Local school officials react to Newsom bill on start times – Times-Herald

By Thomas Gase

Students in California will have an extra chance to hit the snooze button in the future due to legislation signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday, a proposal designed to improve educational outcomes by giving students more sleep.

California will become the first state in the nation to mandate later start times at most middle schools and high schools under bill SP 328, which would require the school day for middle schools and high schools, including those operated as charter schools, to begin no earlier than 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., respectively, by July 1, 2022, or the date on which a school district’s or charter school’s respective collective bargaining agreement that is operative on January 1, 2020, expires, whichever is later, except for rural school districts.

Source: Local school officials react to Newsom bill mandating later school start times – Times-Herald

Youth runners push themselves in annual Doug Butt Run – Daily Republic

By Bill Hicks

Schoolchildren from across Fairfield and Suisun were running throughout Laurel Creek Park, Wednesday, which is exactly what the namesake of the annual Doug Butt Run would have wanted.

In a 2009 Daily Republic article about the former Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District physical education teacher’s death, Butt was described as a “titan on the fitness scene in Fairfield.”

But it was this run, the former FSUSD elementary cross country meet, which now bears Doug Butt’s name that his two passions are combined – his love of fitness and his desire to share that love with the schoolchildren he taught for so many years.

Source: Youth runners push themselves in annual Doug Butt Run

Sprout Touring Film Festival scheduled for Saturday – Times-Herald

By Times Herald

Arc-Solano is hosting the Sprout Touring Film Festival on Saturday which will include many excellent short films featuring people with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

There will be two screenings with the first event scheduled for Saturday inside The Rizza Auditorium at the California State University Maritime Academy campus in Vallejo. The event opens at 5 p.m. and the films begin at 6 p.m.

There will be a no-host concession stand, a raffle/silent auction, and a live auction during the intermission. The live auction will feature artwork created by individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The evening will finish with a questions and answers session about the films by Anthony Di Salvo, the director of Sprout Films.

Source: Sprout Touring Film Festival scheduled for Saturday – Times-Herald

Governor Newsom Agrees CA Middle And High Schools Need Later Start Times – Good Day Sacramento

High schools in California will need to push the first bell back to 8:30 a.m. starting in the 2022-2023 school year so teenagers can get more sleep.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 328 on Sunday, requiring high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. and middle schools to start no earlier than 8 am.

Rural counties will be exempt from specified start times.

Currently, more than three-quarters of middle and high schools in California start before 8:30 am.

Source: Governor Newsom Agrees California Middle And High Schools Need Later Start Times – Good Day Sacramento

Solano students’ CAASPP scores lag behind state averages – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Solano County students in grades three through eight and 11 scored below the statewide averages on major standardized tests in English and math this year, the state Department of Education reported.

In all grades tested throughout the state, according to CDE officials, results of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) assessments for English language arts/literacy and mathematics showed that nearly 51 percent of students met or exceeded standards in English, a nearly 1 percentage point increase from 2018, and a nearly 7 percentage point increase from 2015. In mathematics, slightly less than 40 percent of students met or exceeded standards, a 1 percentage point increase from 2018 and a nearly 7 percent percentage point increase from 2015.

Source: Solano students’ CAASPP scores lag behind state averages – The Reporter

Remembering Vanden, Solano coaching legend Ron Beverly – Daily Republic

By Paul Farmer

After nearly 30 years at the Daily Republic – I’ll hit the big 3-0 around Thanksgiving – a goal of mine is to retire before needing to do tribute stories on coaching who were before or during my time. I mentioned that to Ron Beverly about two months ago.

When writing about the passing of Vanden legends Ed Serpas and Jim Boyd, a go-to guy was Beverly, who’d played for both during the school’s first year and took over for the former as Vikings football coach.

Source: Remembering Vanden, Solano coaching legend Ron Beverly

RHSEU: Begins New 2019 Fall Season with Eight Trophies – Daily Republic

By RHSEU Boosters

Saturday, October 12, 2019, the Rodriguez High School Entertainment Unit began their 2019 Fall Season by attending the 8th Annual Franklin High School Invitational Band Review in Elk Grove, California. This Review attracts bands from Northern California and Nevada. The Jazz, Concert, Parade, and Street Percussion competitions were hosted by Franklin High School while Consumnes Oaks High School hosted the Field Show portion.

The REU competed in the Parade, Street Percussion, and Field Show categories at the 5A level. The band performs “Joyce’s 71st New York Regiment March” for their street performance. The Field Show this year titled “The Road Not Taken” by John M. Meehan features four soloists. The students performed outstandingly for their first competition performances of the season.

Source: Good News: RHSEU: Begins New 2019 Fall Season with Eight Trophies

2019 CAASPP Scores Announced – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced today the statewide results of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) summative assessments for English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics. School districts have had access to their own results since May.

For CAASPP, performance continues to improve slightly overall within grades as measured by the Smarter Balanced ELA and mathematics assessments. Statewide results in all tested grades showed that 50.87 percent of students met or exceeded standards in ELA, a .99 percentage point increase from 2018 and a 6.87 percentage point increase from 2015. In mathematics, 39.73 percent of students met or exceeded standards, a 1.08 percentage point increase from 2018 and a 6.73 percentage point increase from 2015.

Thurmond acknowledged the slight score increases but expressed deep concern that improvement is less consistent across the score range in the later grades of 7, 8, and 11, with a persistent percentage of students of color not meeting standards and, in several grades, showing declining scores from last year.

Source: 2019 CAASPP Scores Announced – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

Solano largely unaffected by power shut-offs but SCC’s Fairfield campus closes – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

Pacific Gas & Electric’s Public Safety Power Shut-off that began early Wednesday, an effort to minimize outbreaks of equipment-caused wildland fires, did not seem to affect Solano County in any major way, a county official reported.

“Nothing serious has happened,” said Solano County Deputy Sheriff Cully Pratt.

But he urged drivers to slow down, drive safely and observe courtesy at any four-way stops with traffic signals darkened by an outage. He reminded drivers to yield to the driver on the right at four-way stops.

Also saying “The winds are here,” Pratt expected gusts to pick up later Wednesday evening.

Source: Solano largely unaffected by power shut-offs but SCC’s Fairfield campus closes – The Reporter

Agencies collaborate to host school safety symposium – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

In the 20 years since the shooting at Columbine High School, the number of school shootings has only increased. According to the FBI, between 2010 and 2017, there were about 20.5 school shootings per year, an increase of 8.6 a year between 2000 and 2009.

The glut of school shootings has prompted many to ask questions like “How can we keep our schools safe?” and “How can we recognize the signs of a school shooter before an incident happens?

”These questions were dove into at a school safety symposium held Wednesday morning at Sunrise Events Center. Hosted by several different agencies — including the Solano County Office of Education, Solano District Attorney’s Office, FBI, Vacaville Police Department and Solano County Sheriff’s Office — the symposium went over how to notice indicators of violence and how different agencies can work as a team to address it.

Source: Agencies collaborate to host school safety symposium – The Reporter

PG&E Power Shutoff Latest: 74K In Solano Co., North Bay Affected | Suisun Patch

By Maggie Avants

The first of three phases in a widespread PG&E public safety power outage was implemented early Wednesday morning, leaving more than 74,000 customers in the North Bay and 513,000 across Northern California in the dark. The utility giant started cutting power at 12 a.m. across significant portions of its service territory, including in Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Marin, Yolo, Lake, Mendocino and Colusa counties.

Solano, Sonoma and Napa counties the hardest hit as of 2 a.m. Wednesday. The city of Fairfield had 17,963 customers powerless, while 13,665 were without power in Vacaville. The outage was affecting 19,357 PG&E customers in Napa, 15,925 in the city of Sonoma, 6,685 in St. Helena and 3,321 in Calistoga.

Source: PG&E Power Shutoff Latest: 74K In Solano Co., North Bay Affected | Suisun City, CA Patch

Ed Dept allots $71.6M to boost proactive school safety measures | Education Dive

By Shawna De La Rosa

These grants reflect the shift to prevent violence in schools through proactive means like improved mental health services and school climate, rather than hardening schools. Last year, the federal School Safety Commission urged states to take action to physically protect schools, such as removing firearms from at-risk individuals, as well as make it easier for law enforcement and schools to better communicate about potential threats.

Armed school personnel and more metal detectors were among measures discussed at the time, but civil rights advocates countered such measures would only strengthen the school-to-prison pipeline — especially for students of color.

Source: Ed Dept allots $71.6M to boost proactive school safety measures | Education Dive

Dozens of Bay Area schools cancel classes; Oakland scales back closures [San Francisco Chronicle]

Schools across the Bay Area are bracing for a power outage, with many district officials warning classes will be canceled during the power outage announced by PG&E Tuesday.

U.C. Berkeley said that “most of the core campus will be without power starting at approximately 8 a.m.,” prompting the university to cancel classes Wednesday.

“The campus, however, will remain open, though services will be limited. Most student-serving offices will be open, however the Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union and Eshelman Hall will be closed,” it said in a statement.

Source: Dozens of Bay Area schools — including U.C. Berkeley — cancel classes; Oakland scales back closures [San Francisco Chronicle]

C-STEM Center honors Solano schools chief’s work – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson has been named a C-STEM Administrator of the Year by the University of California, Davis C-STEM Center.

C-STEM stands for computing, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“I’m truly honored by the award from UC Davis, but I do not do this work alone. I have a team of amazing educators behind me, creating, planning and implementing programs for students,” Estrella-Henderson said in a statement released Tuesday by her office.

Source: C-STEM Center honors Solano schools chief’s work

Board of Supervisors recognizes Solano’s top 2019-20 educators – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

Matt O’Reilly admits it’s a little strange to be teaching at the same high school from which he graduated, but the 10-year educator at Benicia High also works to convince his students to choose teaching as their career choices.

O’Reilly was recognized Tuesday by Solano County supervisors as the 2019-20 Teacher of the Year, and said that he and other teachers could not do their jobs if it were not for school employees like Daryl “D.J.”

Stillwell doing theirs.Stillwell, a custodian with the Vacaville School District, was selected as the 2019-20 Classified Employee of the Year.

Source: Board of Supervisors recognizes Solano’s top 2019-20 educators

Administrators share 7 tips for building positive school culture | Education Dive

By Naaz Modan

Building and maintaining a positive school culture can be an uphill battle for many principals and superintendents. Once attained, however, it has shown to have a significant impact in areas of concern including student academic performance and teacher retention.

Recently, one Massachusetts school linked positive school culture to a 100% college acceptance rate, and positive climate was also found to reduce teacher turnover in a turnaround school in Colorado. This kind of impact begins with strong district and school leaders, who model attitudes and behaviors for staff members and students.

For those wondering where to start, we’ve gathered advice from several veteran administrators on how they approach building positive culture within their schools and districts.

Source: Administrators share 7 tips for building positive school culture | Education Dive

Thousands across Solano face possible power outages – Daily Republic

By Glen Faison

Tens of thousands of Solano County residents are subject to possible power shutoffs midweek as PG&E monitors weather conditions that could lead to wildfires.

Nearly 33,000 Pacific Gas & Electric Company customers in Solano County are subject to a possible power shutoff starting before dawn Wednesday, the utility announced Monday.

The utility cites weather conditions that could lead to greater fire risk across the region.

Source: Thousands across Solano face possible power outages

The 2020 California Teachers of the Year – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today named five extraordinary educators as the 2020 California Teachers of the Year. Thurmond, who began his career as a social services worker, said he is pleased to honor five outstanding and talented teachers who have made a great impact in their schools and communities.

“These five incredible teachers receive this prestigious honor for their focus, drive, and determination to teach young people in California,” he said. “They are not only wonderful representatives for our state, but they also make profound differences in the lives of their students and their communities by employing innovative strategies to increase academic success and narrow the achievement gap among a broad range of students.”

Presented by California Casualty and supported by the California Teachers of the Year Foundation, the California Teachers of the Year Program began in 1972 to honor outstanding teachers and encourage new teachers to enter the profession.

Source: The 2020 California Teachers of the Year – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

Six things we learned at ACSA’s Women in School leadership Forum – Ed Cal

School leaders explored what it meant to lead courageously during the 2019 Women in School Leadership Forum, held Sept. 25-27 at the Paséa Hotel and Spa in Huntington Beach.

With 16 workshop sessions, four keynotes and two networking receptions, the more than 250 attendees had plenty of opportunities to be inspired. Here is just a sampling of some of the wisdom shared during this conference.

Source: Six things we learned at ACSA’s Women in School leadership Forum

What do administrators need to know ahead of the 2020 E-rate filing season? | Education Dive

By Roger Riddell

Though the filing window closes in February, it’s never too early to start the planning and paperwork for E-rate funds from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The program’s impact has been critical to broadband connectivity for many schools, especially when it comes to ensuring infrastructure is up-to-date and there’s enough bandwidth for the ballooning amount of tech in classrooms. This only grows in importance as more states take their annual standardized exams digital, particularly for rural schools and low-income schools at large.

Source: What do administrators need to know ahead of the 2020 E-rate filing season? | Education Dive