When Schools Reopen, All Staff Should Wear Masks, New CDC Guidance Says – Education Week

By Evie Blad

Face masks would become common, cafeterias would be closed to prevent crowding, and extracurricular activities would be cancelled in areas heavily affected by the coronavirus, if schools adhere to new and long-awaited guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on reopening schools.

The guidance includes recommendations that could alter nearly every part of the school day, from bus rides to recess. And it could present major challenges to educators returning after a long period of remote learning.

The agency quietly posted the document this week after education groups complained that federal agencies had not provided enough clarity about how to safely operate schools during the pandemic. It comes as many states have already started the massive task of planning to reopen schools that were shuttered to contain the illness. Some states are assembling task forces to make plans for both academic and logistical issues associated with starting the new school year.

Source: When Schools Reopen, All Staff Should Wear Masks, New CDC Guidance Says – Politics K-12 – Education Week

Sorority seeks applicants for virtual high school graduation – Daily Republic

By Angela Jones

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Beta Omega Chapter in Vallejo is pleased to announce that applications are now available for the 2020 African American Graduation Recognition Celebration which will be presented as a virtual program. Interested high school seniors should contact their school counselor to obtain an application for participation instructions, or go to www.kappabetaomegaaka1974.com to apply online. All applications are due by Wednesday, May 13.

This is the 17th year that the chapter has sponsored the event will be livestreamed by the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Media Department on Sunday, June 7 at 4 p.m.

Source: Good News: Sorority seeks applicants for virtual high school graduation

Dixon school board to discuss timeline to procure furniture for middle school move – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

The Governing Board of the Dixon Unified School District will hear an update on the process to get furniture and equipment ready before the new John Knight Middle School opens in January.

John Knight Middle School, the new name for CA Jacobs Middle School, will be operating out of the old Dixon High School campus on East A Street.

The renovation of the old Dixon High campus to house DUSD’s lone middle school is one of the largest projects funded by Measure Q, a district improvement initiative approved by voters in 2016. The remodel was initially slated to be completed over the summer with middle schoolers starting at the new campus in the fall, but a delay in the final stages of renovation due to the coronavirus caused it to be pushed back to January.

Source: Dixon school board to discuss timeline to procure furniture for middle school move – The Reporter

Facebook groups help high school seniors get ‘adopted’ – Times-Herald

With the pandemic limiting high school graduations to very little pomp under a bad circumstance, getting “adopted” by a stranger puts a boost into the joy barometer, one American Canyon High School graduate confirmed.

Oh sure, Kaylee Davis was admittedly “kind of embarrassed,” stepping from her Vallejo home to see a Kona Ice truck and congratulatory cupcakes, not mention various food, beverages and bathroom essentials that previously arrived.

Still, “it’s kind of nice,” the 17-year-old said. “It is weird to have this much attention.”

Source: Facebook groups help high school seniors get ‘adopted’ [Times-Herald, Vallejo, Calif.]

Children at Suisun Elementary ready to build pinball machines, learn about cultures – Daily Republic

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

It was like a mini-Christmas in May on Monday for 79 children who attend Suisun Elementary School.

They are receiving STEM kits over the next few days thanks to the Suisun City Recreation Parks and Marina Department.

Davis Le, who is in the fourth grade, was one of the first to get a boxed kit from which he can make his own miniature pinball machine.

“It reminds me of the after-school program,” he said after picking up the kit at the Joseph A. Nelson Community Center.

Source: Children at Suisun Elementary ready to build pinball machines, learn about cultures

Vallejo High School seniors celebrated in drive thru event – Times-Herald

By Thomas Gase

It’s been a strange senior year for the Vallejo High class of 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic confining the students to distance learning and a life away from campus during the last two months.

On Friday, however, the Redhawks were welcomed back by teachers, counselors and other faculty with a very personalized greeting.

From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. the drive thru event took place in the parking lot in front of Bottari Gym and next to Corbus Field, as the seniors were given their cap and gowns as well as a personalized sign.

Source: Vallejo High School seniors celebrated in drive thru event – Times-Herald

Callison staff parades through neighborhoods to show appreciation for students – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Back to school” is not a phrase one associates with the middle of May, but at Jean Callison Elementary School, the phrase took on more meaning Friday.

Callison staff and Vacaville Unified School District bus drivers hosted a car parade, where teachers got to pass by students’ homes and wave from their vehicles. Additionally, former Callison students who are now graduating high school got to visit their old stomping grounds and cheer on the teachers who helped them out in their early years.

Callison’s PAWSOME Parade gave staff a chance to drive through neighborhoods within the school’s attendance boundaries. The parade was largely organized by Callison’s faculty as well as VUSD’s transportation department. Transportation Director Amanda Hightman said the department was planning its own parade at the end of the month for special needs students.

Source: Coronavirus: Callison staff parades through neighborhoods to show appreciation for students – The Reporter

Fairfield High seniors reunite, during cap-and-gown distribution event – Daily Republic

By Peter Fournier

Although it was just a time to pick up caps and gowns, the energy of a drive-through ceremony Friday for Fairfield High School seniors could have made previous graduating classes in some schools jealous and would put some class reunions to shame.

Horns, confetti, silly string and free pizza were among the things in the air out at the school parking lot just outside Schaefer Stadium, the perfect weather among the positives in the students’ first return to the campus grounds since schools were shuttered during the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic in mid-March.

The event, organized by school activities director and Social Science Department chairwoman Val Quijas, was only expected to draw a handful of staff members to the campus to assist.

Source: Fairfield High seniors reunite, prepare to say goodbye during cap-and-gown distribution event

VUSD plans virtual graduations for three high schools – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

With input from parents and students, Vacaville Unified leaders have settled on a two-part plan for 2020 graduations: virtual and in-person.

Like many California districts facing the same choices, made necessary by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the virtual graduations for three high schools will be in early June, Superintendent Jane Shamieh announced in a letter sent earlier this week to parents and graduating seniors.

The virtual graduations will be prerecorded and streamed online “for everyone to watch in the comfort of their own homes,” she wrote.

Source: VUSD plans virtual graduations for three high schools – The Reporter

Kairos board positions available – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

A “help wanted” sign is out at Kairos Public School Vacaville Academy.

The K-8 independent charter school’s board of directors, serving as the governing body for the Elm Street campus, has openings for two board positions, Jared Austin, school co-founder and executive director, wrote in an email on Wednesday.

General responsibilities for board members, who are unelected, can be found at the school’s website, www.kairospublicschools.org.

The board meets monthly to receive school reports and approve policies and procedures, Austin noted.

Source: Kairos board positions available – The Reporter

Vallejo school board tables vote on ‘anti-Jewish’ ethnic studies curriculum – J.weekly

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

During its regular meeting on May 6, Vallejo’s school board tabled a resolution in support of a draft of an ethnic studies curriculum deemed “anti-Jewish” by the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.

The resolution, titled “Affirming Support of AB 2016 California Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Draft,” was included on last week’s agenda after being introduced by the Vallejo City Unified School District’s superintendent, Adam Clark.

It was scuttled in a 5-0 vote.

AB 2016 is a 4-year-old piece of legislation, signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, mandating an ethnic studies curriculum be drafted as a guide for California high schools.

Source: Vallejo school board tables vote on ‘anti-Jewish’ ethnic studies curriculum – J.

Solano County Announces Teacher Of The Year | Benicia, CA Patch

By Maggie Fusek

Solano County Office of Education announced its 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year on Thursday. The honor goes to Katherine Reyes, who has worked for the Solano County Office of Education for 12 years and is the teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing —DHH — at Rodriguez High School in Fairfield.

Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson announced Reyes as teacher of the year during the Solano County Board of Education meeting held Wednesday night.

“Katherine is a great example of how teachers help our students learn, grow and thrive. Her tireless dedication makes a lasting impression on students’ lives,” Estrella-Henderson said. “My sincere appreciation and admiration to Katherine and each of the school district nominees for their admirable work in education.”

Source: Solano County Announces Teacher Of The Year | Benicia, CA Patch

SPI Issues Statement in Response to May Revise – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s revised budget for the fiscal year 2020–21:

“The COVID-19 crisis has had a disastrous impact on the state’s economy, and the updated projections today offer sobering details of that reality. I want to thank Governor Newsom for working hard to prioritize and preserve public education as one of the vital, core services we must protect as we weather this economic downturn. Today’s updated budget proposal includes a variety of measures designed to avoid permanent cuts to education, which otherwise could have lasting impacts on a generation of students.

“While the measures outlined in today’s proposal are far from what our schools need, we also understand that our state is facing impossible choices under impossible circumstances. I will continue to advocate on behalf of our students and educators through each step of the Legislature’s budget adoption process in the coming weeks.

Source: SPI Issues Statement in Response to May Revise – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

Clark sends out update to parents concerning graduations – Times-Herald

By Thomas Gase

With the coronavirus pandemic having already wiped out much of the school year, Vallejo City Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark sent out a message Wednesday afternoon updating anxious parents on issues such as graduation, summer school and the upcoming fall schedule.

Clark says that Vallejo, Jesse Bethel and John Finney Continuation High schools, as well as Vallejo Regional EC, will have virtual graduation ceremonies on the school’s original scheduled date and times. John Finney will have its ceremony on Wednesday, June 10 at 1:30 p.m., while Vallejo will have its own later that afternoon at 6:30 p.m. Bethel will celebrate on Thursday, June 11 at 1:30 p.m., while Vallejo Regional EC will have its own at noon on Friday, June 12.

Source: Coronavirus: Clark sends out update to parents concerning graduations – Times-Herald

VUSD plans virtual graduations for three high schools – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

With input from parents and students, Vacaville Unified leaders have settled on a two-part plan for 2020 graduations: virtual and in-person.

Like many California districts facing the same choices, made necessary by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, the virtual graduations for three high schools will be in early June, Superintendent Jane Shamieh announced in a letter sent earlier this week to parents and graduating seniors.

The virtual graduations will be prerecorded and streamed online “for everyone to watch in the comfort of their own homes,” she wrote.

Source: VUSD plans virtual graduations for three high schools – The Reporter

Fairfield educator known for ‘tireless dedication’ tapped as top in Solano – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

A Rodriguez High teacher for the deaf and hearing-impaired, an educator cited for her “tireless dedication,” has been named as Solano County’s Teacher of the Year for 2020-21.

Katherine Reyes heard her name called Wednesday night during a Solano County Board of Education meeting in Fairfield, where Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson also acknowledged that Reyes was the Solano County Office of Education’s Teacher of the Year.

In a press release, Ken Scarberry, the SCOE director of youth development, noted that Reyes has worked for the county office for 12 years. Besides being the teacher for the Fairfield school’s deaf and hearing-impaired students, she currently teaches English, mathematics, directed studies, transitional, and career development.

Source: Fairfield educator known for ‘tireless dedication’ tapped as top in Solano – The Reporter

Travis School Board member resigns after Army deployment – Daily Republic

Travis School District board member Adrian Saiz has resigned after being deployed by the U.S. Army, Board Superintendent Pam Conklin announced during Tuesday’s meeting.

Saiz was first appointed to the seat in November 2018. Running unopposed, Saiz was “appointed” to the board seat and resided on Travis Air Force Base.

Source: Travis School Board member resigns after Army deployment

DeVos Appoints New Director for English-Learner Office – Education Week

By Corey Mitchell

U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has appointed Lorena Orozco McElwain to lead the federal office for English-language-learner education, shaking up a long-standing tradition of selecting candidates with significant experience in bilingual or federal education policy.

While she once worked as a bilingual education teacher, McElwain, unlike her predecessors, made her mark as a high-ranking civil servant in several agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, Library of Congress, and U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Since 2018, she had served as a political appointee in the Agriculture Department.

McElwain succeeds José Viana, who left the post in December. Dating back to 2001, previous directors, including Viana, have come to the office directly from jobs tied to K-12 schools, academia, education advocacy, or within the federal Education Department.

Source: DeVos Appoints New Director for English-Learner Office – Politics K-12 – Education Week

Dixon Unified ‘campus leader’ named Solano’s school-support employee of the year – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

A Dixon Unified employee described as a “campus leader” has been named the Solano County classified employee of the year for 2020-21.

District leaders and Superintendent Brian Dolan, meeting Thursday, recognized Susana Perez as the Dixon Classified School Employee of the Year and Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson announced that Perez also was named the county’s top classified, or school-support, employee.

Ken Scarberry, director of youth development at the Solano County Office of Education in Fairfield, made the announcement in a press release.

Source: Dixon Unified ‘campus leader’ named Solano’s school-support employee of the year – The Reporter

Travis School District cafeteria fund nears zero amid school shutdowns – Daily Republic

By Peter Fornier

There’s one thing Travis School District officials may miss most at the end of year: their lunch money.

The district’s cafeteria fund was among several discussed during Tuesday night’s virtual school board meeting, which saw a review of the district’s third interim budget report. The report includes projections, as of April 30, for the current school year.

Source: Travis School District cafeteria fund nears zero amid school shutdowns