Monthly Archives: March 2020

Vallejo school district still offering food to students – Times-Herald

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By John Glidden

Although Vallejo schools are closed, the district will continue to provide meals “to all students who need them,” District Superintendent Adam Clark announced on Monday.

Starting Wednesday, the Vallejo City Unified School District will begin offering “grab and go” breakfast and lunch meals at five different Vallejo school sites.

They include:

  • Loma Vista Environmental Science Academy, 146 Rainier St. Meals will be served at the entrance doors to the cafeteria.
  • Federal Terrace Elementary School, 415 Daniels Avenue. Meals at the entrance doors to the cafeteria.
  • Lincoln Elementary School, 620 Carolina St. Meals outside of the cafeteria.
  • Hogan Middle School, 850 Rosewood Avenue. Meals at the side cafeteria doors facing Georgia Street.
  • Jesse Bethel High School, 1800 Ascot Parkway. Meals in the parking lot near the cafeteria/student union.

Source: Vallejo school district still offering food to students – Times-Herald

Solano County schools shut down starting Monday – Times-Herald

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By Richard Freedman

All Solano County schools will shut down for two weeks starting Monday, officials confirmed Friday.

Vallejo City Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark said in a statement that the decision was made with “the COVID-19 situation continually evolving” and “in light of the ever-changing situation,” after two weeks “we will make a determination about any further closures.”

Though there was some speculation that schools will simply switch the next two weeks with the scheduled March 30-April 10 Spring Break, that’s not happening, Clark said by phone Friday afternoon.

Source: Solano County schools shut down starting Monday – Times-Herald

Vacaville schools to close for two weeks amid coronavirus outbreak – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Vacaville Unified School District schools will be closed for the next two weeks due to concerns over the coronavirus, the district announced in an update Friday.

VUSD joined the other five public school districts in Solano County, which will all remain closed through March 27. The districts announced their decision in a letter sent to Solano County families.

“Making the decision to close schools in Vacaville was not an easy task,” VUSD Superintendent Dr. Jane Shamieh said in a statement. “We are sympathetic and understand this decision may pose hardship to some of our families, but the health and safety of our school community is of the utmost importance. We are doing everything we can to continue to support our students and their families. We are providing meals at no cost to every student on four of our campuses across our city.”

Source: Vacaville schools to close for two weeks amid coronavirus outbreak – The Reporter

Solano County Schools To Close For 2 Weeks: Coronavirus | Dixon, CA Patch

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By Maggie Fusek

All public and charter schools in Solano County are closed beginning Monday because of the situation surrounding the coronavirus — COVID-19 — the Solano County Office of Education announced Friday.

“In light of the ever-changing situation with COVID-19, Solano County superintendents and charter school administrators have made the difficult decision to close schools ­­­­­­­­­for two weeks beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 through Friday, March 27, 2020,” SCOE said in statement. “Superintendents and charter school administrators will make a determination at that time about any further closures.”

Source: Solano County Schools To Close For 2 Weeks: Coronavirus | Dixon, CA Patch

Announcing 2020 Civic Learning Award Recipients – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced that 75 schools won this year’s Civic Learning Awards, which celebrate public schools’ efforts to engage students in civic learning. Now in its eighth year, the awards program is co-sponsored by Thurmond and Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye.

These schools engage students in civic learning through strong civics curriculum in school and service-learning projects in their communities. The awards are designed to both celebrate successful efforts to engage students in civic learning and to identify successful models that can be replicated in other schools.

Source: Announcing 2020 Civic Learning Award Recipients – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

For fifth time, Kairos earns a state Civic Learning Award – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

For the fifth time in as many years, Kairos Public School Vacaville Academy has earned a state-sponsored Civic Learning Award, an honor that recognizes a school’s efforts to engage students in civic learning.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond made the announcement in a press release issued Thursday, noting that the Elm Street K-8 independent charter school was one of 75 California schools acknowledged for their strong civics curriculum and service-learning projects in their communities.

Co-sponsored by Thurmond and Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye, the awards, now in their eighth year, are “designed to both celebrate successful efforts to engage students in civic learning and to identify successful models that can be replicated in other schools,” read the written statement.

Source: For fifth time, Kairos earns a state Civic Learning Award – The Reporter

Suit on Behalf of Five More California School Districts to Hold JUUL Labs, Inc. Accountable – Yahoo Finance

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California School Districts with Suits Filed Against JUUL Labs, Inc. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The five lawsuits, filed on behalf of Pacific Grove Unified School District, Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, El Dorado Union High School District, Downey Unified School District, and Santa Cruz City Schools were filed in their respective counties, and the Case Numbers are 20CV000991, FCS054513, PC20200144, 20STCV09614, respectively.

These districts join 18 other school districts that have also filed, including Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest school district in the nation; San Diego Unified, the second largest district in California; Glendale Unified; Compton Unified; Anaheim Elementary; King City Union; Ceres Unified; Chico Unified; Davis Joint Unified; Poway Unified; Rocklin Unified; Acalanes Union High; Monterey Peninsula Unified; Anaheim Union High; Castro Valley Unified; Campbell Union High; Cajon Valley Union; and North Monterey County Unified School District to take a stand against JUUL’s promotion of dangerous and addictive products.

Source: Baron & Budd and Panish Shea & Boyle File Suit on Behalf of Five More California School Districts to Hold JUUL Labs, Inc. Accountable for Targeting Youth and Creating an E-Cigarette Epidemic that Impedes District-Wide Learning

USDA COVID19 Waiver – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

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The California Department of Education (CDE) has received a special waiver called CA COVID19 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will enable a school district that had previously been approved to operate the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or Seamless Summer Option (SSO) to provide meals to students during a coronavirus-related closure.

SFSP and SSO are both federally funded and state-administered programs that serve free meals to children eighteen and younger when school is not in session and in communities where 50 percent or more of the students quality for free and reduced-priced meals.

“When a school or district closes, our first concern is the safety and care of our students,” said California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond. “Our Nutrition Services Division was proactive in reaching out to the USDA to request the necessary approval in anticipation of local educational agencies potentially having to close due to the coronavirus. That advanced planning, combined with the rapid response from the USDA, will allow districts to continue to provide their most vulnerable students with nutritious meals in the event of a closure.”

Source: USDA COVID19 Waiver – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

Local athletic directors make adjustments due to virus – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

Before most high school athletic games begin, the Star Spangled Banner is played. Whether or not a Simon and Garfunkel feel — think sounds of silence — will soon follow the National Anthem is still up in the air.

Fans may be absent from some contests in the future due to the coronavirus, which has now infected more than 1,000 people in the United States, killing 36.

The World Health Organization declared the virus a “pandemic” during a news conference in Geneva Wednesday.

Source: Local athletic directors make adjustments due to virus – Times-Herald

Solano fair association postpones Youth Ag Day due to Covid-19 – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

The 18th annual Youth Ag Day has been postponed due to concerns over the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Solano County Fair Association announced Wednesday the event scheduled for Tuesday will not occur.

“It is hoped that this is merely a postponement of the event, and not an outright cancellation,” a statement released by the association states.

“This decision to postpone was informed by evolving guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as state and local public health agencies. The SCFA has been following CDC warning level guidelines, but the rapidly changing situation has made it difficult to predict future conditions,” the statement said.

Source: Solano fair association postpones Youth Ag Day due to Covid-19

FSUSD’s Early College High School Program Grows – Daily Republic

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By Tim Goree

FSUSD and Solano Community College Collaborate to Grow Early College High School Program.

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District’s Early College High School (ECHS) program is growing! In the 2020-2021 school year, ECHS will add 68 students to the 247 students that they currently serve. The new additional students will be split evenly between the ninth and tenth grades. An additional 34 students will be added to the freshman classes in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years to increase the overall school population to nearly 400. The extra capacity will alleviate a growing waitlist of students eager to enter the successful program.

Source: Press Release: FSUSD’s Early College High School Program Grows

Resources For Teaching Online Due To School Closures – The Edublogger

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By Kathleen Morris

How would you feel if someone said you need to change your whole approach to teaching immediately? Imagine if, instead of interacting face to face with students in your classroom, you had to create and deliver a virtual program.

Perhaps you’d feel nervous? Overwhelmed? Excited? Unqualified? Inspired? Or perhaps plain lost.

Online learning is fast becoming a reality for hundreds of millions of students worldwide. Teachers, students, families, administrators, departments, and whole communities are being forced to respond and adapt quickly.

Source: Resources For Teaching Online Due To School Closures – The Edublogger

Positive Outcome from Another FSUSD Compliance Review – Daily Republic

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By Tim Goree

CDE indicates all review areas are in compliance and no response is required.

[Fairfield, CA], [March 6, 2020]: The Seamless Summer Option (SSO) allows sponsors to operate an open community meal site using the National School Lunch Program’s (NSLP) administrative and monitoring requirements. The purpose of the SSO is to assist traditional and year-round schools to make nutritious meals more accessible to children.

Representatives from the California Department of Education (CDE) conducted an Administrative review of Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District’s Seamless Summer Feeding Option for the month of June 2019, and all review areas are in compliance. Once again, FSUSD excels when its operational processes are scrutinized.

Source: Press Release: Positive Outcome from Another FSUSD Compliance Review

Vacaville, Vallejo students earn county’s top speller honors – Daily Republic

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BY Daily Republic Staff

Top student spellers in fourth through sixth grades from Solano County elementary and middle schools competed Tuesday for the title of Solano County Champion Speller.

Fifty-three Solano County schools participated in this year’s event in McCormack Hall at the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo.

“An event such as this affords students the opportunity to strengthen comprehension, listening, spelling and writing skills while paving the way to building a broader vocabulary,” Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson said in a press release. “Students participating in this competition gained confidence in public speaking and learned to be gracious winners, while having fun with their peers.”

Source: Vacaville, Vallejo students earn county’s top speller honors

4 Office of Education administrators earn recognition – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

The Solano County Office of Education has selected four employees as outstanding administrators in their respective fields who will be recognized by Region 4 of the Association of California School Administrators.

“Our nominated administrators have re-imagined the possibilities in their respective departments. They have shown remarkable leadership, not only with their staff, but throughout Solano County,” Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson said in a statement.

Recipients of the distinction include Clarissa Tuttle, program administrator, special education; Jane Sinkewiz, duplicating services manager; Susan Labrecque, senior director of resource development, transition services and post-secondary options; and Collin Bublavi Kocher, director, human resources.

Source: 4 Office of Education administrators earn recognition

Operation Recognition honors Solano veterans with diplomas – Daily Republic

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By Bill Hicks

The Solano County Office of Education carried out something of a military mission Thursday in executing Operation Recognition.

It’s a nationwide program that awards honorary high school diplomas to U.S. veterans and Japanese-Americans who could not formally graduate from high school due to wartime circumstances.

According to the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, 17 percent of World War II veterans, 11 percent of Korean War veterans and 5 percent of Vietnam War veterans do not have a high school diploma.

Source: Operation Recognition honors Solano veterans with diplomas

School superintendent: Merlin Chestnut job never in jeopardy – Times-Herald

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By Richard Freedman

The outcry by supporters of Vallejo music icon Merlin Chestnut and alumni of his Solano Middle School music program is simply a misunderstanding, said Dr. Adam Clark, Vallejo City Unified School District superintendent.

A letter to the Times-Herald signed by about 200 people “dismayed to hear about the district’s current proposal to eliminate the music director position and the music program at Solano-Windemann” is inaccurate and based on Chestnut’s belief his 28-year stint guiding the middle school was over, Clark said by phone Thursday.

In an initial proposed budget to slice $6 million from a $15 million deficit, the band director position was listed. After considerable board input, that position remained intact “weeks ago,” Clark said. An updated budget released last Friday lists a band director position and $71,200 be on the budget hit list, but that was for the current position at Hogan and doesn’t impact Chestnut.

Source: School superintendent: Merlin Chestnut job never in jeopardy – Times-Herald

Veterans finally awarded high school diplomas – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Throughout the 20th century, millions of Americans answered the call to enlist during periods of war and risked their lives to defend their country.

This included numerous high schoolers who put on the uniforms and honorably served during conflicts but never received their diplomas.

For 11 veterans Thursday, they finally were given the high school diplomas they never received during their day. As part of the Solano County Office of Education’s Operation Recognition event, the awards were presented to the service members, with the family members of four deceased recipients accepting on their behalf.

Source: Veterans finally awarded high school diplomas – The Reporter

Solano County awards high school diplomas to 11 military veterans – Fox40 News

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By Lonnie Wong

It was a long time coming but 11 military veterans from Solano County were awarded their high school diplomas after their education was interrupted by their service.

Marine Corps veteran Luther Hendricks is amazingly spry for his 94 years and nothing was going to keep him away from getting an honorary high school diploma from the Solano County Office of Education in Fairfield.

“I’m amazed. I didn’t expect to get it,” he told FOX40.

Source: Solano County awards high school diplomas to 11 military veterans

VUSD hosts informational luncheon for realtors – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Vacaville Unified School District educated local realtors on what the district has to offer in VUSD’s first-ever Realtors’ Luncheon, held Wednesday at Travis Credit Union’s headquarters.

The luncheon was a way for VUSD officials to provide data for realtors to use as a selling point for families to purchase a home in Vacaville.

“We’re so excited because of our relationship that we’re making here today,” Elaine Kong, VUSD’s communications director, told the crowd.

Kong said it was an appropriate partnership because realtors are often the first points of contact for young families moving into the area and sending their children to Vacaville schools.

Source: VUSD hosts informational luncheon for realtors – The Reporter