Monthly Archives: June 2023

Supervisors approve purchase of Early Learning Center site – Daily Republic

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The Solano County supervisors on Tuesday approved the purchase of the former Beverly Hills Elementary School site for the development of an early learning center.

The purchase price to the Vallejo City Unified School District is $2.8 million, the county reported. Additional administrative fees and closing costs add another estimated $7,281.

The full amount is in the recently approved 2023-24 Recommended Budget, with $2 million from the Accumulated Capital Outlay account of the General Fund. The remaining $800,000, plus the administrative fees and closing costs, are budgeted in the First 5 Solano recommended budget.

Source: Supervisors approve purchase of Early Learning Center site

VUSD Student Nutrition Department’s Summer Community Meals Program feeds youth, free of charge – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Rebecca Wasik

School may be out of session, but the Vacaville Unified School District’s Student Nutrition Department still wants to be sure that all children are able to have satisfying meals that give them the energy they need to have a memorable summer.

Now through Aug. 15, children ages up to 18 can receive free breakfast and lunch from VUSD’s Summer Community Meals program. Children do not have to be enrolled in a district school in order to receive a meal. Breakfast and lunch are served free of charge every weekday, except on the Fourth of July.

Source: VUSD Student Nutrition Department’s Summer Community Meals Program feeds youth, free of charge – The Vacaville Reporter

In September special election, three will vie for VUSD trustee seat – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

In a September special election, three Vacaville residents will seek a seat on the Vacaville Unified governing board, a post recently vacated by a petition drive.

Among those wanting to be the next trustee for Trustee Area 4 is former longtime VUSD trustee David McCallum, a local radio broadcaster who earlier this year was appointed to the governing board when another member resigned but was forced out by the petition drive. The other two are Michael W. Martin, a local real estate broker; and Lindsay Kelly, an insurance claims adjuster, according to information on the Solano County Registrar of Voters website.

Assistant Registrar of Voters John Gardner last month confirmed that the election, estimated to cost the district $113,000, will be held on Sept. 12 in the mostly rural north Vacaville trustee area.

Source: In September special election, three will vie for VUSD trustee seat – The Vacaville Reporter

VUSD trustees appoint replacement for ex-trustee Welsh – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick McConnell

The Vacaville Unified School District’s governing board chose at its regular meeting on Thursday to appoint a replacement for former trustee Kelly Welsh rather than hold a special election for the remainder of her term, which ends later this year.

The board also appointed new Superintendent Ed Santopadre as its secretary, and trustees heard his first report as superintendent after he recently took over the position. Several members of the public attended the meeting and spoke in favor of making an appointment to avoid the cost of a special election.

The meeting opened with Santopadre’s comments to the board, in which he highlighted graduation send-offs for seniors of each of the area high schools. Santopadre also introduced three staff members in new positions, including Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources David Robertson, Dean of Learning Support at Ernest Kimmie Jordyn Adcock and Principal of Hemlock Elementary Joanna Adams.

Source: VUSD trustees appoint replacement for ex-trustee Welsh – The Vacaville Reporter

Isom bids farewell during his last Fairfield school board meeting – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The Fairfield Board of Trustees said goodbye to board president David C. Isom, who is soon moving to Missouri.

A longtime member of the community, he served on the board five separate times as president since being first appointed to the Fairfield-Suisun school board in September 2010, and has added additional four-year terms over the years.

“It has been an honor to serve this district and serve the community,” Isom said. “I appreciate the trust that was bestowed on me by members of this community.”

Source: Isom bids farewell during his last Fairfield school board meeting

Griffin Technology Academies celebrates high school graduation ceremonies – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

Griffin Technology Academies proudly commemorated the accomplishments of its newly minted high school graduates this week with a pair of graduation ceremonies.

Thursday evening at Touro University, approximately graduates of Mare Island Technology Academy High School celebrated. A day later, a ceremony marked the achievements of the first two graduates from Griffin Academy High School. They not only graduated as juniors, they also leave for college with AA degrees, in addition to their high school diplomas.

Both ceremonies were celebrated on Mare Island, the second one outside Arden Park, amid large crowds of parents, teachers, administrators, and community members.

Source: Griffin Technology Academies celebrates high school graduation ceremonies – Times-Herald

Wood Grads: Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Rebecca Wasik

It was standing room only on Friday night at Wildcat Stadium on the Will C. Wood High School campus. Cars lined the streets as parents and friends walked uphill with balloons and gifts in tow.

The occasion? To celebrate the Class of 2023.

Horns blared from the crowd as the graduating seniors made their way to their seats to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Wood Principal Charleston Brown welcomed the grads and all those in attendance for the momentous occasion.

Source: Wood Grads: Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat – The Vacaville Reporter

‘Noble,’ ‘tough’ Buckingham grads mark their big day – The Vacaville Reporter

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Standing at a lectern on a stage amid Tom Zunino Stadium, Samantha Working, principal of Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy, quoted from Martin Luther King Jr.’s college newspaper article, “The Purpose of Education.”

Looking out at some 100 seniors during commencement Friday morning at Vacaville High School, she noted that the then-young and soon-to-be pastor and globally known racial justice activist said that education must enable a person to “sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction.”

King believed the purpose of education is to think critically but that intelligence was not enough — “Intelligence plus character is the goal of true education,” Working added, directly quoting the civil rights icon’s words, as the 90-minute ceremony got underway at 10 a.m. under largely clear skies but a stiff breeze sweeping across the artificial-turf field.

Source: ‘Noble,’ ‘tough’ Buckingham grads mark their big day – The Vacaville Reporter

Buckingham celebrates its 105 ‘resilient’ graduating Knights – Daily Republic

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By Matt Miller

The 105 graduates of Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy celebrated not only their commencement Friday morning at Vacaville High School’s Tom Zunino Stadium but also their adaptability.

Few seniors faced more challenges in their four years than the assembled group of Knights in burgundy caps and gowns. They went through the worldwide pandemic, online learning and masked in-person academics as all others, but also moved from the Bella Vista Road campus to the new one on McLellan Street. They attended classes while it was being reconstructed from an old elementary school to a modern high school.

Source: Buckingham celebrates its 105 ‘resilient’ graduating Knights

Bulldogs say goodbye to high school and hello to a new beginning – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The senior class of Vacaville High School took to the Tom Zunino Stadium on Saturday morning not for a football game but for a graduation and their first steps into adulthood.

Gracelynn Caulfield, 18 stood with her aunt, Danielle Wing waiting to enter the stadium. She is excited to be attending Solano Community College next year.

“I will be taking classes for pre-nursing then transfer to a four year school when I am finished,” Caulfield said.

Source: Bulldogs say goodbye to high school and hello to a new beginning

Rodriguez High graduate serving on destroyer in Japan – Daily Republic

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A former Fairfield resident and 2020 Rodriguez High graduate is serving as a fire controlman aboard the USS Ralph Johnson in Japan.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Christian Cruz joined the Navy after graduation.

“I joined the Navy to develop technical skills that I can use in the civilian world,” Cruz said in an article released by the Navy Office of Community Outreach.

Source: Rodriguez High graduate serving on destroyer in Japan

Vacaville High grads end one chapter, begin another – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Rebecca Wasik

The scoreboard read “Guest 20 – Home 23” on Saturday morning at Tom Zunino Stadium on the Vacaville High School campus. The time on the scoreboard’s clock read “20:23.”

The Bulldogs football team was not on the field, but the VHS Class of 2023 was — 413 strong, leading a processional to their seats with “Pomp and Circumstance” as their soundtrack.

Vaca High Principal Adam Wight addressed the seniors, as well as their families and friends who filled the stands — not an empty seat in the house. Giant gold letters spelling “VHS” stood at the front of the stage.

Source: Vacaville High grads end one chapter, begin another – The Vacaville Reporter

Vallejo High School graduates ‘persevere’ to earn diplomas – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

Vallejo High School’s Class of 2023 graduation ceremony featured seven student speeches — one by the ASB Class President, four by salutatorians and two more by valedictorians.

Although the speeches were passionate, the volume reached its highest pitch on one topic.

Perseverance.

The speakers focused on their fellow graduates’ freshman year, which took place under the COVID-19 pandemic and away from the Vallejo High campus, which turned 154 years old this year.

Source: Vallejo High School graduates ‘persevere’ to earn diplomas – Times-Herald

Bethel High graduates accomplish a ‘real’ feat – Times-Herald

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By Thomas Gase

Many of the Jesse Bethel High School students graduating on Friday morning may call their commencement the realization of a dream. However, it was something else for William Spalding.

Real.

Spalding, the Vallejo City Unified School District Superintendent, told the Class of 2023 they should be thanking “their people” who helped get them to this rewarding moment.

Spalding told the students to “look to their left, and then look their right” before waving. He continued by asking the 2023 class to look at a few rows of counselors and teachers sitting nearby.

Source: Bethel High graduates accomplish a ‘real’ feat – Times-Herald

Teal milestones in Vallejo – Times-Herald

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By Jordan Baker

Confetti cannons and the screams of supportive family and friends were the soundtrack to the John Finney High School graduation Thursday.

Principal Sylvia Whitson said her “heart was full” for the students, who proudly marched their final steps in their teal gowns before turning their tassels to the left and heading into the future.

Source: Teal milestones in Vallejo – Times-Herald

That’s a wrap for Armijo High School Class of 2023 – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

It was very evident that parents, friends and graduates were eager for the Armijo High School graduation to begin on Thursday night as there was some dancing on the sidelines, a lot of hugging and maybe a few tears.

The graduating procession was long, with about 480 students along with facility members entering the football field on one of the coolest sunny evening ceremonies in a while.

Salutatorians Garbrielle Gaceta and Joshua Rusi lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Source: That’s a wrap for Armijo High School Class of 2023

Principal tells Sem Yeto High School graduates, ‘You are all amazing’ – Daily Republic

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By Matt Miller

Principal James Hightower looked out at his graduating Sem Yeto High School students Wednesday night at Armijo’s Brownlee Field and said, “You are valued. You are needed. Recognize your worth.”

The Sem Yeto Class of 2023 numbered 160 with the bulk of them in attendance, dressed in blue caps and gowns colorfully decorated with their own personal flair. The graduates marched into the stadium to the familiar refrains of “Pomp and Circumstance” and walked out once the evening was complete as high school graduates.

The Sem Yeto class overcame many obstacles that continuation students often face in trying to achieve the goal of graduation. But on top of that, the first two years for many of them was made even more challenging by the Covid pandemic.

Source: Principal tells Sem Yeto High School graduates, ‘You are all amazing’

Supervisors give nearly $30,000 to community groups – Daily Republic

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The Solano County supervisors on Tuesday doled out $28,770 to community organizations from the general fund accounts assigned to four of their five districts.

The board approved $9,000 from the District 1 (Erin Hannigan) account to benefit The Arc-Solano ($1,000), Eric Reyes Foundation ($500), Faith Food Friday ($1,000), Friends of Loma Vista Farm ($1,000), On The Move, VOICES Youth Program ($1,000), Watch Me Grow ($1,500), Solano Pride ($1,000), Meals on Wheels ($1,000) and Community Cat Advocates and Rescue ($1,000).

Source: Supervisors give nearly $30,000 to community groups

A jubilant passage — and tenacity — at Vanden graduation – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Moments after walking across a stage to hear her name called, Sherane Negre, a newly minted graduate of Vanden High School’s class of 2023 on Saturday, headed to an area behind Gammon Field to pick up her diploma.

“I’m scared for the future,” said Negre, 18, one of the Fairfield school’s five salutatorians. “But I’m also hopeful for the future.”

Earning a GPA of 4.0 or greater during her years at the Markeley Lane campus, she plans to attend Pacific Union College in Angwin, in Napa County, where she will pursue a nursing degree.

Source: A jubilant passage — and tenacity — at Vanden graduation – The Vacaville Reporter

Dixon High celebrates commencement – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Rebecca Wasik

Parents waited in lines to purchase last-minute graduation leis and fanned themselves with commencement programs on Saturday morning as they awaited the arrival of the Dixon High School Class of 2023 at Finney Field.

The faces of friends and family in the bleachers were wet with both tears and sweat from the already searing sun. They were happy tears though, for the morning marked the beginning of adulthood for their graduating loved ones.

The DHS band began its rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance” as graduates filed into the stadium. Half of the graduating students walked past the home bleachers, while the other half walked past the visiting bleachers — each side depending on the first letter of the last name.

Source: Dixon High celebrates commencement – The Vacaville Reporter