Monthly Archives: August 2021

Trustees hear update for monitoring health of students, staff, as start of school year nears – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Trustees who govern the public schools in Fairfield and Suisun City got a final update Thursday on safety and other measures related to the pandemic as campuses prepare to reopen.

Superintendent Kris Corey went over new and updated policies for handling the health of students and staff.

The Fairfield-Suisun School District will adhere to the most recent guidance from the California Department of Public Health. That guidance includes requirements related to wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing, ventilation, hygiene practices, cleaning, food services and school visitors.

Source: Trustees hear update for monitoring health of students, staff, as start of school year nears

Cynthia Preuss appointed as Coordinator of Educational Services – Daily Republic

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By Kris Corey

The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District’s Governing Board at its August 12, 2021 meeting, affirmed Cynthia Preuss as the newest Coordinator of Educational Services. Preuss brings a wealth of knowledge from her years of experience serving as a Principal of a K-8 school, Coordinator of the Office of Exceptional Children, and Coordinator of Special Education. In these positions and in other various leadership roles, Ms. Pruess has gained extensive knowledge and expertise in supporting students and their families. She has a proven track record in collaborating with K-12 principals to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal guidelines, regulations, and requirements in regard to Special Education.

Source: Press Release: Cynthia Preuss appointed as Coordinator of Educational Services

FSUSD Appoints Denise Davis to the role of Transportation Coordinator – Daily Republic

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By Kris Corey

Denise Davis’ selection as Transportation Coordinator was affirmed by Fairfield-Suisun Unified Governing Board last night at the August 12, 2021 Governing Board meeting.

Davis’ extensive experience within FSUSD quickly propelled her to the top of a pool of qualified applicants. For the past decade, Davis has served the District as the Transportation Dispatcher and overall, Davis has served the district in various positions for 22 years.

Source: Press Release: FSUSD Appoints Denise Davis to the role of Transportation Coordinator

FSUSD Governing Board Takes Action to Relocate and Expand Dual Immersion Program – Daily Republic

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By Kris Corey

At the August 12, 2021 meeting, The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District Governing Board approved the relocation of the popular Dual Immersion Program. The District’s Dual Immersion program, serving TK-5th grade students, will move from the B. Gale Wilson campus to the Sullivan site beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. B. Gale Wilson will continue to house middle school Dual Immersion program and serve as a feeder school to the Sullivan program.

The potential relocation of the Dual Immersion program has been discussed for a number of years. At a 2019 Special Board Meeting, the Governing Board discussed the Facilities Subcommittee’s recommendation to move the Dual Immersion Program. Relocating Dual Immersion will allow for expansion of the program and the potential for adding an additional language of study. To accommodate for the move, construction has started at the Sullivan campus to adequately serve elementary students. The projects include a new parking lot, reconfiguration of space to a library, playground structures, administrative offices, and additional restrooms.

Source: Press Release: FSUSD Governing Board Takes Action to Relocate and Expand Dual Immersion Program

FSUSD Governing Board affirms appointment of new Director of Purchasing and Contract Services – Daily Republic

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By Kris Corey

The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District’s Governing Board affirmed the appointment of Melissa Mata as Director of Purchasing and Contract Services. She will assume the position, effective immediately, that was vacated with the recent promotion of Amanda Rish to Director of Fiscal Services.

Mata has worked for FSUSD in various capacities for the past six years. She has served as a Secretary II, Bilingual Secretary III, and Administrative Assistant for the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services. In each role, Mata has taken on more responsibility to grow within the district. The experience gained in her prior roles will provide the needed background and skills to excel in this new position.

Source: Press Release: Governing Board affirms appointment of new Director of Purchasing and Contract Services

Monica Gonzalez affirmed FSUSD Child Nutrition Manager – Daily Republic

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By Kris Corey

The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District appointed Monica Gonzalez Child Nutrition Manager at the August 12, 2021 Governing Board meeting. Gonzalez’s six years of experience with FSUSD’s Child Nutrition Department with growing responsibilities underscores her commitment to serving the students in the District.

“Monica is excellent at always maintaining a professional and polite demeanor,” explained former Child Nutrition Manager, Eliza Kondo. “Monica has gained experience working in school nutrition and demonstrated determination to quickly learn federal and state regulations and department policies.”

Source: Press Release: Monica Gonzalez affirmed FSUSD Child Nutrition Manager

Premier Start Kicks Off the School Year for FSUSD – Daily Republic

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By Kris Corey

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) welcomed 86 new teachers to the district during its “Premier Start” event held August 2, 3, and 10 at Grange Middle School. New teachers were led through the “nuts and bolts” pertaining to the district by resident experts and fellow teachers Kristy Love, Jessica Villanueva, and Nickole Dauer.

During the 3-day training, the new teachers to the district learned strategies to help them best serve FSUSD students. Given the extensive use of technology in FSUSD classrooms, teachers learned about online teaching tools and strategies to support positive digital citizenship practices.

Source: Press Release: Premier Start Kicks Off the School Year for FSUSD

Shabana Johnson appointed as AP of Dan O. Root K-8 Academy – Daily Republic

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By Kris Corey

Following a rigorous recruitment and selection process, in which multiple highly qualified candidates were screened, the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District affirmed Shabana Johnson as Assistant Principal of Dan O. Root Health and Wellness Academy effective immediately.

No stranger to FSUSD, Johnson has spent the last three years as a sixth grade teacher at Grange Middle School. Before her service at Grange, she taught for fifteen years as an elementary teacher in West Contra Costa Unified School District.

Source: Press Release: Shabana Johnson appointed as AP of Dan O. Root K-8 Academy

VCUSD will follow Newsom’s mandate on teachers, staff – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Matt O’Donnell

When the Vallejo City Unified School District opens for school on Monday, it won’t be business as usual.

After a mandate from Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, teachers and other personnel will be required to be vaccinated or test negative for the coronavirus on a weekly basis.

California will be the first state in the country to require this mandate for public schools. Many of the state’s 6.1 million students are returning to classrooms for the fall term amid a sharp rise in infections, partially due to the Delta variant.

Source: Vallejo City Unified School District will follow Newsom’s mandate on teachers, staff – The Vacaville Reporter

VUSD students back on campus, excited to learn – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Familiar feelings were experienced throughout Vacaville Unified School District on its first day of school Thursday: excitement, nervousness, wonderment and even relief.

Eighteen months after being closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, kids were back on campus full time and no longer behind a computer screen. The only major difference from the first day of school two years ago was that students and staff were masked up, as is the requirement for indoors, but the feeling was otherwise a sense of a return to normalcy.

This was especially evident at Cooper Elementary School, where first-year Principal Samantha Chizauskie expressed how excited she was.

Source: VUSD students back on campus, excited to learn – The Vacaville Reporter

CA Gov. Newsom extends statewide vaccine or test order to teachers – The Vacaville Reporter

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By John Woolfolk

California will be the first state in the country to require public school teachers and staff to either be vaccinated or tested weekly for COVID-19, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday as many of the state’s 6.1 million students return to classrooms for the fall term amid a sharp rise in infections.

“We think this right thing to do and a sustainable way to keep schools open,” Newsom said at a news conference at Carl B. Munck Elementary School in Oakland.

The new policy for school staff will take effect Aug. 12, and schools must be in full compliance by Oct. 15. Free testing is available to schools through the state’s K-12 school testing program.

Source: California Gov. Gavin Newsom extends statewide vaccine or test order to teachers – The Vacaville Reporter

Markham, Cooper schools welcome new principals – The Vacaville Reporter

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Wednesday marks the start of a new school year in Vacaville and at two elementary schools, new leadership.

Amye Scott has been named principal at Markham Elementary School and Samantha Chizauskie will take the reins at Cooper Elementary School.

Scott, from West Park Elementary School in the Napa Valley School District, succeeds Jose Bermudez.

She has 25 years of experience as an educator and administrator. She has experience in implementing AVID, trauma informed practices and targeted interventions to remove barriers for all learners. She was the induction program lead trainer and instructional coach for 12 years.

Source: Markham, Cooper schools welcome new principals – The Vacaville Reporter

Masked and ready, Dixon students, staff return to in-person learning – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

For the first time in nearly 18 months, Dixon Unified students, from kindergarteners to high school seniors, returned to full-time in-person learning Wednesday morning with teachers, staff and students masking up amid the ongoing pandemic.

The day came and went for the 3,100-students as California became the first state in the nation to mandate all teachers and school staff be vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. Announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the new requirement, prompted by a surge in infections due to the Delta variant, affects some 320,000 California public school teachers and tens of thousands support staffers.

Source: Masked and ready, Dixon students, staff return to in-person learning – The Vacaville Reporter

Energy abounds as Foxboro returns for in-person learning – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

The first day of school marks a new beginning for every student. On Wednesday, the first day at Foxboro Elementary School represented something more: A return to full-time, in-person learning.

In that sense, it was a new start that also invoked feelings of past first days of school back when students could meet on campus.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Travis Unified School District joined other districts in closing campuses to stop the spread of the virus. In March of this year, schools reopened for a hybrid model. With restrictions loosened by the state back in June, Travis schools are now open full time with modifications.

Source: Energy abounds as Foxboro returns for in-person learning – The Vacaville Reporter

Local high school football teams get back to work – Times-Herald

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By Matt O’Donnell

For the first time in the history of the school, Jesse Bethel High football players were welcomed to official practice on Monday by a different voice.

It was no longer from the stern and wise-cracking Jeff Turner. Instead, the instructions and expectations came from cerebral new head coach Daniel Martinez.

Martinez was officially hired in June to replace Turner, the Jaguars’ first and only head coach since the school opened its doors in 1998. Turner stepped down after his team beat Vallejo 14-7 in the Mayor’s Cup on April 17.

Source: Local high school football teams get back to work – Times-Herald

Grange Middle School latest site for Covid vaccine clinic – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Schools in the city are gearing up for the new school year but this time with a twist: Covid vaccines are being offered along with Tdap shots for students – at local campuses.

Touro University California along with Solano County Health Services came out Monday to Grange Middle School for the 26th vaccination clinic in the county, Touro College of Pharmacy graduate Fatima Hernandez said.

Students could get both their tetanus, diptheria and pertussis – better known as whooping cough – vaccination if needed, along with a Covid-19 vaccine if they were 12 or older.

Source: Grange Middle School latest site for Covid vaccine clinic

Vacaville district ready to open new school year amid new pandemic ‘normal’ – Daily Republic

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By Matt Miller

Vacaville School District Superintendent Jane Shamieh said Tuesday that “this return to a ‘new normal,’ ” but fully in-person school year has been a long time coming.

The district has been working since the end of the previous school year in June to make in-person learning possible.

More than 8,100 students will return Thursday to the nine elementary schools, one K-8, two middle schools, five high school teaching environments and one adult school, except for those few who opted out and chose an independent study program.

Source: Vacaville district ready to open new school year amid new pandemic ‘normal’

Vaca’s Cooper, Markham have new principals – Daily Republic

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The Vacaville School District has announced new two principals for the new school year at both Cooper Elementary School and at Edwin Markham Elementary.

Samantha Chizauskie is the new principal at Cooper. Amye Scott has been named the new principal of Edwin Markham.

Chizauskie joins the district after serving at Foxboro Elementary School in the Travis School District. She succeeds former Cooper Elementary School principal La Tonya Cruthird.

Source: Vaca’s Cooper, Markham have new principals

New preschool center named for longtime VUSD educator, principal, trustee – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

First, consider her family’s history, a family of teachers that stretches back nearly 100 years in Vacaville.

Second, consider her resume, packed with references to pioneering teaching strategies and programs that continue to thrive and a history of mentoring staff and students.

And third, this consideration: After many years of teaching, leading schools and later serving as a district trustee and continues to do so, Shelley Dally was honored Thursday by the Vacaville Unified governing board, which, on a unanimous vote, named a new early learning center after her.

Source: New preschool center named for longtime VUSD educator, principal, trustee – The Vacaville Reporter

VUSD gearing up for return to in-person classes – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

The return to school is always an eventful experience. At Vacaville Unified School District, which resumes classes Thursday, this is more true than ever.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Vacaville schools have been largely closed for in-person learning, with educators shifting to a virtual format through sites like Zoom. The district adopted a hybrid schedule starting in March, and now with eased statewide restrictions, students will be returning to campus full time for in-person learning, with modifications mostly centered around the wearing of masks indoors.

“It’s really been very positive because it’s so much more like a regular year than we did last year,” Ed Santopadre, associate superintendent of educational services, said.

Source: VUSD gearing up for return to in-person classes – The Vacaville Reporter