Monthly Archives: March 2023

What’s in a name? Honor for a retired longtime Vacaville educator – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Before Vacaville Unified leaders opened a new school in her honor, she recalled “a wonderful career that I would do again in a heartbeat.”

“It was my calling and I loved going to work every day,” said Shelley Dally in a brief email just hours in advance of the Wednesday dedication of the Shelley Dally Early Learning Village at 621 S. Orchard, the former home of the Bethany Lutheran School, across the street from Alamo Elementary.

And moments before she grasped the obligatory oversized scissors to cut the white ribbon emblazoned with VUSD lettering, Dally, a former district trustee serving for 10 years, reflected on the event’s meaning, saying the district’s newest campus is a place “where from the very beginning of a student’s education, they can come to a place that is based not only on giving them a great start in life but on equity,” a school where special-needs students “are included from Day 1 with general education students.”

Source: What’s in a name? Honor for a retired longtime Vacaville educator – The Vacaville Reporter

Retired Solano teacher receives prestigious physical education award – Daily Republic

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Cindy Lederer, who taught physical education for nearly 30 years at the Fairfield-Suisun School District, has been honored with the Verne Landreth Award from the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

“We are thrilled that Cindy Lederer has been recognized with this well-deserved honor,” district Superintendent Kris Corey said in a statement. “Her dedication to promoting physical fitness and healthy lifestyles is inspiring, and we are grateful for her many contributions to our district and this community.”

Source: Retired Solano teacher receives prestigious physical education award

Vacaville school board seeks trustee applicants – The Vacaville Reporter

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The Vacaville Unified School District Board of Education invites members of the community to apply to fill a vacancy on the Governing Board.

Application packets are available on the district’s website at www.vacavilleusd.org or in the Superintendent’s office at the Educational Services Center, 401 Nut Tree Rd., between 8 a.n.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Completed applications must be received by the superintendent’s office by 5 p.m. March 29, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.

Source: Vacaville school board seeks trustee applicants – The Vacaville Reporter

Vallejo school district agrees to sale of Grant school – Times-Herald

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By Chris Ramirez

The former Grant School has been sold to the City of Vallejo for potential future development on the site.

The Vallejo City Unified School District owns two unused properties that the city is intent on purchasing. The Vallejo City Council voted last week to agree to the sale of both properties, prompting Wednesday’s school board vote on two resolutions that would accept those terms.

VCUSD’s board of education unanimously voted to sell the Grant School, built in the 1980s on a 2.63-acre property. The district sold the site for free because both options of renovating the current structure and rebuilding would cost more than its $300,000 appraisal.

Source: Vallejo school district agrees to sale of Grant school – Times-Herald

Vacaville is “building a foundation for a vibrant tomorrow” – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Kimberly K. Fu

The COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts wrought much change in Vacaville, as well as reflection.

As Mayor John Carli eloquently explained Wednesday during the State of the City address: “It was a time of renaissance. … But this year is really about building a foundation for a vibrant tomorrow.”

The address was the highlight of the Movers and Shakers Breakfast Summit hosted by the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce at the Vacaville Opera House.

Source: Vacaville is “building a foundation for a vibrant tomorrow” – The Vacaville Reporter

Travis school board OKs advance of $5.7M to cover bridge loan option – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Travis School District trustees approved a request Tuesday at the Solano County Board of Supervisors meeting to authorize the county treasurer to transfer approximately $5.7 million in one or more loans to the school district.

Gabe Moulaison, chief business officer, gave made the presentation to the board.

“Every year we have to pass this resolution,” he said. “We have plenty of reserves but we are asking for this in case later in the year that is not the case.”

Source: Travis school board OKs advance of $5.7M to cover bridge loan option

Travis teachers, district start negotiations for coming school year – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Contract negotiations between the Travis School District and its teachers got started – officially – Tuesday as trustees approved a request to accept the Travis Unified Teachers’ Association initial proposal for items to consider for the 2023-2024 school year, then forwarded their own objectives.

Negotiations cover salary and benefits along with elementary preparation/planning, common planning days and adjunct duty. Travis trustees also heard about proposed changes related to teacher prep time, physical education class sizes, and cost-of-living levels and medical benefits.

Source: Travis teachers, district start negotiations for coming school year

Leadership opportunity for Vacaville youth – The Vacaville Reporter

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Are you a Vacaville high schooler interested in learning about government?

Check out the Annual Summer at City Hall program in Vacaville.

This 4-week program — a partnership with the city of Vacaville, Vacaville Unified School District and Travis Unified School District — is open to Vacaville youth who will be juniors or seniors this fall.

Youth will participate in a class focused on skill development, civic engagement and local government. Students will also have an opportunity to intern with the city of Vacaville or Vacaville Unified School District.

Source: Leadership opportunity for Vacaville youth – The Vacaville Reporter

Building a LEGO bridge – Times-Herald

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By Jordan Baker

Ken, Ryan and Nina Sarna have already shown a ton of success with their NFL Flag Football league. Now the family is looking to show off its other playmaking abilities with LEGO.

The Coach Sarna League has progressed to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning.

The next step is Caliber: ChangeMakers Academy, says teacher Ryan Sarna, and the joy of LEGO.

“We wanted to do more. We’re big on creating community so let’s reach kids that may not be interested in football.,” Ryan Sarna. “LEGO is a lot of fun, but it increases their engineering capabilities. This is really an engineering competition. We wanted to start a low-cost league that was high quality.”

Source: Building a LEGO bridge – Times-Herald

Leadership opportunity for Vacaville youth – The Vacaville Reporter

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Are you a Vacaville high schooler interested in learning about government?

Check out the Annual Summer at City Hall program in Vacaville.

This 4-week program — a partnership with the city of Vacaville, Vacaville Unified School District and Travis Unified School District — is open to Vacaville youth who will be juniors or seniors this fall.

Youth will participate in a class focused on skill development, civic engagement and local government. Students will also have an opportunity to intern with the city of Vacaville or Vacaville Unified School District.

Source: Leadership opportunity for Vacaville youth – The Vacaville Reporter

Buckingham crab feed supports students – The Vacaville Reporter

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Support students at Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy by indulging in crab.

The BCCA SHIELD parent group is hosting a crab feed at 6-10 p.m. Saturday at the McBride Senior Center, 91 Town Square Place in Vacaville.

Proceeds will go toward scholarships and fund student club supplies and activities.

Doors open at 5 p.m., followed by no-host cocktail service at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Source: Buckingham crab feed supports students – The Vacaville Reporter

Efforts to Support Student Access to Healthy Meals – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today joined U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) leadership, and state and federal stakeholders on a visit to Betty Reid Soskin Middle School to hear more about the district’s innovative farm-to-school program.

Soskin Middle School serves 450 students—60 percent of whom are considered to be socioeconomically disadvantaged—and is the frontline of the vital work of feeding students healthy school meals through the California Universal Meals Program. The school is named after Betty Reid Soskin, a pioneering Bay Area civil rights activist and the nation’s oldest National Park Ranger, who was designated as an Ambassador to California Education by Thurmond in September 2021.

“As we celebrate National Nutrition Month and National School Breakfast Week, I take great pride in promoting the fact that California became the first state in the United States to implement a statewide universal meals program for all school-age children within the public education system. As a result, millions of children access two free healthy meals during each school day. And not only that, but we have also supported other states in following suit,” Superintendent Thurmond said. “The Universal Meals Program removes the stigma associated with free and reduced-price school meals and is a critical component in the framework for the Transforming California Schools Initiative designed to create one cohesive educational system with integrated, interdependent strategies.”

Source: Efforts to Support Student Access to Healthy Meals – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

7th annual High School Student Art Show begins Wednesday – Daily Republic

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The Fairfield-Suisun City Visual Arts Association’s seventh annual Student Art Show opens Wednesday.

Artwork will be on display in 14 categories.

The show will feature artwork by some young and amazing artists from Solano County high schools. The show runs through April 1 at the Solano Town Center Gallery, 1350 Travis Blvd. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Source: 7th annual High School Student Art Show begins Wednesday

SPI Honors Read Across America Week – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond visited the Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science in the Orange Unified School District on Friday morning. Thurmond joined students, parents, and teachers in celebrating Read Across America Week in remembrance of the late Dr. Seuss.

“A book can be a passport to any part of California or the world or a passport to the past or the future,” Thurmond said. “A book can help us understand where we are from, can teach us our history and the best way forward. Reading takes you on a journey, a lifelong journey of adventure. Books are valuable for many reasons—but I like to read mainly because it is fun.”

Jordan Academy of Language and Computer Science received a California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award as an innovative and sustainable program that makes a demonstrated difference with a focus on meeting the needs of all students.

Source: SPI Honors Read Across America Week – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

Travis school board to consider teachers’ association negotiations – Daily Republic

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Travis School District trustees will give the public a chance Tuesday to comment on the initial proposal for the Travis Unified Teachers’ Association contract for 2023-2024. The board is then scheduled to vote on the proposal.

Negotiations cover salary and benefits along with elementary preparation/planning, common planning days and adjunct duty.

The district proposes to explore current needs related to elementary preparation and common planning time, and to negotiate necessary amendments, according to a staff report. The district also proposes to explore new and different options relative to adjunct duty time and to negotiate necessary amendments in order to serve the best interests of students and operational needs.

Source: Travis school board to consider teachers’ association negotiations

Trustees to ask county for $5.7M bridge loan to cover Travis School District expenses – Daily Republic

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Travis School District trustees are scheduled to consider a request Tuesday of the Solano County Board of Supervisors to authorize the county treasurer to transfer approximately $5.7 million in one or more loans to the school district.

The loans would cover what the staff report describes as one or more cash shortages caused by delays in payments from the state.

The amount is less than or equal to the 85% of fiscal year 2023-24 anticipated property tax revenues for the district, as estimated by the Solano County auditor, according to a staff report.

Source: Trustees to ask county for $5.7M bridge loan to cover Travis School District expenses

Job fair sheds light on vacancies in Solano school districts – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Schools across the area are looking to fill multiple types of position, so the Solano County Office of Education hosted a job fair Saturday for people to seek jobs in a single setting.

“This is targeting the communities in Solano County,” said Mike Minahen, associate superintendent of Human Resources. “The goal for today is to provide an opportunity to recruit locally.”

Nearly all school districts in Solano County came out on a rainy Saturday.

Source: Job fair sheds light on vacancies in Solano school districts

Violins of Hope comes to Solano high schools – Daily Republic

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Fairfield High School was one of three high schools that welcomed the renowned “Violins of Hope” project to its premises last week.

The program, which aims to educate and inspire through music, brought a selection of restored violins that survived the Holocaust. Tenth-grade students gathered in the gym to gain real-world context that supports their current World Civilizations curriculum.

High Schools in Vacaville also were involved in the March 2-3 concerts. A community concert was held Sunday.

Source: Violins of Hope comes to Solano high schools

Dan O. Root II Health and Wellness Academy hosts successful Math Festival – Daily Republic

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The Dan O. Root II Health and Wellness Academy hosted a Math Festival on Feb. 16, providing students with a hands-on approach to learning math and giving parents and families the opportunity to see what their children are learning in the classroom.

During the school day, students participated in a variety of math-focused activities at different stations. Each station was designed to promote problem-solving skills and was tailored to the level of the students. The activities included games, puzzles, and other interactive experiences that made learning math fun and engaging.

Source: Dan O. Root II Health and Wellness Academy hosts successful Math Festival

Callison Elementary celebrates Literary Character Day – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Rebecca Wasik

Callison Elementary School in Vacaville celebrated the 25th annual Read Across America Week, which began on Dr. Seuss’ birthday, with themed days.

Friday was Literary Character Day and participants from across the city — including public safety officers, Air Force personnel, local leaders and community members — volunteered to read to the students, some dressed as their favorite book characters.

The aim — to teach them about the importance reading has in their careers.

Source: Callison Elementary celebrates Literary Character Day – The Vacaville Reporter