Local teens explore nursing profession at NorthBay camp – The Reporter

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Chelsea Cagle literally got a leg up.

The Will C. Wood High School student is one of 32 teens participating in the 12th annual NorthBay Nurse Camp through Friday.

Cagle and her fellow student nurses were in the VacaValley Hospital emergency room Wednesday morning.

Source: Local teens explore nursing profession at NorthBay camp

LCAP, 2016-17 budget, Measure J process await FSUSD trustees – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

After previous public hearings, the seven-member governing board is expected to approve the LCAP, or Local Control Accountability Plan, a key part of Gov. Brown’s Local Control Funding Formula. Essentially, it guides how the 21,000-student district, the county’s largest, will spend its money, particularly for programs that affect “unduplicated” students, that is, English language learners, minorities and foster youth.

The board, likewise, is expected to approve a $210 million budget for the coming academic year, with $4.6 million in deficit spending, an ending balance of $4.2 million, and $7.9 million in prudent reserves.

Measure J, a $249 million bond, passed on June 7, approved by more than 56 percent of those who cast ballots during the California Primary.

 

Source: LCAP, 2016-17 budget, Measure J process await FSUSD trustees

Bond measure, trustee election, LCAP, budget on DUSD agenda tonight – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Dixon Unified leaders, when they meet tonight, will gear up to prepare for a November election school bond measure, officially note that three of five trustee seats are on the fall ballot, and hold public hearings on the 2016-17 budget and the LCAP.

Superintendent Brian Dolan will lead the discussion before trustees vote to authorize to prepare a general obligation bond for the 3,500-student rural district.

“We want to be clear with the community and officially go on record” about the board’s intentions to move forward with the bond measure, project to be “in the neighborhood of $30 to $34 million,” he said Wednesday.

He said once the matter is approved at Thursday’s meeting, trustees will vote on it at their Aug. 4 meeting, in order to meet county Registrar of Voters requirements.

 

Source: Bond measure, trustee election, LCAP, budget on DUSD agenda tonight

VUSD leaders to hear charter school petition, approve LCAPs, 2016-17 budget – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

A public hearing for a proposed Independent Study charter school, routine approvals of several LCAPs and the 2016-17 budget are on the agenda tonight for Vacaville Unified’s governing board members.

Manolo Garcia, currently Markham Elementary principal and newly named as director of the school district’s Independent Study program, will offer information about the IS program, as it’s called for short, that, in the coming months, will be housed at 1949 Peabody Road. Independent Study is an alternative way of learning, in which a student is guided by a teacher but usually does not take classes with other students every day.

The school’s charter likely will be approved by the seven-member board during a July meeting, Garcia said Wednesday.

 

Source: VUSD leaders to hear charter school petition, approve LCAPs, 2016-17 budget

Teen financial boot camp for the penny-wise – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Andrew Belli, 17 and an incoming senior at Fairfield’s Vanden High, looked mildly dejected, staring downward at a blue folder packed with information about Mad City Money, Travis Credit Union’s financial boot camp for teens.

He and his brother, Connor, 16 and also a Vanden student, were at the Vacaville-based credit union’s annual free financial boot camp for Solano County teens Wednesday in the TCU’s community room at One Travis Way.

Source: Teen financial boot camp for the penny-wise

$3,035 for hotel stays goes before school board – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

Hotel stays costing a total of $3,035 are among payments that go before Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees when they convene Thursday.

Two teachers staying four nights at the Riverside Marriott for the 2016 Advanced Placement Summer Institute in Southern California cost $1,622.

Four nights for one teacher at the Fairfield Inn Anaheim Hills in Orange County for the Advanced Placement Summer Institute cost $685.

Source: $3,035 for hotel stays goes before school board

Will Low-Income Students Have a Harder Time Paying AP and IB Fees Under ESSA? – Education Week

By Alyson Klein

For years, nearly 40 states plus the District of Columbia have used federal funding to help low-income students cover the cost of taking Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests.

But, thanks to a big change to the program under the Every Student Succeeds Act, states and districts will need to think hard (and early) about whether—and how—to continue covering those costs.

Some background on how ESSA handles these tests: ESSA consolidated dozens of federal programs, including some that hadn’t been funded in years. One of the programs that had still been receiving federal funding when ESSA passed was the “Advanced Placement Test Fee Program,” which helps low-income students cover the cost of taking advanced exams. The program is currently receiving $28.5 million annually. But next year, it will be part of the brand new, larger Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants.

Source: Will Low-Income Students Have a Harder Time Paying AP and IB Fees Under ESSA? – Politics K-12 – Education Week

School board approves contracting bid, change orders for BHS stadium – Benicia Herald

By Nick Sestanovich

The Governing Board of the Benicia Unified School District voted unanimously to approve two items that would expedite the progress of Benicia High School’s stadium renovation project at a short Thursday meeting.

The stadium project is one of the largest projects to be funded by Measure S, an initiative approved by voters in 2014 to provide $49.6 million in bond funding to special projects to improve the well-being of students at all BUSD schools. Completed projects include repainting at Benicia High, new playgrounds at Mary Farmar Elementary School and Matthew Turner Elementary School, fixing the roof at Benicia Middle School and installing a new hone system at all seven schools.

The first item to be approved was the awarding of a contract for the project to the lowest bidder. Measure S Bond Director Roxanne Egan that Bothman Construction out of Santa Clara was the lowest bidder with a total of $9.1 million. This price does not include the cost of team buildings and storage buildings, which will be handled by a separate contractor.

via:  School board approves contracting bid, change orders for BHS stadium – Benicia Herald

Ed Dept Offers Guidelines on Gender Equity in Career/Tech Ed – Education News

By Raymond Scott

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Office of Adult, Career, and Technical Education have released a letter saying that all students, regardless of their sex, must have equal access to the full range of career and technical programs offered. The letter is part of the White House’s United State of Women Summit.

“As the father of two daughters, I want my girls – and all young women in this country – to have access to the careers of their dreams, no matter the path,” said U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. “Career and technical education is not just about preparing some students for successful lives and careers, it’s about giving all students the tools to succeed.”

The letter makes clear that the Carl D. Perkins Career and technical Education Act requires states to meet their targets for participation and completion rates of males and females in programs that are nontraditional for their sex. Disparities in expertise and employment persist in certain fields.

Source: Ed Dept Offers Guidelines on Gender Equity in Career/Tech Ed

McCree-Goudeau running for Vallejo school board seat – Times Herald

By John Glidden

Noting her extensive experience in education and business, Jeanette McCree-Goudeau announced this week that she will be seeking election to the Vallejo school board in November.

“As an elected school board trustee, I will work ethically and professionally with all members,” McCree-Goudeau said in a campaign news release. “And when it comes to accountability, I will not make critical decisions without knowing all of the facts surrounding all issues.”

McCree-Goudeau is the widow of famous Vallejo artist Cleven ”Goodie” Goudeau, who passed away in 2015. While in New York City, McCree-Goudeau served as business manager for a set of private college preparatory schools, and as student register for a theological seminary, according to her campaign.

Source: McCree-Goudeau running for Vallejo school board seat

TUSD – Prepare for Slower Growth in the coming years – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

In her slide presentation, citing state Department of Finance projections, Travis Unified’s new chief business officer noted “now is the time to start preparing for slower growth,” which, in the coming years, likely will mean hiring freezes districtwide.

Jamie Metcalf made her statements in a 2016-17 budget hearing during a governing board meeting Tuesday night in Fairfield.

The five-member governing board is expected to pass the $54.5 million budget, with $1.7 million in deficit spending and an ending balance of $3.4 million, at its next meeting, June 21, before sending it — and the district’s Local Control Accountability Plan — to the Solano County Office of Education for approval by June 30.

via: TUSD – Prepare for slower growth – The Reporter

County high schoolers learn ABCs of solar energy and careers – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

An education program manager for a San Jose-based solar company said the Solar Energy Academy this week at Solano Community College is an opportunity for schools and businesses to collaborate to bring a work-based learning environment that high school students “can’t get in a classroom.”

Renee Solari — who smiled when noting her surname, coincidentally, means “sun” in Italian — said the students, some 40 mostly sophomores to seniors from Solano County school districts, including several from Vacaville Unified, are learning “21st-century skills” at the academy, co-sponsored by her firm, SunPower and the Northern California Career Pathways, a six-county consortium of school districts, community colleges and the Workforce Development Board.

Source: County high schoolers learn ABCs of solar energy and careers

School’s out but lunch is in and looking fresher – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

School’s out for the summer, but a free, nutritious lunch for kids, always popular, is still in at several places across Vacaville.

Vacaville Unified’s summer feeding program began earlier this week, with lunchtime meals available Monday through Friday for children at three sites, with a fourth one, due to popular demand and an expressed need, added today, said Juan Cordon, the school district’s new director of child nutrition.

They are Markham Elementary, 11:30 a.m. to noon; Public Library-Town Square, 1 Town Square Place, where food is delivered, noon to 12:30 p.m.; and Fairmont Charter Elementary, 1355 Marshall Road, 12:30 to 1 p.m.; and, newly added, the Vacaville Boys & Girls Club, 100 Holly Lane, also where food is delivered, 1 to 1:30 p.m.

via: Schools out but lunch is in – The Reporter

SoCal firm opens mammoth school food distribution center in Dixon – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

School food in parts of Northern and Central California is going to get delivered more quickly and, thus, be a lot fresher because a Southern California firm officially expanded its operations, opening an airplane hangar-sized distribution center Friday in Dixon.

With some minimal fanfare and tours for invited guests in the morning, leaders of Gold Star Foods Inc., based in Ontario, opened a nearly 200,000-square-foot facility on Vaughn Road, bringing 90 local jobs to the area and providing some 300 school districts with greater access to fresh, wholesome and more locally grown foods, noted CEO Sean Leer.

Source: SoCal firm opens mammoth school food distribution center in Dixon

$209M budget goes before Fairfield-Suisun trustees – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

A proposed $209 million budget – including travel and conference spending increased by 71 percent to $1.6 million – goes before Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees for a vote when they meet Thursday.

“This is one of the most important things we do,” Trustee Pat Shamansky said of the budget.

She spoke at the school board’s June 9 meeting when the proposed budget for 2016-17 was presented to trustees.

Laneia Grindle, director of fiscal services for the school district, said, “Our business is educating our students.”

Source: $209M budget goes before Fairfield-Suisun trustees

Trustees eye citizens oversight panel for $249M school bond – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

Establishing a citizens oversight committee after preliminary voter approval June 6 of the $249 million Measure J school bond goes before Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees when they meet Thursday.

The committee will review bond spending, advise the public if the school district has met its obligations and issue an annual report on its findings, a staff report said.

At least seven members must be on the committee, including representatives of a local business organization, a senior citizens group, taxpayers association and a parent of a child in the school district.

Source: Trustees eye citizens oversight panel for $249M school bond

Benicia Middle School student creates cardboard robotic suit for art final – Benicia Herald

By Nick Sestanovich

Benicia Middle Schoolers got a big surprise yesterday, as they witnessed a person in a cardboard Iron Man suit walking around campus during lunch. That person was eighth-grader Ronald Goodman, and it was his final art project for the year.

Goodman is a student in Pat Hall’s advanced art class, which consists of very artistically inclined eighth-graders as well as some equally gifted seventh-graders. The final for the year: create a project out of recycled materials, and do it within five to six weeks.Goodman, however, had his idea ready before that.

“The first thing I decided I was going to make was costumes or cosplay,” he said. “I started out with Spider-Man suits and some of the Avengers. I started on the Iron Man suit at home, and when I heard we could make our own project in class, I decided to use more resources to come to school and finish it.”

Source: Avengers, Assemble: Benicia Middle School student creates cardboard robotic suit for art final

BHS valedictorian recalls high school experiences, looks forward to Berkeley – Benicia Herald

By Nick Sestanovich

Every year, hundreds of talented students graduate from Benicia High School. However, only one student ends up having the grades to come out on top. This year, that student is Austin Lim.

Earning the rank of valedictorian was no surprise to Lim who treats his status rather humbly.“Being valedictorian was not surprising or joyful, which sounds rather harsh but is something I will not deny,” he said. “It has, however, caused me unexpected stress. I have always thought there are many others better qualified to take the spot and thus shied away from praise.”“I had no doubt that I would be valedictorian from day one,” he added. “The question was whether I wanted to be, and in the end I am, so oh well, no regrets.”

Lim was very productive in his time at Benicia High. His schedules were always filled with Advanced Placement and Honors courses, and he was an active participant in several student clubs. He was a member of Key Club, Chess Club and Christian Club and was also a leader of the school’s Math Club. Additionally, Lim was also a member of the school’s cross country team, and he had participated in Benicia’s annual Run For Education, where in 2014 he had placed 22nd out of 178 runners.

Source: BHS valedictorian recalls high school experiences, looks forward to Berkeley

School board to vote on bidder for Benicia High stadium renovation project – Benicia Herald

By Nick Sestanovich

The Governing Board of the Benicia Unified School District will be voting to consider awarding a contract for the Benicia High School stadium renovation project to the lowest bidder at its regular meeting Thursday.

The stadium renovation is one of the districtwide projects to be financed through Measure S, an initiative approved by voters in 2014 to provide $49.6 million in bond funding to be spent on facilities at each of the district’s seven schools. The stadium project is one of the largest projects to be funded through Measure S, and it will feature an 8-lane all-weather track, improved lighting, a redesigned entryway and bleachers that can seat up to 3,300 people.At its March 17 meeting, the board voted to move forward with a general bidding process to select a contractor. According to a document put together by Measure S Bond Director Roxanne Egan, the general bidding process produced three finalists: Bothman Construction of Santa Clara, McGuire and Hester of Oakland, and Roebbelen Contracting of El Dorado Hills. Bothman was considered to be the lowest bidder with a base bid of $8,505,000 and additive alternates of $295,400 for a total of $9,100,400. Excluded from this pricing are the cost of team buildings and storage buildings, which will be provided by a separate contract for renovated buildings.

Source: School board to vote on bidder for Benicia High stadium renovation project

Matthew Turner principal named as new assistant superintendent – Benicia Herald

By Nick Sestanovich

Last week, Benicia Unified School District Superintendent Charles Young announced Leslie Beatson, the principal of Matthew Turner Elementary School, as the district’s new assistant superintendent of education services. She will be succeeding Marie Morgan, who will start a new job as superintendent of Walnut Creek School District in July.

Beatson has been the principal of Matthew Turner since 2012 when she was hired as the successor to Barbara Sanders. However, her career in education stretches back 26 years. She got her start in New England where she earned her undergraduate degree in remedial reading and language arts from Central Connecticut State University. Afterwards, she received her doctorate in educational leadership and curriculum from the University of Vermont. She later taught at Trinity College in Vermont and spent 11 years as a reading specialist and principal at the Vermont middle school Peoples Academy. Beatson moved to the Bay Area in 2009 where she was the principal of Neil Cummins Elementary School in Corte Madera. She was hired as the principal of Matthew Turner Elementary in 2012, where she was named by the district as Administrator of the Year in 2015.

Source: Matthew Turner principal named as new assistant superintendent