Monthly Archives: April 2022

Glen Cove Community Association donates supplies to local elementary school – Times-Herald

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The Glen Cove Community Association donated $900 of equipment to Glen Cove Elementary School on Tuesday afternoon as part of its yearly donation to its local neighborhood school.

The President of the Glen Cove Community Association (GCCA) Joseph Hayden and Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) Board of Trustees and GCCA Board Member John Fox presented the items to Glen Cove Elementary Principal Christine Lucero.

“We are very thankful to the Glen Cove Community Association for reaching out and supporting our school,” Lucero said in a news release. “We hope to maintain a strong partnership with our community and neighbors. The items that the GCCA donated are already in use and will continue to support programming at Glen Cove Elementary for years to come. Thank you again to the GCCA!”

Source: Glen Cove Community Association donates supplies to local elementary school – Times-Herald

Jerry Eaton, former Vanden teacher, VUSD trustee and CTA official, dies – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Jerry Eaton, a former Vanden High teacher, former Vacaville Unified trustee and a California Teachers Association official, died Wednesday in Burlingame.

Neither the family nor CTA leaders gave a cause of death. His birthdate could not be confirmed at press time, but Eaton, a lifelong Californian widely regarded as a fierce advocate for students and educators as a longtime union activist and leader, was in his late 60s or early 70s.

News of his death shocked some employees Thursday at Vanden High in Fairfield.

Source: Jerry Eaton, former Vanden teacher, VUSD trustee and CTA official, dies – The Vacaville Reporter

Travis schools expanding transitional kindergarten program – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Sue Brothers, assistant superintendent for Educational Services at Travis School District, said transitional kindergarten will include all 4-year-olds by the 2024-25 school year.

She discussed the district’s draft plan for transitional kindergarten at Tuesday night’s meeting.

“Over the next few years, more students will become eligible,” Brothers said.

The plan currently serves 4-year-olds who turn 5 by Dec. 2. Over the next four years, age eligibility increases to include two more months of birthdays each year until all 4-year-olds are eligible by 2024-25.

Source: Travis schools expanding transitional kindergarten program

Travis district in need of teachers, other staffers – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The Travis School District does not have enough qualified teachers, and the board of trustees has declared a Declaration of Need.

The board declared at Tuesday night’s meeting that the schools have an insufficient number of certificated teachers who meet the district’s employment criteria for the positions.

The Declaration of Need allows the district to hire staff who are not yet fully credentialed.

Source: Travis district in need of teachers, other staffers

Headed to the state b-e-e – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Luke Reed tripped on the 11th word, “carcinogen,” which Avery Chizauskie aced, and then word pronouncer David McCallum said in a booming voice, “Let’s hear it for our top two spellers!”

Some 60 people in the audience applauded and Chizauskie, 12 and a sixth-grader at Browns Valley Elementary in Vacaville appearing to be in momentary shock, then flashed a smile as she was declared the first-place winner of the 46th Annual Solano County Spelling Bee Tuesday night in Vacaville.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said during a brief interview afterward, holding her hefty 2-foot-high trophy inside the Journey Downtown auditorium on Main Street, where the bee was held, as her parents, Tim and Samantha Chizauskie, looked on.

Source: Headed to the state b-e-e – The Vacaville Reporter

State, MADD, SADD launch youth drinking prevention campaign – Daily Republic

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A campaign designed to stop underage drinking, “Keep Youth Safe,” has been launched by the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Students Against Destructive Decisions are part of the campaign.

The state agency reported that 100 California teenagers died in alcohol-related crashes in 2019 and 2020.

“Protecting youth has always been a priority for ABC, and will continue to be a major emphasis,” Eric Hirata, director of the state agency, said in a statement. “We hope this message helps in preventing alcohol-related crashes and poisonings throughout the state.”

Source: State, MADD, SADD launch youth drinking prevention campaign

County’s top spellers compete for a berth in state tournament – The Vacaville Reporter

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Avery Chizauskie, 12, a sixth-grader at Browns Valley Elementary School reacts as she is declared the winner after correctly spelling the word “carcinogen” in the finals of the 2022 Solano County Spelling Bee Tuesday at Journey Downtown in Vacaville. Avery was one of 12 finalists who competed to be the county’s top spelling and a berth in the statewide tournament on May 14 in Stockton. For a story on the winners and more photos from the spelling bee.

Source: Photo: County’s top spellers compete for a berth in state tournament – The Vacaville Reporter

Always Something To Celebrate – Times-Herald

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Parents and community members celebrated students’ achievements and viewed their projects online during the Virtual Science and Engineering Fair, March 17, followed by a virtual awards ceremony.

“The Science and Engineering Fair is an excellent opportunity for our elementary, middle, and high school students to apply science and engineering skills to investigate problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and develop intelligent conclusions. Through this event, we hope to inspire more students to consider a career in science, engineering, or a related field,” said Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson.

Source: April 14 Vallejo/Vacaville Arts and Entertainment Source: Always Something To Celebrate – Times-Herald

Final round of Solano County Spelling Bee is Tuesday – Daily Republic

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Twelve fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders from across Solano County will compete Tuesday in the final round of the Solano County Elementary School Spelling Bee.

The event will start at 6 p.m. at Journey Downtown Coffee, 308 Main St. in Vacaville. The top two spellers will advance to the state competition May 14 in Stockton.

The initial round of the county competition was held March 27 with the top 12 moving on to the final round. There were 79 participants in the preliminary competition.

Source: Final round of Solano County Spelling Bee is Tuesday

CDE: Enrollment data shows fifth year of decline in K-12 schools – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

For the fifth time in as many years, California’s K-12 schools show dips in enrollments, deepened in part by “two challenging years” of the COVID-19 pandemic, state education officials said.

In its annual snapshot of fall enrollment, the state Department of Education on Monday released public school enrollment data for the current academic year, showing declines that “are consistent with national data trends,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said in a press release.

He noted the declines began before the pandemic and are projected to continue into the future and called the information “crucial to understanding how best to plan for a robust recovery in years ahead.”

Source: CDE: Enrollment data shows fifth year of decline in K-12 schools – The Vacaville Reporter

Vanden High’s Tristin Castro ready to fight back cancer diagnosis – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Corey Kirk

Sitting in NorthBay’s VacaValley Hospital Emergency Room with his parents, 16-year-old Tristin Castro waiting anxiously for doctors to enter.

On the cusp of joining his friends on the Vanden Vikings varsity baseball team, Tristin originally had his sights set on another high school baseball season. However, those plans were dashed after he heard the three-word phrase no one could prepare for.

Source: Vanden High’s Tristin Castro ready to fight back cancer diagnosis – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield-Suisun board approves nearly $2.3M in school project bids – Daily Republic

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The Fairfield-Suisun School District board last week accepted bids totaling more than $2.29 million for a variety of campus improvement projects.

That included a $1.1 million bid awarded to JPB Designs Inc. of Sacramento to install shade structures at the H. Glenn Richardson Education Complex, the Matt Garcia Career and College Academy and at Armijo High School.

The Armijo project connects the structure to the school’s Career Technical Education program by providing outdoor classroom space next to the welding classroom, the district reported.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun board approves nearly $2.3M in school project bids

Play equipment being replaced throughout Fairfield-Suisun School District – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The Fairfield-Suisun School District is working to complete playground equipment replacement at all of its schools.

Several parents and children were upset to see the old equipment scheduled for removal at the Tolenas Academy of Music in Fairfield and came to the school board meeting Thursday to discuss it.

Darren Maniloft came to the meeting on behalf of his son, DJ Maniloft, who is in first grade at the Tolenas. He said his son wishes the school wouldn’t tear down his friend’s playground.

Source: Play equipment being replaced throughout Fairfield-Suisun School District

Buckingham vendor fair helps support teachers and students – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

McKayla Klein brought her handmade jewelry collection to the vendor fair to help support her school, Buckingham Charter on Saturday.

The seventh-grader began making jewelry for Girl Scouts and found it so relaxing she just couldn’t stop creating.

Last year she began selling her creations at craft fairs with the help of her parents.

Source: Buckingham vendor fair helps support teachers and students

Vacaville Students Compete To Be Top Speller – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Joel Rosenbaum

Avery Chizauskie of Browns Valley Elementary School pauses as she works out how to spell the word, “faint,” during the second round in the Elementary School division in the 2022 Grace B. Powell Citywide Spelling Bee Wednesday in the Catwalk Theater at Will C. Wood High School. Avery was one of nearly 55 students from around Vacaville vying to be crowned the city’s top speller. For a full story and more images from the competition, see Friday’s Reporter or online later today at thereporter.com.

Source: Photo: Vacaville Students Compete To Be Top Speller – The Vacaville Reporter

County educators, students bring awareness to National Child Abuse Prevention Month – Daily Republic

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By Matt Miller

Blue and gray pinwheels were planted in the front lawn of the Vacaville Police Station on Merchant Street early Wednesday morning to represent local victims of child abuse.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Solano County Office of Education’s Solano Youth Coalition Family Justice Committee joined SCOE staff members and Vacaville police representatives for the event.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect. The campaign puts focus on prevention services and support to help protect children and produce thriving families, officials said.

Source: County educators, students bring awareness to National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Campus improvements considered by Fairfield-Suisun school trustees – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The Fairfield-Suisun school board on Thursday will consider bids for the exterior painting at Suisun Elementary and H. Glenn Richardson schools as part of a number of campus improvement projects.

The board also will consider bids for the relocation of the playground at Mary Bird to prepare the site for a new classroom and kitchen building currently in design, the board documents states.

The district has solicited bids for the installation of a shade structure at H. Glenn Richardson and Matt Garcia Career & College Academy and two shade structures at Armijo High School.

Source: Campus improvements considered by Fairfield-Suisun school trustees

Dr. Latyna Young named Marguerite P. LaMotte School Board Member of the Year – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

It’s been 55 years since Dr. Latyna Young graduated from Vallejo High, but her goals and focus remain the same.

At a recent 50th anniversary party for the VHS Class of 1967, a friend came up to Young and showed her the yearbook.

“She’s going through the pages and says, ‘Latyna, you’re the only one who knew your vision and your way.” I told her, ‘You bet, I had it all lined up,’” Young said.

Source: Dr. Latyna Young named Marguerite P. LaMotte School Board Member of the Year – Times-Herald

Blue pinwheels spotlight child abuse awareness – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Kimberly K. Fu

An azure wave swept Vacaville early Wednesday, each shimmering drop a representation of the sea of child abuse reported in the community and beyond.

The “Paint the Community Blue” event — a partnership of the Solano County Office of Education, Solano Youth Coalition and the City of Vacaville — aimed to highlight the problem during Child Abuse Awareness Month.

Speakers acknowledged the issue and urged attendees to act should they “See something, say something.”

Source: Blue pinwheels spotlight child abuse awareness – The Vacaville Reporter

Supervisors finalize ARPA funding support for business, workforce needs – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

The Solano County Board of Supervisors, following up on previous action, formally allocated $4.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for a variety of business and workforce programs.

The board approved $736,455 to the Workforce Development Board of Solano County and the Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center so those agencies could continue delivering services to their clients.

The supervisors also approved $3 million to start a Solano County Housing Trust Fund, $600,000 to support the Parkside Flats affordable housing development in Fairfield; $250,000 for housing counseling contract services, and $215,000 to the Habitat for Humanity for its housing project in Fairfield.

Source: Supervisors finalize ARPA funding support for business, workforce needs