Travis trustees address storm-damaged roof – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Travis School District trustees will consider a resolution Tuesday addressing roof damage to one of its elementary schools due to recent high winds during the ongoing storms.

Even though the estimate to repair to the Travis Elementary School roof is below the $15,000 threshold requiring a public bid, the board’s anticipated action declares that an emergency existed and there was a need for immediate repairs.

Source: Travis trustees address storm-damaged roof

Benicia Unified ranked as one of 100 best districts in state – Benicia Herald

By Nick Sestanovich

Benicia Unified School District was ranked as one of the 100 best school districts in California, according to ranking site Niche.com.

Niche– formerly known as College Prowler– is a company that publishes rankings and reviews of K-12 schools, colleges and neighborhoods. Its 2017 list of the best school districts is based on analysis of statistics and reviews from parents and students utilizing data from the U.S. Department of Education. School districts are ranked using a variety of factors, including state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT and ACT scores, the quality of teachers and public school district ratings.

Benicia Unified clocked in at No. 95 on the list with an overall grade of B-plus. The district received an A grade in culture and diversity (based on racial and economic diversity as well as survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents), A-minus grades for academics and teachers, and a B-minus grade for health and safety. However, the district also received grades in the C range for sports, clubs and activities, and resources and facilities.Nonetheless, Benicia Unified ranked higher than any other district in Solano County– and was the only one to rank in the top 100– and was ranked No. 21 among districts in the Bay Area.

Source: Benicia Unified ranked as one of 100 best districts in state

Boundary change for Fairfield schools gets board OK – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

A boundary change that assigns children of families in Bridgeport Ranch to Cordelia Hills Elementary starting next school year won approval Thursday by Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees.

Approval came after requests by two residents to postpone the vote until residents could be consulted about the change.

Hugo Martinez said he learned two days ago about the proposal and until then did not know about the recommended boundary change. Ana Petero said she is on the board for the homeowners association and that the association wasn’t asked about the matter.

The proposed boundary change would not affect children now enrolled in the affected schools.

Source: Boundary change for Fairfield schools gets board OK

Fairfield-Suisun School District OKs ‘safe haven’ status – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

A “safe haven” resolution that states Fairfield-Suisun School District employees “shall not take any steps that would deny students access to education based on their immigration status” won unanimous approval Thursday by district trustees.

“This is not anything we’re doing on a whim,” Trustee John Silva said.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled no state may deny students an education because of their immigration status, Silva said before the board vote.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun School District OKs ‘safe haven’ status

Board backs $15,116 in hotel costs for Fairfield-Suisun schools staff – The Reporter

By Ryan McCarthy

Hotel stays costing a total of $15,116 were approved Thursday by Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees.

Lodging includes school district employees attending the California School Nutrition Association conference in Monterey, the California Association for 
Health, Physical Education, 
Recreation and Dance conference in San Diego and the Educating for Careers conference in Sacramento.

Other lodging includes an administrator, recruiting teachers for the Fairfield-Suisun School District, staying in Nashville, Tennessee. A hotel for a district employee attending the California State Athletic Directors Conference in Nevada was also among the lodging.

Source: Board backs $15,116 in hotel costs for Fairfield-Suisun schools staff

New website provides information about Common Core materials | EdSource

By Theresa Harrington

A website launched by two educational nonprofit organizations aims to make it easier for California schools and districts to choose instructional materials aligned to the Common Core standards.

Called the California Curriculum Collaborative, the site lists curriculum materials in math and English language arts for grades K-8 recommended by the State Board of Education. The site also provides detailed information about K-12 resources reviewed by the nonprofit EdReports.

The site was established through a partnership between EdReports and Pivot Learning, a nonprofit that provides college- and career-readiness support services to schools.

Source: New website provides information about Common Core materials | EdSource

Facilities Aid Offered to Small School Districts – Year 2017 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that the California Department of Education (CDE) is offering a new “Small School District Assistance Initiative” to help small and rural school districts apply for state school bond funds.

California voters in November 2016 approved Proposition 51, which will provide $9 billion in state school bond funds for construction and modernization.

Prop. 51 is the latest in a series of state school bonds approved since 1998, but about 100 of the state’s 1,025 public school districts have never applied for bond funding. Small and rural districts often don’t have the staff or resources available to apply, even if they need to build new schools or upgrade aging school buildings, Torlakson said.

“We want to get small and rural schools in line for Prop. 51 funding and build modern school facilities that will help students succeed on their way to 21st century careers and college,” Torlakson said.

Source: Facilities Aid Offered to Small School Districts – Year 2017 (CA Dept of Education)

‘Safe haven’ resolution on Fairfield-Suisun school district agenda tonight – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Fairfield-Suisun Unified leaders, when they meet tonight, will vote on whether to designate the school district as a “safe haven” for all students, hear an update on the governor’s proposed 2017-18 budget, and review and possibly approve changes for Dan O. Root II K-8 school.

The board’s safe-haven decision will come some seven weeks after state schools chief Tom Torlakson released a letter — sent to county and school district superintendents, charter school leaders and principals — encouraging California’s 10,500 public schools be declared safe havens for students and their parents and to remind families about existing laws that protect students’ records from questions about immigration status. Some large districts, Los Angeles Unified and Sacramento City Unified, have already declared themselves to be safe havens, two districts, among many others statewide with sizable populations of Hispanics, students of color, and student with diverse religious beliefs.

Source: ‘Safe haven’ resolution on Fairfield-Suisun school district agenda tonight

Kimme Academy location sparks debate with property owners – The Reporter

By Jessica Rogness

Discussion regarding the new home of the Ernest Kimme Charter Academy for Independent Learning grew heated Tuesday night.

The Vacaville Planning Commission voted 5-0 to grant a conditional use permit to the Vacaville Unified School District so they may move this independent study program into a building at 1949 Peabody Road in the Alamo Peabody Shopping Center. Commission chair Shannon Nadasdy and commissioner Brett Johnson did not attend the meeting.

Toby Roebuck, an owner of a portion of this shopping center, said he was speaking on behalf of himself as well as the Lucky grocery store, in opposition to the project.

“Our concern is the environmental impact of a bunch of students who, number one, why are they now going to independent school?” Roebuck asked.

 

Source: Kimme Academy location sparks debate with property owners

$15,116 in hotel stays go before Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

Hotel stays costing a total of $15,116 – including lodging at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, the Town & County Resort in San Diego and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel – go before Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees Thursday.

A three-night stay for one school district administrator at the Monterey Plaza Hotel to attend a California School Nutrition Association conference will cost $690.

An administrator staying three night at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel in Anaheim to attend the Risk Managers Association Conference will cost $583.

Two teachers staying two nights at the Town & Country Resort in San Diego for the California Association for 
Health, Physical Education, 
Recreation and Dance conference will cost $628.

Source: $15,116 in hotel stays go before Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees

Rotary Club mentors Liberty High School students – Benicia Herald

By Jim Lessenger

As the Benicia Rotary Club celebrates its homecoming and anniversary on Feb. 28, the members will be recalling the many civic projects it has participated in. We are no prouder than the association between the Club and Liberty High school.

As part of the 100-year anniversary celebration of Rotary International in 2010, the Club adopted Liberty High School and became, in essence, its Parent-Teacher Organization, providing financial support for various programs and student mentoring. Rotary support includes funding for field trips, classroom supplies, the Liberty High yearbook, college grants to deserving students and their graduation ceremony. Rotary also is actively involved in Liberty High’s career week activities.

Several Rotary members are student mentors. They work one on one with students to support them in completing their high school work and dealing with other challenges in their lives. Jim Trimble, retired Benicia Police Chief and a member of the Rotary Club, is one of several members who is a student mentor.

Source: Rotary Club mentors Liberty High School students

State, local leaders appear willing to work with DeVos – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

In the wake of Tuesday’s Senate confirmation of billionaire Betsy DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education, state and Vacaville-area public education officials, while not expressing surprise over the historic tie vote broken by Vice President Mike Pence, seemed somewhat apolitical at the development, noting California and their respective school districts will continue their mission of doing what’s best for K-12 students no matter who leads the federal agency.

“We look forward to working with the new secretary of education,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson said in an email to The Reporter without no further elaboration on the elevation of DeVos.

Source: State, local leaders appear willing to work with DeVos

Enrollment period continues at ACE Charter School – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Vacaville Unified parents interested in enrolling their children at ACE Charter Elementary and want more information, classroom observation times will be set aside Thursday and Feb. 17, district officials have announced.

Observations are set for 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, and parent-led “activity observations” are scheduled from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 17, Jennifer Leonard, district public information officer, noted in a written statement. Parents are advised to check in at the main office before going to any of the K-6 classrooms.

Families interested in joining the ACE community should submit a completed Interest Form to the school office no later than Feb. 17, the last day of enrollment eligibility. The form can be found at the ACE website at https://ace-vusd-ca.schoolloop.com/enrollment.

 

Source: Enrollment period continues at ACE Charter School

CalPERS action a setback for Solano pension efforts – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

Solano County has been diligent, even innovative, in its effort to reach a policy goal of funding 90 percent of its pension costs, county officials said.

However, a decision in December by the state Public Employees’ Retirement System’s board of administration to lower the discount rate from 7.5 percent to 7 percent over three years – an impact that will first be felt by the county in the 2018-19 fiscal year – could ultimately mean a reduction in programs, services and workforce.

The county, which had funded 76 percent of its pension liabilities, is going to slip to 72 percent and its annual costs will go up higher and faster than had been projected, officials said Tuesday at the Board of Supervisors meeting.

Source: CalPERS action a setback for Solano pension efforts

DeVos confirmed as Education secretary as Pence breaks tie – Times Herald

By Maria Danilova, Associate Press

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed school choice advocate Betsy DeVos as Education secretary by the narrowest of margins, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a 50-50 tie in a historic vote.

Two Republicans joined Democrats in the unsuccessful effort to derail the nomination of the wealthy Republican donor. The Senate historian said Pence’s vote was the first by a vice president to break a tie on a Cabinet nomination.

Democrats cited her lack of public school experience and financial interests in organizations pushing charter schools. DeVos has said she would divest herself from those organizations.

Source: DeVos confirmed as Education secretary as Pence breaks tie

Time for Solano school districts to declare ‘safe havens’ – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Fairfield-Suisun Unified leaders on Thursday will cast up or down votes to determine if Solano County’s largest school district will be a “safe haven” for all students.

The board’s decision will come some seven weeks after state schools chief Tom Torlakson released a letter — sent to county and school district superintendents, charter school leaders and principals — encouraging California’s 10,500 public schools be declared safe havens for students and their parents and to remind families about existing laws that protect students’ records from questions about immigration status. Some large districts, Los Angeles Unified and Sacramento City Unified, have already declared themselves to be safe havens, two districts, among many others statewide with sizable populations of Hispanics, students of color, and diverse religious beliefs.

Torlakson’s letter came, of course, after Donald Trump’s election as president in November, following a campaign that promised to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, most of them Hispanic, the latter promise toned down in the wake of nationwide outrage, to booting out only those with criminal records.

Source:  Time for Solano school districts to declare ‘safe havens’ – The Reporter

 

New state revenues to fall short of expenses in 17-18 – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

New state revenues will not match expenses during the 2017-18 academic year, Vacaville Unified’s chief business officer told district leaders during a governing board meeting late last week.

During a budget update in the Educational Services Center, Deo Persaud said the state’s 1.48 percent cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, while welcome news, will not offset expenses that are “likely to exceed” 4 percent in the coming year.

Additionally, like all of California’s 1,000 school districts, Vacaville Unified continues to face, for the next few years, increasing pension costs for teachers and school-support, or classified, employees, he noted.

Sure to add to budget pressures that eventually will prompt calls for fiscal restraint, Persaud said district contributions to CalSTRS, the mammoth state teachers retirement system, will account for 12.6 percent of the budget in the current fiscal year, 14.4 percent in 2017-18, and 16.28 percent in 2018-19.

 

Source: CBO: New state revenues to fall short of expenses in 17-18

SCOE to sponsor ‘cultural proficiency’ program for educators – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

California has the most diverse public school student population in the nation and it is increasingly “minority majority” in its enrollments.

Under components of Gov. Jerry Brown’s Local Control Funding Formula, the state’s 1,000 school districts must devise a plan of action to meet the educational needs for every student in California, where, according to data from the 2000 Census, 60 percent of state residents speak only English, while 40 percent speak another language (either instead of, or in addition to, English).

To that end, the Solano County Office of Education plans to launch a “cultural proficiency” program to better serve students in an increasingly diverse county, where, essentially, the world has arrived during the better part of the last half century.

Source: SCOE to sponsor ‘cultural proficiency’ program for educators – The Reporter

 

‘Safe haven’ resolution heads to Fairfield-Susiun trustees for vote – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

A “safe haven” resolution that states the Fairfield-Suisun School District “embraces the diversity of our students and families and the rich language and cultural assets they bring,” goes before trustees when they meet Thursday.

Students and parents have expressed fear about the ability of federal Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to enter school district property to determine the legal status of students and their families, the resolution reads in part.

Kris Corey, superintendent of the Fairfield-Suisun School District, has said in a report to trustees that California Superintendent of Schools Tom Torlakson on Dec. 21 encouraged all of the state’s public schools to be declared safe havens.

Source: ‘Safe haven’ resolution heads to Fairfield-Susiun trustees for vote

Cordelia Hills Elementary boundary change goes before school board – Daily Republic

By Ryan McCarthy

The only housing development leaving residents with choices between two elementary schools would lose that option if Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees meeting Thursday approve a boundary change that would assign children of families in Bridgeport Ranch to Cordelia Hills Elementary starting next school year.

Residents in the development south of Interstate 80 and east of Interstate 680 can now choose between Oakbrook Academy of the Arts and Cordelia Hills when enrolling, a school district staff report said.

Source: Cordelia Hills Elementary boundary change goes before school board