Monthly Archives: June 2023

Fairfield-Suisun’s AAA bonds rating demonstrates financial stability – Daily Republic

Posted on by

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District announced Fitch Ratings has affirmed the district’s general obligation bonds at the highest rating of AAA, with a stable outlook.

The credit rating assigned serves as a measure of the safety and security of the school district’s bonds for potential investors. Similar to personal credit scores, the GO Bond credit rating system provides a range of ratings that help investors gauge the level of risk associated with an investment.

The AAA rating is the highest attainable rating and signifies an exceptional level of creditworthiness.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun’s AAA bonds rating demonstrates fInancial stability

Parent group wants representation on Vacaville school board – Daily Republic

Posted on by

A conservative, parent-driven group of city residents wants the Vacaville Unified School District board to listen to their issues and their voices.

In fact, they want to elect a majority of like-minded representatives to the school board to control those issues.

Among their concerns is wanting a board that will engage with parents before enacting transgender and critical race theory – or equity – policies, all of which they generally oppose. That is especially true when it has to do with the lower grade levels.

Source: Parent group wants representation on Vacaville school board

Armijo track star Cierra Kinsey ready to make tracks for UC Davis – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Matt Miller

Ever since running with the boys in kindergarten, Armijo High School senior Cierra Kinsey knew she was fast.

The track and field standout signed a national letter-of-intent Saturday afternoon with UC Davis in the Armijo cafeteria before family, friends, coaches and teammates. Kinsey will made the short trek up Interstate 80 to become an Aggie in athletics and in the classroom, eventually working toward medical school and a what she hopes is a future as a heart surgeon.

But the speed? Very noticeable throughout the Royals ‘season, it took her all the way to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championship (at UC Davis, no less), a season to remember and an athletic scholarship.

Source: Armijo track star Cierra Kinsey ready to make tracks for UC Davis

Vanden graduates head out for new adventures – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Susan Hiland

The Vanden High School Class of 2023 are all on the way to next stage of their lives. On Saturday, the graduating class took to the George A. Gammon field in a sea of green and gold for one final high school milestone.

The band played the students in with traditional Pomp and Circumstance, followed by the Vanden High School JROTC presenting colors.

The principal greeted parents and students with a hardy thanks to all the staff, parents and families that helped make the day possible for the graduates.

Source: Vanden graduates head out for new adventures

County, Vallejo school district ‘ink’ Beverly Hills campus sale – Daily Republic

Posted on by

The Vallejo City Unified School District trustees on Thursday agreed to sell the Beverly Hills Elementary School site to the county for development of an early childhood education and wellness center.

The sale price is $2.8 million, the school district announced.

The county Board of Supervisors is scheduled to take up final approval on June 27. Funding is available, but the county has source options it is considering. The board will consider $2 million of it in the upcoming budget hearings, while the First 5 Commission is seeking funds for the remaining $800,000 so it does not have to use its reserves.

Source: County, Vallejo school district ‘ink’ Beverly Hills campus sale

Benicia High Class of 2023 set to become ‘difference makers’ – Times-Herald

Posted on by

By Thomas Gase

Over the last four years, the Benicia High School Class of 2023 received lots of advice. But Principal Brianna Kleinschmidt told the 356 students at Drolette Stadium to take their own advice before moving forward.

“Take a mental snapshot of this moment right here,” Kleinschmidt said, before pausing a few seconds to continue. “Remember this snapshot and moment so years from now you can look back, remember this and say, ‘Those were the days.’

On a beautiful Saturday in Benicia, four years of hard work — including a few during the COVID-19 pandemic — paid off for the graduating Class of 2023.

Source: Benicia High Class of 2023 set to become ‘difference makers’ – Times-Herald

Former Vallejo schools to become youth-serving sites – Times-Herald

Posted on by

By Chris Ramirez

The Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) Board of Education unanimously authorized Wednesday the sale of a former elementary school and rent-free leasing of a former middle school, putting into motion the development of future youth-serving facilities.

The district board of education officially deemed the Beverly Hills Elementary School as “surplus” in early 2020, a ruling the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) concurred with last November. The school closed the same year as the surplus ruling — along with Franklin Middle School — due to districtwide enrollment decline. The district suffered a more than 40% loss of students between 2000 and 2019, according to an EdSource special report.

Source: Former Vallejo schools to become youth-serving sites – Times-Herald

SPI Hosts Historic Progress Pride Flag Raising – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

Posted on by

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today hosted a Progress Pride Flag Raising Ceremony and reception at the California Department of Education (CDE) to mark the first day of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month. For the first time ever, in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the flag will fly at the CDE headquarters in Sacramento from June 1 through June 30.

“This flag is a representation and celebration of our diverse community and student body in the state of California,” said State Superintendent Thurmond. “We raise the Progress Pride Flag at the California Department of Education to stand in solidarity with our Black, indigenous, people of color, transgender, and intersectional queer students, educators, administrators, and families. At a time when there are leaders—nationally and right here in California—set on rolling back personal rights and banning texts that address issues of racism or sexual identity, the California Department of Education and I want to make it clear that we stand with our LGBTQ+ students and educators, and we applaud the many board members who have continued to uphold inclusivity.”

Source: SPI Hosts Historic Progress Pride Flag Raising – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

Will C. Wood announces eight student-athletes earn scholarships – Daily Republic

Posted on by

Will C. Wood High School recently announced that eight student-athletes have received athletic scholarships to four-year colleges.

Darrius Hickinbottom and Raymond Lane from the football team are moving on to the next level. Hickinbottom will play at Western Oregon. Lane is headed for Adams State in Colorado.

Baseball players Mason Sayre and Jarren Ford are both headed to Hawaii Pacific. Softball standout Kaitlyn Martinez will go to North Dakota State.

Source: Will C. Wood announces eight student-athletes earn scholarships

Dixon’s Maine Prairie High celebrates 16 graduates – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Rebecca Wasik

Graduation season in Solano County kicked off on Wednesday night with 16 students from Maine Prairie High School in Dixon crossing their tassels to the left, thus crossing into a new stage of life.

The ceremony was held at the Dixon High Performing Arts Center. The graduates of the Dixon Unified School District’s continuation high school walked down the theater’s steps to “Pomp and Circumstance,” played by the Dixon High Band, and each took a seat in the front row.

MPHS Principal Yvette Ramos teared up as she addressed the Class of 2023.

Source: Dixon’s Maine Prairie High celebrates 16 graduates – The Vacaville Reporter

SPI Pledges to Help Counter the Fentanyl Crisis – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

Posted on by

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond provided testimony at a joint hearing of the California Assembly Select Committees on Fentanyl, Opioid Addiction, and Overdose Prevention; Public Safety; and Health to share updates on efforts he and the California Department of Education (CDE) have undertaken to address the ongoing opioid crisis that claimed the lives of over 6,800 Californians in 2021 alone

“There are plenty of resources to help. We all have the ability to help save a life,” Thurmond said. “So we encourage students who need help to call 9-8-8 and obviously any one of our thousand school districts can contact the CDE directly for help on how to access Narcan, drug prevention, education, and substance abuse treatment programs. I want to assure these committees and the people of California that my team at the CDE and I are doing what we can to fight the fentanyl epidemic. We are focused not only on prevention and education but effective treatments, especially naloxone (Narcan)—a lifesaving drug when administered after an opioid overdose.”

Source: SPI Pledges to Help Counter the Fentanyl Crisis – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

11 Vanden student-athletes celebrated for college scholarships – Daily Republic

Posted on by

By Matt Miller

Eleven student-athletes headed to four-year colleges on scholarships were honored Tuesday night at Vanden High School in what athletic director Sean Murphy called “the most decorated class in school history.”

Murphy said that this group of Vikings has been a part of eight Sac-Joaquin Section championships during their careers and “numerous league championships.”

“It says a lot about what they put into their four years,” Murphy told the assembled athletes, coaches, family, friends and teammates. “I truly feel our staff has gotten them prepared for college. We’re very proud of all of them.”

Source: 11 Vanden student-athletes celebrated for college scholarships