Solano College Entrepreneur Club announces ‘Shop Small for Fall’ event – Daily Republic

The Solano Community College Entrepreneur Club will host a “Shop Small for Fall” event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday on campus at 4000 Suisun Valley Road, Building 1400.

It will be a pop-up event aimed to support and promote small businesses within the surrounding area, as well as businesses operated by students.

“We will have a variety of local vendors that will have their services available and products on display for purchase,” said Tim Murrell, director of the Solano-Napa Small Business Development Center, which is helping to coordinate the event.

Source: Solano College Entrepreneur Club announces ‘Shop Small for Fall’ event

Solano College launches Homeless-to-Student Outreach Program – Daily Republic

The Solano Community College Department of Public Safety has launched a Homeless-to-College Student Outreach Program “to help those experiencing homelessness become college students.”

Solano College “wants to serve all members of our community and encourages those who need support to enroll in classes. We will help them apply for financial aid, secure food and housing, and receive support services. The fact that our Department of Public Safety has initiated this effort to help the unhoused demonstrates their commitment to transforming students’ lives,” Superintendent-President Celia Esposito-Noy said in a statement.

Source: Solano College launches Homeless-to-Student Outreach Program

Vallejo adult school to be renamed for former teacher – Vallejo Sun

By John Glidden

The Vallejo City Unified School District voted to rename a school catering to adult learners to honor a former teacher on Wednesday, despite one school board trustee calling the move “rushed,” and part of “dirty politics.”

The Vallejo school board voted 4-1 to rename the Vallejo Regional Education Center to the Vallejo Adult School at Al Berenguer Educational Center.

The lone ‘no’ vote came from Trustee John Fox who argued Berenguer’s name shouldn’t be added because the school has a 70% Hispanic student population. Berenguer, a beloved Filipino educator, died in April 2018 at the age of 89. He taught in the district for 50 years, including at the adult school, which currently has a Filipino student population of 2%.

“Changing the name to a Filipino name at the Vallejo Adult School would not promote any student achievement for Filipinos,” Fox said. “But it would not represent the 70% Hispanic students that go there daily, that person does not represent them, they have no connection to that person.”

Source: Vallejo adult school to be renamed for former teacher

Jack Flynn, at 18 years old, leads in election to the Fairfield-Suisun School Board – Fox40

By Jose Fabian

A teenager from Northern California that recently graduated high school is leading in the election to a seat on the Fairfield-Suisun School Board, possibly making history.

Jack Flynn, 18, is leading in the election for trustee for Area 5 of the school board.According to a news release from his campaign, Flynn would be the youngest elected school district board member in U.S. history if he wins. It also said Flynn would be the youngest elected official in California history.

Source: Jack Flynn, at 18 years old, leads in election to the Fairfield-Suisun School Board

SPI Hosts Webinar to Help Combat Opioid Crisis – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today convened a panel of experts to speak about strategies to combat the opioid/fentanyl crisis, the fastest-growing cause of death in California. The webinar was open to all educators and parents, and featured subject matter experts from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, California Health and Human Services, local educational agencies (LEAs), the California Department of Education (CDE), and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Thurmond and participants discussed ways to work together to educate, prevent, and intervene to support and protect students.

In 2012, California suffered 82 deaths attributed to fentanyl overdoses, and last year that number jumped to more than 6,000. Fentanyl deaths accounted for more than 80 percent of all drug-related deaths among California’s young people in 2021. Often, teens think they are purchasing Adderall, OxyContin, Percocet, or Xanax pills, but drug dealers are making fake pills with the cheaper, stronger, and deadlier synthetic drug fentanyl. As a result, most victims ingest fentanyl accidentally, thinking they are using something less dangerous. It can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. It is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, and one pill can be fatal.

Source: SPI Hosts Webinar to Help Combat Opioid Crisis – Year 2022 (CA Dept of Education)

Vanden students get visit from Army medical commander – The Vacaville Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Vanden High School’s location just 2 miles from Travis Air Force Base and within a district largely comprised of military families means it is far from uncommon for students to consider military careers after graduation.

As medical science and Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) students learned Monday, there are many jobs available, even for those who are just looking into the medical field. That lesson came courtesy of Maj. Gen. Michael Talley, commanding general and commandant of the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence in San Antonio — and a former Vanden student himself.

Talley talked to students in the school’s library about his time at Vanden, the path that took him to his current role and the different types of medical jobs available within the military.

Source: Vanden students get visit from Army medical commander – The Vacaville Reporter

Nelda Mundy receives STA award for Safe Routes to School program – Daily Republic

Nelda Mundy Elementary School recently received the Solano Transportation Authority Safe Routes to School Award.

The school was recognized Nov. 9 as a champion school for the Safe Routes to School Program with more than 100 students who walk or ride to school every day.

“We are delighted to have participated in the Safe Routes to Schools Program,” Julie Reece, principal at Nelda Mundy, said in a statement. “It is great to see the positive effects it has on our students and our community, and we look forward to continuing our participation in this important program in the future!”

Source: Nelda Mundy receives STA award for Safe Routes to School program

Former Vanden High student-turned-general tells students, ‘Go Army!’ – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

Vanden High senior Marissa Jelardi was thinking about joining the Air Force after graduation, but after listening to U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Michael J. Talley on Monday, she may see her career path looking a bit more green.

Jelardi, a Vacaville resident, said she has been interested in becoming an emergency technician of some kind since she was in middle school writing about her future. Maybe that was because her stepmother was an EMT, turned dispatcher, but whatever the spark, she likes the idea of being directly involved in emergency response.

Going to school so close to Travis certainly made the possibility of being an Air Force medic an option.

Source: Former Vanden High student-turned-general tells students, ‘Go Army!’

Fairfield-Suisun School Board OKs shift to once-a-month meetings – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

A routine review of board policies Thursday led Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees to change the frequency of board sessions from twice monthly to once a month.

The change essentially takes place immediately.

A draft proposal presented to the board would have the next meeting and all meetings for 2023 take place the third Thursday of the month. That sets the next meeting for Dec. 15 – the only meeting for the month. Future board meetings will start at 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. for the coming year.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun School Board OKs shift to once-a-month meetings

Fairfield-Suisun schools receive arts, music, materials grant from state – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees this week established a rough plan to spend some $12 million in one-time funding from the state, with a sizable chunk tentatively set aside to boost benefits given to retirees.

Sheila McCabe, assistant superintendent of Educational Services, gave a presentation to the board Thursday on a new Arts, Music and Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant the district will receive.

Gov. Gavin Newsom this summer signed Assembly Bill 181, part of the bill established the Arts, Music and Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun schools receive arts, music, materials grant from state

Sarah Chapman retakes lead in District 4 election, other races remain same – The Vacaville Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

The race for Vacaville City Council District 4 continues to swing back and forth.

On Wednesday, realtor Kristen Navarro led in the race to succeed outgoing Councilman Nolan Sullivan after Solano Community College Board Trustee Sarah Chapman had an early lead on Election Night. However, with the latest batch of vote-by-mail ballots counted Thursday night, Chapman regained the top spot with 42.02% of the vote, giving her a 50-vote lead over Navarro, who has received 40.39% of the vote.

Reached by email earlier in the day in response to a previous request for comment, Chapman wrote that she and her team were monitoring the results and acknowledged that it was “incredibly tight.”

Source: Sarah Chapman retakes lead in District 4 election, other races remain same – The Vacaville Reporter

Vallejo Police Department says ‘no’ to schools at 2 X 2 commission meeting – Times-Herald

By Sharon Pearce

Despite safety remaining an issue at Vallejo schools, the Vallejo 2 X 2 Commission was told at its Wednesday meeting there would be no additional staff or funding coming from the city or the police department.

The 2 X 2 Commission — composed of two representatives from the city and two from the school district tasked to find answers within the city’s school system — heard directly from the school district. Vallejo City Unified School District Superintendent William Spalding explained that he had heard concern over safety issues from the public on a number of occasions. He offered suggestions such as closing Nebraska Street between Amador and Broadway streets near Vallejo High School during the day to help the school deal with gunfire and infrastructure problems.

Source: Vallejo Police Department says ‘no’ to schools at 2 X 2 commission meeting – Times-Herald

School board OKs Travis district’s updated financial report – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

The Travis School District is holding its own financially amid declining enrollment projections, trustees were told this week in an update on the district’s budget.

Chief Business Officer Gabe Moulaison on Tuesday presented the school board with the 2022-23 First Interim Report and budget projections for the current school year.

The data was from July 1 through Oct. 31 with updates due to changes that were made after the Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 185, the Education Omnibus Trailer Bill that sets statewide school spending for the year.

Source: School board OKs Travis district’s updated financial report

Travis trustees hear update on finances of special tax districts – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Travis School District trustees heard an update Tuesday on two special tax districts that between them hold nearly $10 million in taxpayer money.

Chief Business Officer Gabe Moulaison gave the presentation on the Community Facilities Districts No. 1 and No. 2 Special Tax Annual Reports.

There are 1,775 residential parcels for which a building permit has been issued as of June 1 for Community Facilities District No. 1, according to the report.

Source: Travis trustees hear update on finances of special tax districts

Fox declares victory in Vallejo school board re-election bid – Vallejo Sun

By John Glidden

John Fox sighed heavily Wednesday, confessing he was happy the election was over after going full-steam since February.

Fox secured a second term on the Vallejo school board, easily beating fellow Trustee Tony Gross and challenger naturopathic practitioner Ajit S. Bhandal to represent Trustee Area 5, which encompasses Southeast Vallejo, including the Glen Cove neighborhood.

Source: Fox declares victory in Vallejo school board re-election bid

Youth Resiliency Summit registration opens – The Vacaville Reporter

The Solano County Office of Education (SCOE) is hosting the 4th Annual Solano Youth Resiliency Summit, and registration is now open.

The free event is set for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Sunrise Event Center, 620 Orange Drive in Vacaville.

Open to students grades 8-12 living in or attending school in Solano County, the event is limited to the first 100 registrants. Students can register or learn more about the summit at www.solanocoe.net/youthsummit.

Source: Youth Resiliency Summit registration opens – The Vacaville Reporter

Travis trustees approve updated First Interim Report – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Travis Unified Chief Business Officer Gabe Moulaison on Tuesday presented the district board the 2022-23 First Interim Report and budget projections for the coming year.

The data was from July through Octo. 31 with updates due to changes that were made after the Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 185, the Education Omnibus Trailer Bill.“We aren’t seeing a ton of changes,” said Moulaison.

Source: Travis trustees approve updated First Interim Report

Unofficial Solano election results are in; more to come – The Vacaville Reporter

By Kimberly K. Fu

Election Day has come and gone, but results for races in Solano County are not yet set.

Why? Because there’s still thousands of ballots left to count.

According to the Solano County Registrar of Voters office, outstanding Vote-by-Mail ballots total 35,821 while outstanding provisional ballots number 1,671.

On Wednesday, staff focused full bore on processing ballots. An estimated 15,000 were ready to be counted while 13,000 more were ready to be verified.

Source: Unofficial Solano election results are in; more to come – The Vacaville Reporter

Travis hears update on Special Tax Annual Reports – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Chief Business Officer Gabe Moulaison gave a presentation to the Travis school board on Tuesday night on the Community Facilities Districts No. 1 and No. 2 Special Tax Annual Reports.

According to the report, there are 1,775 residential parcels for which a building permit has been issued as of June 1 for Community Facilities District No. 1.

The total annual special tax to be collected within CFD No. 1 for the fiscal year 2022-23 is $1.051 million.

Source: Travis hears update on Special Tax Annual Reports

Schools election picture coming into focus after Day 2 of count – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

Jack Flynn held a majority lead over incumbent Jonathan Richardson for the Trustee Area 5 seat on the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District board.

As of Wednesday, Flynn had tallied 963 votes, representing 51.5% of the ballots cast, while Richardson had 907 votes (48.5%), the Solano County Registrar of Voters Office reported.

The unofficial result is with all 10 precincts counted, but with mail-in and provisional ballots left to count.

Source: Schools election picture coming into focus after Day 2 of count