Monthly Archives: July 2020

Some Solano school districts lay out plans to reopen, others are pending – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to surge across the state and nation, some Solano school districts have laid out plans to reopen, which may change with updates of pandemic data and county public health directives.

The key question for school district leaders and teachers is balancing the need to bring students back into classrooms while also enforcing strict safety protocols to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, which has infected more than 2,000 and killed nearly 30 Solano County residents.

At the same time, parents, teachers and trustees have mixed reactions to plans from districts — such as Vacaville Unified — that want to begin classroom instruction in mid-August using the so-called “hybrid model.” This calls for two different groups of students to receive in-person instruction on rotating days, Mondays and Wednesdays and Tuesdays and Thursdays, for example, with one or more days devoted to distance learning.

Source: Some Solano school districts lay out plans to reopen, others are pending – The Reporter

DeVos Provides Little Clarity on School Reopening Push – Education Week

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By Evie Blad

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos brought little clarity to the Trump administration’s aggressive push to reopen schools in a pair of television interviews Sunday.

Pressed on how schools in areas with high rates of the coronavirus should protect children and communities, she provided few details. Also unclear: the details of repeated threats made by DeVos and President Donald Trump to withhold federal funds from schools that don’t reopen, and exactly what a satisfactory school reopening would look like.

The interviews—on CNN’s State of the Union and Fox News Sunday—come as school administrators plan for health precautions, partial online learning to ease crowding in school buildings, and, in some areas, continued remote learning in response to surging virus rates. This week, Vice President Mike Pence also said schools shouldn’t use guidance on reopenings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—later criticized by Trump— as an excuse to keep their buildings closed.

Source: DeVos Provides Little Clarity on School Reopening Push – Politics K-12 – Education Week

All California community colleges, including Solano, move sports to the spring – Times-Herald

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By Matt O’Donnell

The fall sports slate at Solano Community College is totally blank. On the other hand, the spring sports schedule could be booked almost every day of the week.

The California Community College Athletic Association announced that all its sports — even the socially-distanced friendly ones — will be played in the calendar year of 2021. The CCCAA features 110 colleges throughout the state and approximately 24,000 athletes.

“To be frank, I am not surprised, in light of the spikes of COVID cases,” said Solano Athletic Director Erik Visser. “Once you saw those spikes, we’d be taking a big chance competing in the fall. I am glad that we now have some clarity.”

Source: All California community colleges, including Solano, move sports to the spring – Times-Herald

Youth create rockets, planets at Space Adventure Camp in Vacaville – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Going to space has been on a lot of people’s minds recently, likely due to the SpaceX launch.

Not everyone is willing to undergo the extensive training to be sent into orbit, though, so the next best thing? Looking to Vacaville’s center of imagination: Imagine That!

The interactive science and art center is in the midst of its Space Adventure Camp, where youngsters have been putting their creative skills to use by creating spaceships, planets and alien blasters, all while learning lessons about the Milky Way and the planets therein.

Source: Youth create rockets, planets at Space Adventure Camp in Vacaville – The Reporter

California teachers union pushes back on reopening schools | abc10.com

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By Van Tieu

California reported its highest single-day count of coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, July 8, a grim milestone reflective of the easing of the state’s stay-at-home restrictions. But as cases continue to rise across the state, having almost reached 300,000 cases, school districts are scrambling to prepare for the fall.

The struggle to reopen districts comes as President Donald Trump pushes for schools to open doors despite nationwide spikes in coronavirus cases largely due to the relaxing of guidelines against the wishes of many of the country’s top health professionals.

“We’re very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools, to get them open,” Trump said at the White House on Tuesday. “It’s very important. It’s very important for our country. It’s very important for the well-being of the student and the parents. So we’re going to be putting a lot of pressure on: Open your schools in the fall.”

Source: California teachers union pushes back on reopening schools | abc10.com

CDC to revise school reopening guidance – Daily Republic

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will release updated guidelines for reopening schools during the Covid-19 pandemic, Vice President Mike Pence announced Wednesday, after President Donald Trump said he disagreed with guidance from his own administration for doing so.

In a series of tweets Wednesday morning, Trump threatened to cut off federal funding for schools if they do not open this fall and said he disagreed with the CDC’s “very tough & expensive guidelines.”

Speaking alongside the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Pence said he had spoken with Trump about the issue and the administration hoped to partner with school districts to work toward returning students to the classroom.

Source: CDC to revise school reopening guidance

Local high school football programs moving forward – The Reporter

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By Matt Sieger

Education Week reported that schools in at least 11 states suspended high school sports activities in June after players or coaches tested positive for coronavirus amid a resurgence of cases across the United States.

Games, practices or training and conditioning sessions have been suspended in parts of Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and Texas just weeks after schools reopened athletic facilities for students and coaches.

Close to home, on July 5 Dixon High School suspended its athletic activities. The school issued a press release stating, “Based upon recent COVID 19 cases locally and information from the state, we have to suspend workouts for Dixon High School athletics. We expect to hear from the county health office early in the week. We will be in touch as soon as we have county approval.”

Source: Local high school football programs moving forward – The Reporter

Vacaville school board approves hybrid reopening model – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Like everything else, Vacaville public schools will feel very different when classes resume in the fall.

The Vacaville school board voted 4-3 to approve a reopening plan where 50 percent of students receive in-person, on-campus instruction on certain days of the week and continue with the distance learning model on other days at a special meeting Tuesday.

In March, Vacaville Unified School District followed other school districts in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic by closing campuses and allowing students to continue their education through take-home packets and learning online. The closure was initially intended to last two weeks but continued through the remainder of the school year.

Source: Coronavirus: Vacaville school board approves hybrid reopening model – The Reporter

Seeking guidance for reopening schools? | EdSource

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Across California, school districts, county offices of education and the state are planning how to reopen schools in the fall to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff. Scroll down to view guidance documents issued by the California Dept of Education, county offices of education and other agencies and organizations. We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available.

Source: Seeking guidance for reopening schools? | EdSource

SSPI Announces Tool for Assessing Student Learning – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced today that the California Department of Education (CDE) has released a new implementation tool on diagnostic and formative assessments as a resource for schools. Being able to identify where students are in their learning within key content areas when they return to school would support educators moving forward as they teach students who missed months of in-class instruction.

The new document—titled “Implementation Tool: Guidance on Diagnostic and Formative Assessments”—offers many tools and strategies for taking a snapshot of students’ learning, but none of the assessments are required.

“Due to the school closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, we all have concerns about learning gaps and share educators’ desires to have useful diagnostic assessments when students return,” Thurmond said. “This has especially impacted our most disadvantaged and vulnerable students, many of whom lack access to the technology needed for distance learning. Our set of resources offers multiple ways to measure a student’s learning without exacerbating the trauma they have experienced in recent months, while providing tools educators need to accelerate learning.”

Source: SSPI Announces Tool for Assessing Student Learning – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

What state’s budget means for K-12 schools – Daily Democrat

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By Ricardo Cano

California’s new budget provides enough funding for schools to pivot to hybrid learning when they reopen this fall. But school officials fear Sacramento’s decision to delay cuts could throw districts into the fiscal abyss later.

The $202 billion budget Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Monday largely keeps intact funding for California’s public schools, capping a turbulent couple months of budget negotiations.

Initially, schools were in line to receive a steady increase in funding when the governor introduced his January proposal, with money going to long-term efforts to expand early childhood programs and other targeted efforts, including grants to incentivize educators to teach in low-income schools.

Source: What state’s budget means for K-12 schools – Daily Democrat

Retired teacher throws hat into Vacaville’s District 6 ring – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

Longtime Vacaville resident Jeanette Wylie has been holding what she calls “listening on the lawn” sessions as part of her campaign for the City Council.

Wylie, 65, is seeking the District 6 seat. Appointed Councilman Raymond Beaty, who is serving as vice mayor, is the incumbent living in the district. The election is for a two-year term, with four-year terms beginning in 2022.

Wylie, a retired teacher, likes the new format that increased the council from five members to seven, including six members who represent specific districts, and the mayor’s post, which is elected on a citywide vote.

Source: Retired teacher throws hat into Vacaville’s District 6 ring

Small California school districts face overwhelming challenges to reopen schools – The Reporter

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By Diana Lambert

California’s smallest school districts face big hurdles in planning for next school year. Some small districts don’t have enough computers or reliable internet service in their communities to provide distance learning to all their students and many don’t have enough money to reopen campuses without difficulty, according to a survey of 185 superintendents.

The Small School Districts’ Association surveyed superintendents of school districts with fewer than 2,500 students to learn how successful they were at implementing distance learning after schools closed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. They also wanted to determine the problems each would have in reopening schools.

Source: Small California school districts face overwhelming challenges to reopen schools – The Reporter

School superintendent bids farewell to Vallejo – Times-Herald

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By Richard Freedman

The man who “changed the culture” of the Vallejo City Unified School District, pared $15 million from a budget deficit, helped get a bond passed, and steered 11,000 students and families through the rough waters of COVID-19, has resigned.

Dr. Adam Clark, the district’s superintendent since 2017, has accepted the same position with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District.

Clark confirmed his pending move late Tuesday. It was confirmed by school board president John Fox following a Wednesday special meeting.

Source: School superintendent bids farewell to Vallejo – Times-Herald

Task Force on Safe Schools Address School Reform – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today convened a hearing that took a comprehensive look at the role of police officers in schools and the impact that law enforcement presence has on students, learning, and campus safety. The hearing was a three-part panel discussion that examined: different models of school policing, research and data on the impact and consequences of police officers in schools, and a framework for potential policy recommendations for reimagining school safety.

An archived broadcast of today’s hearing can be found on the California Department of Education (CDE) Facebook page External link opens in new window or tab.

As many school districts re-examine the role and impacts of police on their campuses, Tuesday’s Task Force on Safe Schools hearing was the first step to address these issues on a statewide level and within the context of equity and racial justice.

Source: Task Force on Safe Schools Address School Reform – Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

PG&E offers STEM scholarships – Daily Republic

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By Daily Republic Staff

Twenty $10,000 scholarships and 20 scholarships worth $2,500 are being offered to students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering or math.

The scholarships are being offered by the Pacific Gas & Electric company and its foundation.

Applications are open to graduating high school seniors, current college students, veterans and adults returning to school who are PG&E customers at the time of application. Applicants must plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study for the entire 2020-21 academic year and be seeking their first undergraduate degree at an accredited four-year institution in California.

Source: PG&E offers STEM scholarships

Changes ahead when schools start in Vallejo – Times-Herald

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By Richard Freedman

One thing students, teachers and parents can expect when the next school year opens in Vallejo: What’s expected today might be different than what’s expected, say, tomorrow.

The date, however, appears to be in granite instead of COVID-19-changes-everything mush.

“It’s fluid. But no matter what — whether we’re having all students back for face-to-face instruction or it means a hybrid model of half-back and the others at home receiving distance learning — no matter what, we’ll start on Aug. 17,” said school superintendent Dr. Adam Clark.

Source: Changes ahead when schools start in Vallejo – Times-Herald

Vallejo superintendent: Resource officers much needed – Times-Herald

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BY Richard Freedman

In the wake of George Floyd’s death and magnifying glass-like scrutiny of law enforcement, many school districts across the country debate whether to eliminate police officers on campus.

In Vallejo, school superintendent Dr. Adam Clark believes it’s a bad move — at least here.

“I’ve watched closely … two sides to the argument … and I get both sides,” Clark said. “But we’ve had a wonderful relationship with the VPD. They’ve been very supportive. I don’t feel they’ve overstepped their boundary in any way and we work collaboratively to meet the needs of our community. I believe we have the same goals for our students.”

Source: Vallejo superintendent: Resource officers much needed – Times-Herald