Monthly Archives: April 2017

Vacaville family hoping for reunion – The Reporter

Posted on by

By Kimberly K. Fu

A Vacaville family is asking for the public’s help with reunification.

Thanks to a blip on the immigration front, the Salazar family lost their patriarch and their American Dream.

With Temo having left for Mexico as required by his deportation order, his wife, Sandra, is left to hold their family together. As a special education paraeducator with the Vacaville Unified School District, she doesn’t make enough to care for herself and their three daughters, the oldest of which suffers from a serious brain injury.

Source: Vacaville family hoping for reunion

Vacaville Unified donates 55 computers to Markham Elementary families – The Reporter

Posted on by

By Michael Morris

In the technological age we live in, computers have become essential in everyday life.

But for families with students enrolled at Edwin Markham Elementary School, today marked the genesis of that experience countless people take for granted.

The Vacaville Unified School District donated 55 fully functioning Dell Optiplex 755 computer workstations Thursday in the multipurpose room at Markham Elementary. Distributing 25 computers in the morning and another 30 that night, 55 families left with a computer; even if that meant walking their new PC home in the rain.

“Nowadays access to a computer and the internet is almost a human right,” said Steven Berry, a computer technician for VUSD. “You can’t do much anymore without a computer when it comes to education, finding a job, or anything like that. By giving these families a computer that they didn’t have before, we’re helping improve their life.”

 

Source: Vacaville Unified donates 55 computers to Markham Elementary families

Special Olympics high school athletes have first track event – The Reporter

Posted on by

By Jessica Rogness

Thursday’s downpour couldn’t dampen the spirit of the Special Olympics at Armijo High School.

Stacie Moore, Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District assistant director of special education, arrived at the school early Thursday for the district’s first collaborative high school track and field event for its adapted physical education students.

It could have been terrible for the outdoor event, Moore said, but then she watched as the school’s leadership team, teachers, students and other volunteers pulled together to move everything inside the gym.

Source: Special Olympics high school athletes have first track event

Assist-A-Grad continues to help high school seniors realize college dream – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

David Avina aspires to a career in psychology after taking an advanced placement course on the subject.

Kamari Spires wants to study nursing, with the goal of working in obstetrics and gynecology.

The two high school seniors, Rodriguez and Fairfield, respectively, are among the more than 270 applicants hoping to garner some of the approximate $130,000 in Assist-A-Grad scholarships.

Spires and Avina plan to start their studies at Napa Valley Community College before transferring to four-year colleges. Both said securing funds toward college would be a great help.

Source: Assist-A-Grad continues to help high school seniors realize college dream

Vanden grad making waves in roots music – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

She is Nell Robinson now.

Vanden High School staff and students, circa 1976-80, knew her as Hilary Perkins.

She is heralded today as a “modern day Patsy Cline” and “one of the freshest voices in roots music.

”Robinson, who graduated from Vanden in 1979, grew up loving music. Her parents listened to many styles and Robinson sang in church choirs, played the flute and other instruments.

Source: Vanden grad making waves in roots music

School board accepts lone $1.9M bid for former Falls Elementary site – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Ryan McCarthy

A lone bid of $1.9 million on the former Falls Elementary School site was opened and accepted Thursday by Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees.

They had agreed in February that the 10-acre site on Rockville Road should be sold for at least $1.9 million and Mariani V Partnership of Vacaville submitted that bid.

Sealed bids had to be submitted by Thursday.

Trustees called for oral bids before accepting the written proposal, but no such verbal offers were made.

Source: School board accepts lone $1.9M bid for former Falls Elementary site

Travel expenses policy can get second look, Fairfield-Suisun schools superintendent says – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Ryan McCarthy

Trustees can re-evaluate travel expenses policy, Fairfield-Suisun School District Superintendent Kris Corey said in answer to a board member’s question Thursday about district’s costs for travel.

Chris Wilson submitted the question in connection with $21,681 in out-of-state travel costs between January and March.

“Given our economic uncertainty, is there a plan for curtailing travel costs?” Wilson asked. “If there isn’t one, can that be explored?”Corey in her written response said trustees approved a reduction in conference and travel costs as part of the budget cuts.

Source: Travel expenses policy can get second look, Fairfield-Suisun schools superintendent says

Torlakson Announces Record High School Grad Rates – Year 2017 (CA Dept of Education)

Posted on by

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson reported today that California’s graduation rate increased for the seventh year in a row and is now at a record high for the class of 2016, with the biggest increases during that period taking place among English learners and African American and Latino students.

Among the cohort of students who started high school in 2012–13, 83.2 percent graduated with their class in 2016, up 0.9 percent from the year before. (See Table 1.) This increase means that 4,917 more students received their high school diploma last year than the year before.

The state’s graduation rate has increased 8.5 percentage points since the class of 2010 posted a 74.7 percent rate.

The graduation rate of almost every student subgroup calculated by the California Department of Education (CDE) also rose in 2016. (See Table 2.) The rate of increase among English learners was 2.7 percentage points, African Americans went up 1.8 percentage points, and Latino students increased by 1.5 percentage points.

Source: Torlakson Announces Record High School Grad Rates – Year 2017 (CA Dept of Education)

Vallejo school district seeks help with superintendent search – Times Herald

Posted on by

By John Glidden

The search for a new superintendent to lead the Vallejo City Unified School District will go before the board Wednesday. Trustees will mull over a recommendation to spend at least $10,000 to advertise a request for proposals (RFP) in an effort to find a firm which will assist the district in selecting a permanent superintendent.

The district anticipates hiring a firm by June 1, with a goal of having a permanent superintendent by Sept. 1, 2017, according to the RFP.

In a 3-2 vote last month, the board, without cause, terminated the contract of District Superintendent Ramona Bishop. Bishop had served in the position for nearly six years.

Trustees recently named Stephen Goldstone as interim district superintendent. Goldstone is no stranger to the district having served as superintendent from 1995 to 2000 before he was fired by the then-school board.

Source: Vallejo school district seeks help with superintendent search

Will C. Wood grad, former DR reporter, on team that won Pulitzer Prize – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

Daily Republic staff writer David DeBolt is on the team of reporters who earned a Pulitzer Prize for their work on the Ghost Ship Fire in Oakland.

DeBolt, a 2003 graduate of Will C. Wood High School, joined the Contra Costa Times in July 2012, after spending a year at the Daily Republic.

He now covers crime and public safety for the Oakland Tribune, which, along with the Times, is part of the Bay Area News Group.

Source: Will C. Wood grad, former DR reporter, on team that won Pulitzer Prize

Thieves steal Armijo Super Band instruments – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Ian Thompson

An undetermined amount of band equipment is missing from the Armijo High School Super Band after the school’s band room was burglarized during the weekend, according to Fairfield police and the Fairfield-Suisun School District.

Police and school officials are still working out just how many instruments were stolen and are examining video surveillance tapes from both the school and the surrounding community to see if they can get more clues as to who may have committed the theft.

Source: Thieves steal Armijo Super Band instruments

Vanden, Armijo, Grange students show off their ‘bots’ – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Todd R. Hansen

Gabby Hansen found her calling because she and her friends wanted something to do after school.

That journey started five years earlier, in eighth grade, and now the Vanden High senior is looking at a future in the cutting-edge robotics field.

“I don’t think any of us realized how much it would impact our futures,” Hansen said.

“The robotics program is a lot more than robotics,” Hansen said.

Her personal and leadership skills have been enhanced by her time in the program, she said.Hansen was joined by other students from Vanden and Armijo high schools, as well as students from Grange Middle School who demonstrated their robot skills Tuesday before the Board of Supervisors.

Source: Vanden, Armijo, Grange students show off their ‘bots’

Special needs families enjoy outing thanks to cop, theater exec – The Reporter

Posted on by

By Kimberly K. Fu

Continuous squirming, talking, negative reactions due to sensory issues and more are just some of the issues plaguing families of special needs children.

On Sunday, all of that was embraced as, thanks to a local police officer and a theater executive, many of those local families were invited to a movie outing just for them.

“It was fantastic,” Said Nicole Neff, whose daughter, Rayna, is autistic. “It was very appreciated. … It was an awesome thing to do for the community.”

Turns out, about 70 people got to enjoy the exclusive showing of “Boss Baby,” complete with free popcorn, soda and candy. All of which usually come with a hefty price tag, especially if you have a large family.

Source: Special needs families enjoy outing thanks to cop, theater exec

Help us get important school news in the newspaper – The Reporter

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

If you are a leader, student or parent in the Vacaville, Dixon, Travis or Fairfield-Suisun school communities, you may have a story you want to share with the public, say, about a teacher using cutting-edge technology or an exciting curriculum, a student’s achievement, a trend in education. Do you?

If you don’t know where to begin, that is, how to get word out via The Reporter, in print and online, then you may want to clip and save this column or cut and paste it into a document for reference later.

The Reporter welcomes your school news. So here are some tips and thoughts on how to get our attention, how to submit press releases for consideration:

• How to get in touch with the person who handles education-related news items: Email and phone are the first steps and means, letting us know you want something covered — or at least considered for coverage. (We want to establish a good working relationship with you and I’m sure the desire is mutual.)

 

Source: Richard Bammer: Help us get important school news in the newspaper

Sealed bids for former school site go before Fairfield-Suisun trustees – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Ryan McCarthy

Sealed bids for the former Falls Elementary School site will be opened Thursday when Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees accept the highest written, responsive bid for the property.

Trustees will call for oral bids before accepting any written proposal.

If any responsible person offers to purchase the property for a price that exceeds the highest written proposal by at least 5 percent, that oral bid will be accepted, a district staff report notes.

Roger Merrill, president of the Green Valley Landowner Association, said at the school board’s Feb. 23 meeting that a Cordelia Fire District station has been at the property on Rockville Road for 45 years. Emergency response times would increase sharply if the station cannot continue at the site because of the property sale, he said.

Source: Sealed bids for former school site go before Fairfield-Suisun trustees

Q1 out-of-state travel costs for Fairfield-Suisun exceed $21,000 – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Ryan McCarthy

Out-of-state travel costs for the Fairfield-Suisun School District totaled $21,681 during the first three months of 2017, says a report by Superintendent Kris Corey that goes before trustees Thursday.

Teacher recruitment trips to Kutztown and Millersville universities in Pennsylvania, along with travel to the Maryland Metropolitan Education Expo in College Park, Maryland, cost $9,105.

Travel to the Grand Valley State University out-of-state teacher fair March 6-7 in Allendale, Michigan, cost $3,258. Three members of the Human Resources Department attended. Their costs included $1,300 in airfare, $528 for food and $750 for lodging.

Source: Q1 out-of-state travel costs for Fairfield-Suisun exceed $21,000

State recognizes Fairfield-Suisun School District’s attendance program – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Daily Republic Staff

The Fairfield-Suisun School District is one of 27 school attendance programs recognized as model School Attendance Review Boards by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson.

“Students need to be in school to learn,” Torlakson said in a press release announcing the honors. “The terrific work of the review boards is a testament to the collaboration between the school, parents and community so that all students have the opportunity to succeed on their way to 21st century careers and college.”

The number of districts that applied to the Model SARB Recognition Program tripled since 2016, said a press release from Torlakson’s office. The state SARB, a panel appointed by Torlakson, reviewed the applications.

Source: State recognizes Fairfield-Suisun School District’s attendance program

Despite law change, few districts offer early kindergarten for youngest 4-year-olds | EdSource

Posted on by

By Ashley Hopkinson

Only a small number of California’s largest school districts are taking advantage of a state law that allows them to enroll more 4-year-olds in a pre-kindergarten program known as “transitional kindergarten.”

The state’s transitional kindergarten program began in 2012-13, for 4-year-olds who turn 5 in the first few months of the school year.

The state Legislature subsequently gave districts permission to expand transitional kindergarten to even younger 4-year-olds, but with only partial reimbursement from the state. So far only six of the state’s 25 largest school districts offer these programs, known as “expanded transitional kindergarten.”

Source: Despite law change, few districts offer early kindergarten for youngest 4-year-olds | EdSource

Further Benicia Middle School remodeling updates presented to school board – Benicia Herald

Posted on by

By Nick Sestanovich

Lee Pollard of HY Architects delivered an update of Benicia Middle School’s campus modernization project at Thursday’s school board meeting.

The redesign of Benicia Middle’s campus, funded by Measure S and set to begin in the fall, has been a topic of discussion at school board meetings in recent months. One of the suggestions at the Feb. 2 meeting was to gather more input from staff. Pollard said that shortly afterward, the same presentation was given to BMS staff on Feb. 10, and design committee meetings were held on March 10 and 24, in which additional input was given.

Primary projects of the redesign include new modular classrooms, a modernized campus, a new drama room and kitchen, and removing the lower portables.

Staff has presented concerns about the number of classrooms in the upper campus if the school removed classrooms in the lower campus and congested student traffic in getting out of the library building. They also expressed a desire for 21st century learning classrooms and improving the front of the school and outdoor learning areas.“The group had a lot of passion about making this place as good as we can make it,” Pollard said.

Source: Further Benicia Middle School remodeling updates presented to school board

Saturday science lesson with a touch of “Star Wars” – The Reporter

Posted on by

By Michael Morris

“Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is.”

Although the phrase was first uttered by Yoda, parents, faculty and volunteers saw the truth to those words throughout Saturday morning as they creatively intertwined science with the “Star Wars” movies at Edwin Markham Elementary School.

Offering an array of science-based subjects that ranged from astronomy to archeology, the 150-plus students in grades first through sixth were broken up into groups that incorporated a specific emphasis.

“Each one of these classes has a different hands-on activity that introduces the students to different concepts in something like chemistry or physics,” explained Mike Silva, a parent and adjunct professor at Solano Community College who helped coordinate the event. “Then, with the knowledge they acquire there, they develop a skit that they can then perform in front of the community, the parents and the other kids involved.”

Source:  Saturday science lesson with a touch of “Star Wars” – The Reporter