Monthly Archives: January 2022

Statement on Governor Newsom’s Proposed 2022-23 Budget – California Budget & Policy Center

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The California Budget & Policy Center, a nonpartisan, research and analysis nonprofit committed to advancing public policies that improve the lives of Californians, released the following statement from Executive Director Chris Hoene following the release of Governor Newsom’s proposed 2022-23 state budget:

“Urgent funding and support for the ongoing public health and economic needs of Californians as proposed by Governor Newsom are critical as each day shows us that COVID-19 and its consequences are far from over for children, families, workers, and adults of all ages. It’s fiscally prudent and essential for the governor and Legislature to use the state’s strong fiscal conditions to ensure every Californian — not just corporations and the wealthy — can be healthy and thrive.

Source: Statement on Governor Newsom’s Proposed 2022-23 Budget – California Budget & Policy Center

SPI Responds to Governor’s Proposed 2022 Budget – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed education budget for the fiscal year 2022–23:

“This once-in-a-lifetime pandemic has created extraordinary challenges for our students, families, and educators. We must now meet those challenges and continue to transform California schools. The Governor’s proposed budget will almost triple the amount of per-pupil investment from a decade ago and will allow the state to address historic inequities, learning loss, and the social-emotional needs of our students. I want to thank the Governor for the attention and focus on our students and schools in a time when we need all the resources possible to help students heal, recover, and thrive.

“As with last year, California continues to need increased investments in mental health to address the severe trauma our students have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which we know will have a lasting impact on their ability to learn and succeed through the rest of their lives. The Governor’s budget proposal aligns with and reflects many of the CDE’s priorities and my priorities.

Source: SPI Responds to Governor’s Proposed 2022 Budget – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

Vacaville trustees to hear updates on future growth, school facilities costs that approach $600M – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The school board will take a look Thursday at future school site projects that come with an estimated cost of nearly $600 million.

The chief facilities, maintenance and operations 0fficer, Daniel Banowetz, will present the final draft of the district’s five-year Master Facilities Plan – a program of work that inlcudes an educated wish list of sorts for future projects.

Vacaville-area voters passed Measure A in 2014, a $194 million general obligation bond, to pay for technology upgrades, facility renovations and new construction within the Vacaville School District.

Source: Vacaville trustees to hear updates on future growth, school facilities costs that approach $600M

Bay Area schools close due to staff shortages, high case rates – Times-Herald

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By Kayla Jimenez and Thomas Gase

In the midst of a tumultuous back-to-school week underscored by numerous COVID-19 cases that have led to half-empty classrooms, administrators filling in for absent teachers and long testing lines, at least one large school district and some private and charter schools are closing temporarily, and others around the Bay Area are scrambling to keep classrooms open.

West Contra Costa Unified School District announced that it is closing its 54 schools Friday and Monday after almost a fourth of the district’s students missed class this week. The district is also closing its three COVID testing sites on Monday. The district does not plan to offer online instruction during the temporary closure.

Caliber ChangeMakers Academy, a charter school system with two campuses located in Vallejo and Richmond, is closing those schools Friday, Monday and Tuesday. And officials at Bentley School, a private school in Oakland, announced they are closing indefinitely starting Thursday and making a full return to online learning.

Source: COVID: Bay Area schools close due to staff shortages, high case rates – Times-Herald

State’s schools risk ‘colossal’ loss of dollars as enrollment drops – Daily Republic

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By Joe Hong, CalMatters

As they await the release of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2022-23 state budget, school district officials across California are worried about losing millions of dollars all at once, resulting in staffing cuts in a time when students need more attention than ever.

After two years of not being penalized for declining enrollment during the pandemic, school districts are bracing for a sudden drop in revenues next year as their funding gets recalibrated to match current enrollment, which plummeted since Covid-19 first closed California’s schools.

“I’ve never ever seen a drop in enrollment come all at once like this,” said Andy Johnsen, superintendent at the San Marcos School District in north San Diego County. “The pandemic changed everything.”

Source: State’s schools risk ‘colossal’ loss of dollars as enrollment drops

CDE Releases Student Data for 2020-21 – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

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The California Department of Education (CDE) today released student performance data that provide baseline indicators of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted schools and students.

To prevent the spread of virus before development and widespread distribution of vaccines, most students learned from home for most of 2020–21 and returned to campuses in the spring either full-time or with hybrid (in-class and remote) instruction.

The 2020–21 data affirm both the challenges created by the pandemic and California’s commitment to helping students recover from COVID-19 via a bold slate of historic investments in student learning, health, and well-being. The $123.9 billion education package signed by Governor Newsom in July provides the highest level of K–12 funding in history, including the expansion of after-school and summer programs to accelerate learning and the creation of full-service community schools to address student mental health and wellness needs.

Source: CDE Releases Student Data for 2020-21 – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

Staffing shortages put pressure on Solano schools to stay open – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

The spike in omicron-driven coronavirus cases is putting pressure on schools as they work to keep their classrooms open.

“I don’t think we are at a point where we are closing schools,” said Jaden Baird, executive director of Community Engagement and Administrative Services for the Fairfield-Suisun School District.

Baird said as of Friday, 6% of the workforce was out. Hitting the district harder than missing teachers, however, are shortages in maintenance workers and bus drivers.

Source: Staffing shortages put pressure on Solano schools to stay open

Travis school board to consider new TK, special ed classroom materials – Daily Republic

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Trustees of the Travis School District will hear a presentation Tuesday on recommended instructional materials for children in transitional kindergarten and special education classes.

The presentation will be made by Sue Brothers, assistant superintendent of Educational Services, who will present information about the new curricula, “World of Wonders.”

Children throughout the district’s lower grades already make use of “World of Wonders.”

Source: Travis school board to consider new TK, special ed classroom materials

SCOE announces free threat assessment training – Daily Republic

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The Solano County Office of Education is sponsoring a course for educators and public safety on threat assessment, scheduled virtually from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Jan. 24 and Jan. 31.

The course will be led by Sgt. Jason Johnson of Campus Safety Consultations. There is no cost to participate in the online sessions.

Recognizing Signs of Targeted Violence is a course designed for the school site professional, administrator, academic counselor or mental health clinician who works directly with students.

Source: Solano County Office of Education announces free threat assessment training

Garamendi visits Suisun Valley K-8 School garden – Daily Republic

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Students at Suisun Valley K-8 School provided Rep. John Garamendi a tour of their farm-to-table experience Thursday.

Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, toured the school and was treated with a visit to the school’s garden, innovation lab and had a chance to sample the parsley pesto students made in honor of his visit.

Source: Garamendi visits Suisun Valley K-8 School garden

No vaccination deadline yet for Vallejo City Unified School District – Times-Herald

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By Matt O’Donnell

While some school districts have established deadlines for students to be vaccinated, the Vallejo City Unified School District continues to track state timelines, according to district spokesperson Stephen Nichols.

“We are aligning our timelines with the state’s timeline on student vaccine requirements that will be put into place once the FDA has given full (not emergency use) authorization for the vaccines,” Nichols wrote in an email.

Nichols said the district does not have data to share regarding the status of the student vaccination goal.

Source: No vaccination deadline yet for Vallejo City Unified School District – Times-Herald

Some local schools on pause this week for winter sports – Times-Herald

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By Matt O’Donnell

California has gone through some cold temperatures lately but a number of athletic programs are in the deep freeze this week.

The rise in COVID-19 cases across California and in Solano County continues to have an impact — as some high school and college sporting events were recently postponed.

Jesse Bethel, Vallejo and St. Patrick-St. Vincent high schools, all part of the Tri-County Athletic League, are on pause.

Source: Some local schools on pause this week for winter sports – Times-Herald

Vacaville High senior signs with Texas A&M for equestrian sports – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Corey Kirk

Decked out in crimson red, with some of her accolades laid out all around her, Vacaville High senior Kyla Jackson signed a letter of intent to compete in equestrian sports at Texas A&M.

Beaming with pride, her mother Maureen Jackson, sitting with her husband Mark, couldn’t have been any prouder of seeing their daughter accomplish a dream.

“When they made the offer it was absolutely fantastic,” Maureen Jackson said. “Kyla was the first western commit for A&M so that was just huge.”

Source: Vacaville High senior signs with Texas A&M for equestrian sports – The Vacaville Reporter

New Workgroup to Address School Staff Shortages – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced today the formation of a working group to address staff shortages being experienced in California schools. Schools across the country are seeing workforce shortages as is the case in every sector in the country due to the pandemic. California schools are struggling to find teachers, substitute teachers, bus drivers, and other staff during this period.

The workgroup will bring together school district leaders and representatives of associations that represent schools and staff including certificated staff, classified staff and administrators. Representatives from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) will also work with the group. The goal of the group will be to brainstorm strategies that can help schools increase staff size.

Source: New Workgroup to Address School Staff Shortages – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

SPI Lays Out Needed Resources for CA Schools – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today held a press conference at George Washington Preparatory High School, a site that also hosts a health clinic providing COVID-19 testing, vaccines, and boosters. There he outlined a number of key proposals to provide resources and supports to allow students to heal, recover, and thrive.

Thurmond began by addressing programs helping California schools get through this extremely difficult period of the pandemic, and that will transform California schools, including universal meals, universal transitional kindergarten for every four-year old, and universal expanded learning programs offering tutoring, mentoring, and coaching—because learning happens before school, during school, and after school.

“We are focused on recovery and dealing with impacts, but we cannot lessen our efforts to close the learning gaps that we were trying to close even before the pandemic,” said Thurmond. “We want to think about what we are going to do for California schools for the next several years to help them, and help our students to thrive.”

Source: SPI Lays Out Needed Resources for CA Schools – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

Wishes become schoolwide project at Orchard – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Making wishes for the new year is a tradition, but students at Orchard Elementary School are taking the concept a step further. Before 2022 began, they wrote their wishes for the year down on tags and have spent the past week tying them to the chain-linked fence in front of the school.

Now when students, parents, teachers or others pass by the fence, they will read what the Orchard Owls would like to see happen this year.

Principal Anne Silva said the idea came from a tree she had seen on a tree in San Ramon that had local elementary school students’ wishes written on tags attached to it. This activity itself was apparently inspired by “Wishtree,” Katherine Applegate’s novel about a neighborhood oak tree that people affix their wishes written on cloth to.

Source: Wishes become schoolwide project at Orchard – The Vacaville Reporter

SPI Announces Plan for Statewide Mentoring Program – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced plans to build a statewide mentoring program to help all California students and is calling for participation from mentoring organizations in the state that would like to be part of the initiative. The goal of the effort is to connect caring adult volunteers to California students who need extra support to be successful in school.

“When I first started thinking about running to become State Superintendent, I always thought that in order to close opportunity and achievement gaps, there needed to be a program to make sure no student falls through the cracks—a way to put individual focus on students who need additional help,” said Thurmond. ” I intended to pilot such a program when my term started, but that plan got pushed to the side when the pandemic began. I can see how a program like this is needed even more right now because of how the pandemic has impacted the learning and social-emotional needs of California students.”

Source: SPI Announces Plan for Statewide Mentoring Program – Year 2021 (CA Dept of Education)

Vacaville school board approves health and safety plans – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The Vacaville Unified school board approved an updated Health and Safety OSHA Covid-19 Prevention and Preparedness Program, as well as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief III Plan at Thursday night’s meeting.

This plan will be amended as public health conditions, orders or guidance change, according to a staff report to the board.

The plan includes for training and instructions of staff, and an employee and student health screening process. The district also has a plan for communicating to staff and parents on issues related to Covid.

Source: Vacaville school board approves health and safety plans

Jansen is new president of Vacaville school board – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

John Jansen on Thursday was unanimously voted to the position of board president for the Vacaville Unified School District.

Elected as vice president was Michael Kitzes,who completed his term as president at the same meeting. The new clerk for the upcoming year is Daniel Santellan.

Superintendent Jane Shamieh will be the board secretary.

Source: Jansen is new president of Vacaville school board

Smith named new president of FSUSD Governing Board – Daily Republic

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By Nicole Langarica

The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) Governing Board elected its new president and vice president for 2022 during its Organizational Meeting December 16, 2021.

Trustee Bethany Smith was selected as the new Governing Board President. “I am honored to have the support of my colleagues as we continue to navigate the challenges of the pandemic and address its impacts on students, staff, and our community,” remarked Smith. Board President Smith recognized and thanked outgoing President Jonathan Richardson for his leadership during a year that presented many challenges. Board Member Richardson will continue to serve the FSUSD community as a trustee.

Source: Press Release: Smith named new president of FSUSD Governing Board