Academy of 21st Century Learning promotes love of books – The Vacaville Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Reading is a powerful experience. Books can take readers to different worlds, engross them in a range of stories and broaden their horizons.

Unfortunately, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 21% of adults have low literacy skills.

One of the Academy of 21st Century Learning’s goals is to bring that number down by promoting a passion for reading among its students early on, and one of the Vacaville private school’s avenues for doing just that is through its annual Literacy Awareness Night.

Source: Academy of 21st Century Learning promotes love of books – The Vacaville Reporter

2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Announced – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today congratulated 29 California schools that have been chosen as 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools. This prestigious award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that close achievement and opportunity gaps and where students achieve high learning standards.

“Congratulations to the students, educators, families, and educators that make up these outstanding, vibrant, and affirming school communities,” Thurmond said. “As we continue to recover from the pandemic, this award validates the hard work of educators across the state on behalf of our students. Their commitment to meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of all their students has helped transform the lives of students during extraordinary circumstances.”

Source: 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Announced – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

California lifts vaccine mandate for school staff | EdSource

By Diana Lambert

Teachers and other school staff who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 will no longer have to be tested weekly to remain on campuses after this week.

Tuesday State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón rescinded a public health order requiring that all school employees show proof of vaccination or be tested at least weekly. The new policy is effective Sept. 17.

The decision was made to align state and federal health guidance and because most Californians have been vaccinated against the virus, he said.

Source: California lifts vaccine mandate for school staff | EdSource

Travis School District seeks 1 person to flesh out board prior to election – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

The Travis School District is looking for someone to represent Trustee Area 1 and Travis Air Force Base – and seeks to file the vacancy soon.

Three seats on the board were set for election as part of the Nov. 8 general election. No candidate filed for the Trustee Area 1 seat.

Since the deadline for candidates to file for this election has passed, this means there is a “failure to elect” a trustee to this seat, resulting in a vacancy, Superintendent Pam Conklin reports.

Source: Travis School District seeks 1 person to flesh out board prior to election

Travis School District reaps benefit of fees charged to developers – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Account helps pay for portable classroom rentals at various sites

Developers working within the bounds of the Travis School District in Fairfield and Vacaville are paying significantly more to the school district now than they were at the start of 2022.

Fees charged to residential developers are nearly 11.2% more while fees charged to commercial developers are up nearly 18.2%.

The boost in the fees, charged per square foot for both residential and commercial development, helped the district absorb a one-time debt payment of $5.29 million while maintaining the integrity of the account that’s designated for the developer fees.

Source: Travis School District reaps benefit of fees charged to developers

Solano board invites people to sessions for early education teaching program – Daily Republic

The Solano County Office of Education has been awarded an Early Education Teacher Development competitive grant by the California Department of Education in the amount of $1,054,720.

Early Education funding will be used to increase the number of highly qualified California State Preschool Programs and transitional kindergarten teachers in Solano County. The grant will also help increase specific proficiencies for local early learning and child care professionals.

The Office of Education has collaborated with local school districts, charters and community-based organizations, as well as colleges and universities, to develop a workforce development program that offers support for advancement, recruitment, higher education opportunities, funding assistance and specialized training in Solano County.

Source: Solano board invites people to sessions for early education teaching program

Fairfield-Suisun trustee challenges state graduation requirements as ‘discriminatory’ – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

A school board member is challenging various state requirements for students as unfair and possibly discriminatory.

Trustee Helen Tilley made her comments Thursday as the Fairfield-Suisun School District board was given an update about the state’s graduation requirements.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun trustee challenges state graduation requirements as ‘discriminatory’

Solano County residents show off their rides to support local students – The Vacaville Reporter

By Zachary Cimaglio

Cars and bikes of various makes and models gathered round in the parking lot of the Ball Metal Beverage Packaging plant in Fairfield Saturday for the 9th Annual Ball Metal Car and Motorcycle School Supply Drive Car Show.

The event consisted of a contest for attendees to vote on their favorite vehicles and a raffle table laden with various prizes.

The car show has been a staple in the community for nearly a decade, and public support appears to be as high as ever. Car junkies, bikers and various other community members came together to provide school supplies for students who may not have access to them as the school year gets into full swing.

Source: Solano County residents show off their rides to support local students – The Vacaville Reporter

Will C. Wood grad finds musical voice in his old room – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

It might be understandable if actor and musician Carlos Alfredo Jr. was channeling Brian Wilson’s “In My Room.”

Or given the season, perhaps, he was humming along with “There’s No Place Like Home” while sitting in his childhood bedroom while visiting his parents for Christmas 2020.

But the Oakland-born, Vacaville-raised, Los Angeles-living entertainer, now 33, was staring at the familiar surroundings and drifting back into the sometimes painful adolescent memories of lost love.

Source: Will C. Wood grad finds musical voice in his old room

Wood freshman, 14, has ‘learned to be a leader’ in Boy Scouts – The Vacaville Reporter

By Richard Bammer

He has his eye on the top rank in Boy Scouts, Eagle, and Cole S. Wilson, 14, a member of Troop 484 in Vacaville, will day by day, merit badge by merit badge, troop project by troop project, eventually get there.

Among several merit badges — 21 are required to attain Scouting’s coveted top rank — Wilson has earned one in communications.

It was his letter to The Reporter that helped him earn that badge and also prompted an interview Wednesday with the Will C. Wood High School freshman at his home on Kodiak Drive in the southern sector of Vacaville.

But his inquiry was far from self-centered. Wilson wanted publicity for the 11-member troop, formed a dozen years ago, and is one of the city’s four troops.

Source: Wood freshman, 14, has ‘learned to be a leader’ in Boy Scouts – The Vacaville Reporter

Sierra School of Solano County moves to Fairfield – Daily Republic

Specialized Education Services, Inc., a a California Department of Education-approved non-public school for K-12 students who require additional educational support, is now open at 1745 Enterprise Drive in Fairfield.

Programming at Sierra School of Solano County is designed to meet the unique academic and social-emotional learning needs of each individual student.

“Starting the 2022-23 school year in a new building is an exciting milestone for our faculty, staff and students,” Jenelle Droke, director of Sierra School of Solano County, said in a statement., “Our school has a long history of supporting students with special needs. Moving closer to the Bay Area will help us to partner with additional school districts and serve even more families.”

Source: Sierra School of Solano County moves to Fairfield

Health Guidance for Schools During Extreme Heat – Letters (CA Dept of Education)

The California Department of Education is partnering with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to provide you with additional critical announcements to support California school communities during this period of intense heat.

Please find important information from the CDPH about the risks of heat events as well as ways to monitor conditions and take precautions to protect your school communities on the CDPH Interim Health Guidance for Schools on Sports and Strenuous Outdoor Activities During Extreme Heat web page at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/EPO/Pages/ExtremeHeatPages/extreme-heat-guidance-for-schools.aspx.

Source: Health Guidance for Schools During Extreme Heat – Letters (CA Dept of Education)

School boards in Solano County face shortage of candidates for November election – Vallejo Sun

By John Glidden

Almost every school district in Solano County is facing a shortage of school board candidates in November’s election as the Vallejo, Benicia and Travis school boards will each fill a vacancy after no one ran for the seat, while three other candidates will join those boards automatically as they face no opposition.

Meanwhile, two of three incumbents up for reelection this year ran unopposed in both the Vacaville and Fairfield-Suisun school districts and will automatically retain their seats.

The Vallejo school board last week started the process to fill its vacancy on the five-person board after no one filed campaign paperwork to represent Trustee Area 1, which represents most of West Vallejo and Mare Island.

Source: School boards in Solano County face shortage of candidates for November election

Fairfield-Suisun board set to address state policy changes – Daily Republic

Trustees of the Fairfield-Suisun School District will be briefed Thursday on recent changes in education policies.

Staff will explain measures approved by the State Board of Education which indicate college readiness or career readiness as defined by the California Department of Education for students looking to attend college or enter various career fields after high school.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun board set to address state policy changes

Blistering heat remains in forecast for Solano, region – Daily Republic

Another day of blistering heat – well in excess of 110 degrees – is expected Tuesday as the current heat wave hits its projected peak before tapering off this weekend.

But highs of 100 degrees or more are expected through Friday in both Fairfield and Vacaville – and much of the surrounding areas – before temperatures dip back into the 80s and 90s.

The high at the Nut Tree Airport is projected to top out at 117 Tuesday, drop off to 107 Wednesday, jump to 112 Thursday and dip a bit to 109 Friday, the National Weather Service reports. The mercury hit 108 Friday, 103 Saturday, 108 Sunday and 115 on Labor Day.

Source: Blistering heat remains in forecast for Solano, region

Kindergarten could soon be mandatory for California children – Daily Republic

By

California is one step closer to mandating that children attend kindergarten, a requirement that would come after droves of the state’s youngest students skipped the grade during the Covid-19 pandemic and heightened learning gap concerns.

A bill approved by the state Senate late Monday night is headed to the governor’s desk and, if signed, would require children to complete a year of kindergarten before entering first grade, beginning in the 2024-25 school year.

Like most states, California does not require kindergarten as part of its compulsory education laws. California children who are 5 years old are eligible for kindergarten, but are not required by law to attend school until they are 6 years old.

Source: Kindergarten could soon be mandatory for California children