By Richard Bammer
Youth will have its day once more when longtime Solano Symphony conductor Semyon Lohss and the orchestra accompany three winners of the 2022 Young Artists Competition during the annual Salute to Youth concert in Vacaville on Feb. 5.
The music begins at 3 p.m. in the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive.
In a press statement, symphony Board President Melinda Ellis said the trio of winners are active music students at Davis Senior High School in Davis.
Registration for the 2023-24 Fairfield-Suisun School District for school year opens Monday.
Children who turn 5, with birth dates from Sept. 2, 2017, to Sept. 1, 2018, can register for kindergarten classes. Transitional kindergarten classes are available for children who turn 5 after the kindergarten cut-off date.
To register, visit fsusd.org/register.
Source: Fairfield-Suisun schools prep to open kindergarten registration
The Leaven Kids Board of Directors unanimously approved a motion to name an existing or in-development educational program after late Fairfield Mayor Harry Price, it was announced this week.
As a founding member and longtime supporter of Leaven Kids, this naming recognition is meant to memorialize Price’s contributions to the organization’s mission. The motion was led by Board Member Len Augustine.
Source: Leaven Kids program to be named for late Fairfield Mayor Harry Price – The Vacaville Reporter
By Nick Sestanovich
Mayrene Bates — a longtime Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) educator, trustee with the Solano Board of Education and active community supporter — died Jan. 6. She was 88.
“It’s a community loss,” longtime friend and retired Solano Sheriff’s Deputy Daryl Snedeker said.
Bates was born April 15, 1934 in the small town of Liberty, Tenn. At the time, the South was in the midst of segregation, and Bates had to take a bus to attend a high school that was twice as far away as the school that was designated for white students.
By Susan Hiland
Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees will hear several presentations Thursday, including updates on student performance and the state budget.
Sheila McCabe, assistant superintendent, Educational Services, will talk about the College/Career Indicator update. This is one of several state indicators that the California Department of Education reports on the California School Dashboard that serves as a statewide accountability measure, according to the staff report.
Source: Fairfield-Suisun trustees to hear reports on student performance, state budget
By Susan Hiland
Travis School District trustees on Tuesday approved a change in the graduation requirements starting with the Class of 2024.
Specifically, the governing board removed the health course graduation requirement.
The reason the district was considering this change is because many students and families have stated the students wanted to take additional electives courses but the schedule didn’t allow for it, according to a staff report.
Tiffany Benson the director of Curriculum and Instruction, gave part of the presentation.
Source: Travis board backs changes to graduation requirements
By John Glidden
Vallejo City Unified School District students’ performance was poor or very poor in every metric, well below statewide standards in both English language skills and math, as the district had an absenteeism rate and suspension rate double the statewide average, according to new data released on the California School Dashboard.
It’s the first set of data to be released on the state dashboard since it was suspended for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The five-person Vallejo school board will review the data, which includes the district’s graduation rate and student academic performance, during the board’s meeting Wednesday.
Source: New state data paints grim picture of Vallejo schools’ performance
By Susan Hiland
The Travis School District is looking to make a change to graduation requirements starting with the Class of 2024.
Specifically, the governing board on Tuesday will consider removing the health course graduation requirement.
The reason the district is considering this change is because many students and families have stated the students wanted to take additional electives courses but the schedule didn’t allow for it, according to a staff report. Removing this requirement will offer an opportunity for 11th grade students to take an additional class, including advanced studies and courses for remediation.
Source: Travis school board considers change to graduation requirements
By Nick Sestanovich
Walking through Buchanan Miles’ fourth-grade classroom at Hemlock Elementary School, it is already apparent that he is a highly exalted teacher. Sitting atop a bookshelf of grade-appropriate novels in his classroom’s Reading Corner is a set of trophies in the shape of Oscars and racing cups proclaiming Miles as the “Best Teacher” as well as an award from KUIC naming him the Teacher of the Month for Dec. 2013.
Now, Miles has a new award he can add to his shelf: one proclaiming him as Vacaville Unified School District’s Teacher of the Year for the 2022-23 year.
Miles, who is in his 23rd year of teaching at Hemlock, was honored by his peers for his selflessness, dedication to his students and contributions to the school’s culture of positivity.
By Todd R. Hansen
Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan heralded 2023 as a year of change, but as the adage goes, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”
Wanda Williams on Tuesday took her seat for the first time on the Board of Supervisors, the first elected Black woman to sit at the dais. And by doing so, the county board for the first time had a female majority.
She replaces Jim Spering as the 3rd District representative.
Source: Vasquez will serve as Board of Supervisor chair for 3rd straight year
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed education budget for fiscal year 2023–24:
“The promise of education will only be fulfilled if we work together to invest in our students and our schools to build the future we want to see,” said Thurmond. “Building on last year’s record investment in education with a historic $22,893 in per-pupil funding, this year’s budget improves upon that by proposing the highest per-pupil spending for the state of California at $23,723. A record $17,519 of this total is Proposition 98 dollars, and the total is up more than $10,000 from 12 years ago.
“With this budget, California continues to improve our investments in education for our schools, our students, and our teachers.
Source: SPI Reacts to Governor’s Proposed Education Budget – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)
The Fairfield-Suisun School District will host a series of three fentanyl awareness town hall meetings to educate parents and community members on the dangers of fentanyl.
The meetings will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at locations throughout the district. The first meeting will take place Jan. 18 at Solano Community College, 4000 Suisun Valley Road in rural Fairfield. The second meeting will be held Jan. 25 at The Salvation Army Kroc Center at 586 E. Wigeon Way in Suisun City. The third meeting will take place Jan. 31, at the Public Safety Academy campus at 230 Atlantic Ave. in Fairfield.
Source: Fairfield-Suisun district schedules fentanyl awareness town hall meetings
The Solano County Library is offering readers a way to meet their reading goals in the new year.
Solano Reads is a year-long reading challenge that offers 50 prompts to keep patrons reading books throughout the year. Participants are encouraged to read 20 books from the 50 prompts (reading categories). Each book read must fit a single category prompt. Earn a commemorative Solano Reads completion pin after completing 20 books. Read more than 20 books and earn a bonus pin.
All registrants receive a Challenge pin at sign up. Readers are automatically entered into quarterly drawings for chances to win gift cards.
Source: Solano County Library offers reading challenge for new year
By Los Angeles Times
Taryn Luna, Mackenzie Mays and Laurel Rosenhall, Los Angeles Times
Facing a projected $22.5 billion budget deficit in the upcoming fiscal year, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced plans to reduce investments in the state’s move to zero-emission vehicles, make cuts to other climate change programs and delay funding for 20,000 new child-care slots as California transitions from a time of economic surplus to shortage.
The governor’s administration blamed high inflation, the Federal Reserve raising interest rates and volatility in the stock market as the major forces causing state revenues to drop well below projections from last summer when he anticipated an $100 billion surplus in the current budget year.
Source: Gov. Newsom proposes cuts to climate change programs amid cloudy economic outlook
By Community Contributor
The City of Fairfield has contracted FBD Vanguard Construction, Inc. to construct the Grange Middle School Safe Routes to School Project.
The Project is located on E. Tabor Avenue between Dover Avenue and Clay Bank Road, and on Sunset Avenue between E. Tabor Avenue and Sunset Court. Improvements include: installing concrete curb extensions, ADA-accessible curb ramps, rapid flashing beacons at crosswalks, traffic signal modifications, pavement rehabilitation, and traffic striping.
Source: City Alert: Grange Middle School Safe Routes to School Project
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond was sworn in for his second term as the 28th State Superintendent of Public Instruction in a ceremony in Los Angeles today. U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona was in attendance to administer the oath of office. More than 500 educational leaders, school administrators, principals, state legislators, students, friends, and family members convened for the special event held in the historic Cocoanut Grove Theatre at Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Los Angeles.
“When I took the job as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, I made it clear that education is the key and gateway to a world of opportunities, especially for our vulnerable students and communities. Today, we are much stronger than we ever have been and have created many historic initiatives to transform our schools and uplift our students,” said Thurmond. “As we turn to the next four years, I ask you to help us keep the promise alive for our six million students in the great state of California.”
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho kicked off the event with welcoming remarks. Secretary Cardona administered the oath of office at the ceremony.
Source: Tony Thurmond Sworn In for Second Term – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)
Friends of the Dixon May Fair has increased its scholarships to $25,000 for 2023.
The nonprofit reorganized its agricultural-related college scholarship program, and renamed it the Donnie and Tootie Huffman Scholarship Program in honor of its founding president and treasurer.
“This year we will award nine scholarships to Solano County students majoring in agriculture in either a four-year California university or a two-year California community college,” scholarship chairwoman Carrie Hamel said in a statement.
Source: Dixon May Fair offering $25,000 in new ag scholarships
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced that more than 350 elementary schools have been selected for the prestigious 2023 California Distinguished Schools Program. The award program is celebrating its return this year after the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily suspended reporting of state and local student data. Since its inception in 1985, the California Distinguished Schools Award remains one of the important ways to celebrate exceptional schools, districts, teachers, and classified employees for their innovation, talent, and success in supporting students.
The exceptional elementary schools recognized this year are illustrative of the hard work, dedication, and resilience shown by educators and schools across the state after communities struggled for multiple years with urgent effects to physical and mental health and unprecedented challenges to delivering education. To select California Distinguished Schools, the California Department of Education (CDE) uses multiple measures to identify eligible schools based on their performance on the state indicators as specified on the California School Dashboard (Dashboard). Specifically, schools were selected by analyzing data reported through the 2022 Dashboard, including assessment results, chronic absenteeism, suspension rates, and socioeconomic data. Information regarding the 2022 Dashboard is provided on the CDE California School Dashboard and System of Support web page.
Source: SPI Announces 2023 CA Distinguished Schools – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)
Working to protect Californians from the incoming winter storms, Governor Gavin Newsom today proclaimed a state of emergency throughout California to support the ongoing response to recent winter storms.
The emergency proclamation supports emergency relief efforts including authorizing the mobilization of the California National Guard to support disaster response, directing the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) to request immediate assistance through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program to support highway repairs and other support for local response and recovery efforts. The text of today’s proclamation can be found here External link opens in new window or tab.
The Governor has also activated the State Operations Center to its highest level, and the state and federal government have stood up the Flood Operations Center, which covers forecasting, reservoir operations coordination, and provides technical support as well as flood fighting materials like sandbags for local agencies.
Source: State of Emergency Declaration – Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)
The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division is sending this message to announce the availability of School Year 2023–24 School Breakfast Program (SBP) and Summer Meal Programs (SMP) Start-up and Expansion Grants.
Background Information
The state Legislature appropriates approximately $1.017 million in the annual state budget for SBP and SMP Start-up and Expansion Grants. California Education Code Section 49550.3, authorizes the CDE to award competitive grants of up to $15,000 per school site for nonrecurring expenses incurred when initiating or expanding an SBP or SMP.
Source: 2023–24 School Breakfast Grants Are Now Available! – Nutrition (CA Dept of Education)