Monthly Archives: February 2019

Specific program, personnel cuts on Vallejo’s school board agenda – Times-Herald

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By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

The specific $7.2 million in budget cuts recommended by Superintendent Adam Clark last week are expected to be approved at the Vallejo City Unified School District meeting on Wednesday, despite impassioned appeals last week by many of those impacted.

The school district finds itself in financial trouble as a result of declining enrollment, including encroachment of charger schools, high chronic absentee rates, and rising contributions to employee health and benefits. The district is still repaying — at some $3 million per year — a $60 million state bailout loan from the last time it got into trouble.The district must maintain fiscal solvency to avoid being taken over the state again, by making appropriate revisions to the budget to eliminate structural deficits.

Source: Specific program, personnel cuts on Vallejo’s school board agenda – Times-Herald

How Teachers Are Changing Grading Practices With an Eye on Equity | MindShift

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By Katrina Schwartz

Nick Sigmon first encountered the idea of “grading for equity” when he attended a mandatory professional development training at San Leandro High School led by Joe Feldman, CEO of the Crescendo Education Group. As a fairly new high school physics teacher, Sigmon says he was open-minded to new ideas, but had thought carefully about his grading system and considered it fair already. Like many teachers, Sigmon had divided his class into different categories (tests, quizzes, classwork, homework, labs, notebook, etc.) and assigned each category a percentage. Then he broke each assignment down and assigned points. A student’s final grade was points earned divided by total points possible. He thought it was simple, neat and fair.

Looking back, however, Signmon said this kind of system made it seem like teachers were setting up rules to a game. “They say these are the rules and whatever the score works out to be that is your grade,” he said.

Source: How Teachers Are Changing Grading Practices With an Eye on Equity | MindShift | KQED News

Classified School Employees of the Year Program (CA Dept of Education)

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I would like to invite each County Office of Education (COE) to participate in the 2019 Classified School Employees of the Year (CSEY) Program. Presented by the California Department of Education (CDE), the Classified School Employees Association, and California Casualty, the CSEY Program highlights the contributions of classified school employees who support the education of California’s public school students in preschool through grade twelve.

The program goals are to identify six exemplary classified school employees throughout California for the CSEY award. The 2019 CSEY Program will identify and honor classified employees working in the following categories: Child Nutrition; Maintenance, Operations, and Facilities; Office and Technical; Para-Educator and Instructional Assistance; Support Services and Security; and Transportation.

Source: Classified School Employees of the Year Program – Letters (CA Dept of Education)

Special needs prom gives individuals a night to shine – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

The walls of the multipurpose room at Three Oaks Community Center were lined with balloons. Attendees arrived dressed in tuxedos, fedoras, red velvet dresses and high heels.

Photo booths were set up for them to take pictures with friends and hit songs by Taylor Swift, The Chainsmokers and DJ Khaled filled the room while people danced.

This could have been a scene from any high school prom. What made it unique was that the attendees were all individuals with special needs and their families, giving them their own night to remember.

Source: Special needs prom gives individuals a night to shine – The Reporter

Travis School District to recognize top employees, review policies – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

Travis School District trustees will recognize the classified and certificated employees of the year when they meet Tuesday.

Connie Nichols, a Food Service worker at Vanden High School, was selected as the Classified School Employee of the Year, while Melanie Green, a teacher at Cambridge Elementary School, was selected as Certificated Employee of the Year.

They will represent the Travis district at the Solano County Educators of the Year Ceremony that’s scheduled March 30.

Source: Travis School District to recognize top employees, review policies

Mare Island academy up for Distinguished School award – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

Mare Island Technical Academy has received an invitation to apply for the California Distinguished School award, the Solano County Office of Education announced.

The secondary school earned the invitation “because they have made exceptional gains in implementing the academic content performance standards adopted by the State Board of Education for all students,” Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson said in a statement.

Schools that received the invitation have met a variety of criteria, involving multiple measures on their performance and progress on the state indicators on the California School Dashboard.

Source: Mare Island academy up for Distinguished School award

Proposed Vallejo school board cuts draw tears – Times-Herald

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By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

There were long faces on the dais as well as in the crowded gallery at Wednesday’s Vallejo City Unified School District meeting. There were even tears, as some of the people in positions recommended for budget-balancing cuts took to the podium to plead with officials to reconsider.

It was reiterated that the district faces a $22 million structural deficit, and that if a way is not found to staunch the financial bleeding, the district could wind up under state control again. The reasons this has happened again to the district, which is still repaying a $60 million bailout loan to the state of California, are several-fold.

For one thing, it’s been losing students at a precipitous rate — having gone from some 20,000 just 20 years ago, to less than 12,000 today, and dropping by hundreds each year. Some of that is a result of charter school encroachment, officials said. Also, the district has among the state’s worst chronic absenteeism rates, which costs it money as well.

Source: Proposed Vallejo school board cuts draw tears – Times-Herald

T-R-I-U-M-P-H-A-N-T: Alamo, Vaca Pena students win big at spelling bee – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Erudite: E-R-U-D-I-T-E.

Definition: having or showing great knowledge or learning.

Used in a sentence: Boy, those kids in Vacaville sure are erudite when it comes to spelling.

A student from Alamo Elementary School and another from Vaca Pena Middle School proved themselves as this year’s top wordsmiths in their respective levels of schooling. Nash Martinez and Alexis Abadiano were the big winners at Wednesday’s Grace B. Powell Citywide Spelling Bee.

Hosted by the Vacaville Rotary Club at Will C. Wood High School’s Catwalk Theater, the bee is named after a former Vacaville High School principal who was dedicated to the education of students.

Source: T-R-I-U-M-P-H-A-N-T: Alamo, Vaca Pena students win big at spelling bee – The Reporter

School unlocks students’ potential by doing something radical – Daily Republic

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By The Washington Post

Patrick Cox, a junior at Quaker Valley High School in the Pittsburgh suburbs, has learning disabilities, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder – ADHD – or what he calls “not giving two licks.”

Like most special-education students in this country, he has an individualized education program, known as an IEP. It is supposed to help him overcome his disability. Such programs have mixed results, but Cox’s experience has been different because of the unusual character of his school.

Educators are often reluctant to put students like him into challenging college-level courses, such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate. They legitimately fear that children with disabilities will gain nothing but stress and anxiety from the experience.

Source: School unlocks students’ potential by doing something radical: Listening to them

Solano County 4-H members earn showmanship awards – Daily Republic

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By Kathy Keatley Garvey

Seven 4-H’ers, covering such diverse topics from “how to make a chocoflan cake” to “how to reel in channel catfish,” won showmanship pins for their presentations at the Solano County 4-H Project Skills Day that took place Saturday at Sierra Vista Elementary School.

The annual event is an opportunity for 4-H’ers to show what they’ve learned in their projects and demonstrate their showmanship skills, according to Solano County 4-H Program representative Valerie Williams. Evaluators, all 4-H volunteers, scored the youths on their display, presentation, knowledge and interaction.

The showmanship winners included three from the Sherwood Forest 4-H Club in Vallejo, three from the Suisun Valley 4-H Club in the Fairfield-Suisun City area; and one from the Tremont 4-H Club in Dixon.

Source: Solano County 4-H members earn showmanship awards

Jesse Bethel High honors longtime mentor Rick Henley – Times-Herald

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By Vallejo Times Herald

A celebration of life to honor longtime Vallejo teacher Ricardo “Rick” Henley was attended by 300 colleagues, students, and friends on Saturday at Jesse Bethel High.

Gregory Allen Howard who wrote the movie, “Remember the Titans,” fondly remembered Henley as the enthusiastic water boy for the Vallejo High School for the 1969-70 football champions.Councilwoman Dr. Rozzana Verder-Aliga presented a City of Vallejo certificate of appreciation to Rick’s wife, Barbara, which read, “In recognition of your dedication to duty, unwavering integrity, and 37 outstanding years of service as a teacher at Vallejo Adult School, Solano Junior High School, and Jesse Bethel High School in the Vallejo City Unified School District.

Source: Jesse Bethel High honors longtime mentor Rick Henley – Times-Herald

New K-12 California Arts Standards – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent Tony Thurmond praised the recent adoption of new California Arts standards by the State Board of Education, stating it is a critical step in enhancing creativity in students and preparing students for California’s “creative economy.” The last update to the state’s arts standards was in 2001.

“This was long overdue. Creativity and appreciation for the arts is important for all students to have a well-rounded education, exposing them to new ideas and perspectives. Arts education boosts school attendance, academic achievement, and college attendance rates; improves school climate; and promotes higher self-esteem and social-emotional development.” Thurmond said. “In addition, proficiency in the technology related to creative work is becoming an important skill for students as they progress into college and career.”

According to a 2018 report External link opens in new window or tab. by the Otis College of Art and Design, California’s creative economy generated $407.1 billion in economic output and 1.6 billion jobs, resulting in $141.5 billion in wages earned statewide. In the Los Angeles region alone, the creative economy generated $198 billion in economic output with $59.6 billion in wages earned.

Source: New K-12 California Arts Standards – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

4-H kids impress at annual Solano County Projects Skills Day – The Reporter

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By Matt Sieger

It turns out that 4-H isn’t just about animals. It’s also about chili.

More accurately, it’s a community of more than 100 public universities across the nation that provides experiences where young people learn by doing. Kids complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, agriculture and citizenship.

At the annual Solano County 4-H Project Skills Day & Chili Cook Off, held Saturday at Sierra Vista K-8 School in Vacaville, 4-Hers, who range in age from five to 19, showed what they have learned and also competed in a chili contest.

Source: 4-H kids impress at annual Solano County Projects Skills Day – The Reporter

Budget cuts, new grad requirements are part of VCUSD meeting agenda – Times-Herald

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By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

The first order of business during the public portion of the Vallejo City Unified School District’s meeting Wednesday will be the swearing in of new board member Christy Gardner. A first reading of the district’s new graduation requirement policy, and a first round of proposed budget cuts, including layoffs, is also planned.

Declining enrollment, high chronic absentee rates, rising health and benefit contributions, and charter school encroachment, has caused a significant budget shortfall. To maintain fiscal solvency and avoid the loss of local control, cuts must be made.

Superintendent Adam Clark has found some $7.2 million in cuts that come mostly through personnel and program revisions/reductions, designed to meet both the fiscal and program objectives.

Source: Budget cuts, new grad requirements are part of Vallejo school district meeting agenda – Times-Herald

Vallejo school board gets look at budget numbers – Times-Herald

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By John Glidden

Preliminary projections indicate that the exodus of students from the Vallejo school district will result in 1,708 fewer pupils over the coming two years.

That’s about a $15 million hit in funding for the Vallejo City Unified School District.

The district’s board of education got a look at the sobering numbers during a special study session Wednesday night on the 2019-20 budget.

Source: Vallejo school board gets look at budget numbers – Times-Herald

Teens get glimpse at Police Department – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Today might be Groundhog Day, but it was Friday when agencies throughout Solano saw their shadows — or rather teens shadowing them.

As part of National Job Shadow Day, the Solano County Office of Education joined forces with the Solano County Workforce Development Board to partner with local agencies and businesses to give guided tours of their facilities to teens.

In Vacaville, a group of more than 20 students from both Vacaville and Will C. Wood high schools got a taste of what goes on daily at their local Police Department.

Source: Teens get glimpse at Police Department – The Reporter

Solano, North Bay students compete in Decathlon – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Students from several area counties came together Saturday for a little competition to determine who will head on to the state Academic Decathlon in Sacramento.

The North Bay Academic Decathlon Super Quiz Regional Competition was hosted by the Solano County Office of Education in the Solano Community College gymnasium. It was the only portion of the contest that’s open to the public. The theme was “The 1960’s: A Transformational Decade.”

Source: Solano, North Bay students compete in Decathlon to earn bid for state contest

Community Scrapbook re: Academic Decathlon – Daily Republic

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By Fairfield Suisun Rotary Club

Fairfield Suisun Rotarians prepared lunch for the students at the Academic Decathlon held February 2 at Solano Community College. Working hard at the grill are (left to right) Jim Inks, Rene Bojorquez, Randeep Arora, Kendall Hillman, and Gerry Raycraft.

This is news or information provided by members of the community as individuals or on behalf of an organization or business.

Source: Good News: Community Scrapbook

Applications for Summer Meal Programs – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced that applications are available for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO), both federally funded, state-administered programs that serve free meals to children eighteen and younger when school is out of session.

“Food insecurity impacts families throughout the state. When schools are out of session, our most economically disadvantaged students are not only missing academic instruction, they are also missing meals,” said Thurmond. “Access to nutritious and healthy food during the summer months helps students return to school ready to engage and ready to learn.”

According to the California Association of Food Banks, 85 percent of children who benefit from the federally funded free or reduced-price lunches during the school year miss similar lunch programs available during the summer. Every summer, 17 of 20 low-income students fall into the summer nutrition gap.

Source: Applications for Summer Meal Programs – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

SCOE Announces 2019 Certificated, Classified Educators Of Year | Suisun City, CA Patch

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By News Desk

Lisette Estrella-Henderson, Solano County Superintendent of Schools is pleased to announce the Solano County Office of Education’s (SCOE) 2019-2020 certificated and classified educators of the year.

Jordan Hunt, Senior Human Resources Analyst at SCOE’s administrative office, won the title of Classified Employee of the Year in the Office, Technical category for her excellent work performance, always giving 100%, and constant willingness to help others.

Source: SCOE Announces 2019 Certificated, Classified Educators Of Year | Suisun City, CA Patch