalizing K–12 Civic Learning in California: A Blueprint for Action (PDF; 2MB; New 05-Aug-2014)

The product of the California Task Force on K-12 Civic Learning, this Blueprint was presented to Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson on August 5, 2014 in Sacramento.

This Blueprint addresses four key areas for schools and students in grades K-12: Curriculum, Instructional Practices, and Resources; Professional Learning; Community and Business Partnerships; and Student Assessment and School Accountability. It outlines a plan of action for students, teachers, administrators, business and community leaders, courts, and local government and elected officials to take immediate action to improve civic learning in all California schools and communities.

via Civic Education Initiative – Initiatives & Programs (CA Dept of Education).

Good school year communication plan critical – Daily Republic

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By Mayrene Bates

It doesn’t hurt each year to take a fresh look at our communication strategies.

Research tells us that parents and the public care about safety, order, the mastery of skills and the ability of our students to compete in a global marketplace. Getting ready for the new school year isn’t just about buying clothes and supplies on the part of the parents and making sure the classrooms are clean and ready for the students on the part of school leaders. A successful school year requires a good communication plan that works for the school, parents, students and the community.

via Good school year communication plan critical Daily Republic.

Wilson seeks Fairfield-Suisun School District seat – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

Chris L. Wilson, who calls himself a second-generation product of the Fairfield-Suisun School District, is running in the Nov. 4 election to represent Area 4 as a trustee.

His mother went to Armijo High School, said Wilson, who noted his son will be starting kindergarten in the school district..

Wilson, 42, said he seeks the school board seat after questions that include why the school district has spent bond money on a new building at Armijo High School for administrators when the decades-old school should be improved.

via Wilson seeks Fairfield-Suisun School District seat Daily Republic.

Sons of Italy donate school supplies – Daily Republic

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By Robinson Kuntz

Matt Garcia Learning Center teachers will have an extra $600 worth of markers, glue sticks, crayons, sticky notes, erasers, hand sanitizer and other school supplies before the first day of school this year.

The Sons of Italy Northern Solano Lodge No. 2534 members Albert Galli, Pat Galli, Helen Barker and Richard Barker dropped off the supplies at the center Tuesday. The group raised the money to buy the supplies in its fourth annual school supplies drive.

via Sons of Italy donate school supplies Daily Republic.

Vallejo school board to review bond measure argument, district goals – Vallejo Times Herald

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Times-Herald staff report Posted:

The Vallejo school board will review Wednesday several parts of the district’s finances, including a $239 million bond measure on the November ballot.

The board approved placing what is now known as Measure E before voters after more than a year of planning. On Wednesday, trustees will consider approving the argument in support of the measure.

The document states that “Measure E provides funds to renovate and upgrade classrooms, libraries and computer labs. Funds will replace aging roofs, upgrade electrical systems, replace old heating, cooling and ventilation systems with energy-efficient systems and increase the ability of students and teachers to use classroom computers and technology.”

via Vallejo school board to review bond measure argument, district goals – Vallejo Times Herald.

Election contenders trickle in before deadline – Daily Republic

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By Susan Winlow

The latest person to express intent in running for a school board seat is Deloris Roach, who pulled candidate papers Friday for a seat on the Vacaville School District governing board.

Roach is a business owner and Vacaville parent and currently has a grandson in the school district.

“I am running because I want to be part of the policymaking process that ensures my grandson and the other approximately 11,200 students in Vacaville Unified get a world-class education,” she said in a press release to announce her candidacy.

via Election contenders trickle in before deadline Daily Republic.

Ernest Kimme: Strangely slow start to campaign season – The Reporter

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By Ernest Kimme

It’s almost election season and it’s strangely quiet. Only a handful of people have taken candidate papers, and just a few have actually filed their candidate papers.

Two people have taken out papers for Mayor: Ron Rowlett and Rodney Harrison. As of this writing, only Ron has turned in his papers, making his candidacy official. Surprisingly, Dilenna Harris hasn’t pulled papers. Many people were sure that she would run, setting up a clear contrast between the unions and the business community. Dilenna, after all, has been President of the Chamber of Commerce, and has been an advocate for small business on the Council.

She might be waiting to see what Len Augustine does. Rumors are that the former mayor might throw his hat in the ring. Len is stilled called “Mr Mayor” and enjoys a tremendous amount of respect in the community. Were he to run, he would probably undercut much of Dilenna’s support with the business community.

via Ernest Kimme: Strangely slow start to campaign season – The Reporter.

Supporters make case for California school bond – Sacramento Bee

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By Jim Miller

Legislative supporters of putting a multibillion-dollar school construction bond on the fall ballot kicked off efforts Monday to pass the measure by the end of next week, with California’s largest homebuilding group warning that the state otherwise faces a “nuclear option” of more expensive homes.

State voters last passed a school bond in 2006, and the program has been virtually out of money since 2012. Bond legislation cleared the Assembly unanimously earlier this year. Gov. Jerry Brown, though, has been cool to the idea, writing in his January budget proposal that any revived school construction program needs to “avoid an unsustainable reliance” on state debt.

via Supporters make case for California school bond – Capitol Alert – The Sacramento Bee.

Work begins on ‘crown jewel for Vanden’ – Daily Republic

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By Ryan McCarthy

A 40-station computer lab, outdoor reading patio – and more than 400 rammed, in-ground aggregate piers to stabilize the soil will be part of the new library at Vanden High School.

Sandi Reese, school principal, said “media center” is a more complete description of the building, but that the traditional bound book still matters in the 21st century. So do electronic versions of books, since Vanden High students now access the written word in different ways, she said.

“They really are readers,” Reese said. “This is a high-achieving student population.”

A new library is the top priority at Vanden and the school principal said she appreciates Travis School District officials helping to make the project possible.

via Work begins on ‘crown jewel for Vanden’ Daily Republic.

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