By Susan Hiland
The Fairfield-Suisun governing school board will meet Thursday to decide how to go forth after board president David C. Isom’s resignation.
Isom officially resigned his position on July 24, and submitted his paperwork to Lisette Estrella-Henderson, Solano County Superintendent of Schools.
His resignation is effective Monday.
Source: Isom resignation as school board president prompts application process
By Debra Dingman
The last City Council meeting was a packed agenda with the 4th of July annual report, information on the lights and landscape expenses, and the approval of new limited parking signs at the Pardi Plaza.
In between those topics were reviews of citizens who have not paid their sewer and/or their garbage bills and the collection process to collect or place liens.
The meeting kicked off with an official commendation of Police Officer Jason Malone by Chief Robert Thompson. Malone has served the past four years as the School Resource Officer at Dixon High School. He has just completed the “inaugural first 4-year assignment,” as Thompson put it, for a pilot program initiated by the Dixon Unified School District and the City for an officer on campus. “He has excelled in that role,” Thompson added recalling the first summer when Malone returned to regular duty, the phone would ring incessantly because of the relationships he had established with the students.
By Daniel Egitto
Solano County residents with open child support cases can pick up free backpacks with back-to-school supplies beginning Aug. 1.
Stuffed with essentials including crayons, rulers, pencil sharpeners, pocket folders, spiral notebooks, scissors and glue sticks, 100 backpacks in a variety of colors will be available for families with children in kindergarten through fifth grade. The Solano County Department of Child Support Services is leading the giveaway at the agency’s office at 674 Texas Street, Suite 5700 in Fairfield, according to a county press release.
The office is open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday and the giveaway will continue until the backpacks are gone. Families can pick up one backpack per child.
Source: Free school supplies available for Solano families – Times-Herald
By Katie Kim
More than 100 students gathered at the State Capitol Wednesday as part of a program designed to empower Chicano and Latino youth in their academic and professional endeavors.
The Capitol Day event was part of the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project’s (CLYLP) annual week-long Statewide Leadership Conference in Sacramento. Since its inception in 1982, the conference has provided workshops and seminars to enhance leadership skills, academic preparedness and an understanding of state and local government, among other goals.
Source: Program helping future Chicano, Latino leaders in Sacramento | abc10.com
Travis Unified School District will continue to serve free meals under the National School Lunch / School Breakfast Programs during the 2023-24 school year, the district announced.
All TK-12 students will be served lunch and breakfast at no charge at Center, Travis and Scandia elementary schools in Fairfield; Cambridge and Foxboro elementary schools in Vacaville; as well as Golden West Middle School and Vanden High School, both in Fairfield.
Source: Travis Unified to serve free meals during next school year
By Jeremiah Martinez
A Vacaville teacher is being rewarded for his work with a multi-day vacation.
Ryan Price, who is a teacher at Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy, is one of three grand prize winners for Norwegian Cruise Line’s fourth annual Giving Joy contest.
•Video Above: PRIDE Industries helps veterans find jobs
The contest is an annual honor by the cruise line to highlight the “hard work and relentless dedication” of teachers across North America, according to a press release.
Source: Vacaville teacher Ryan Price named a grand prize winner in Norwegian Cruise Line contest
A live-streamed candidate forum for the Vacaville Unified School District Trustee Area 4 special election is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday.
“All three candidates – Lindsay Kelly, Michael Martin and Dave McCallum – are expected to take part in the forum, which will be moderated by Nolan Sullivan and Ciana Vasquez Pimentel. Questions will be posed by adults and students who live in the school district,” organizers said in a statement.
Kelly is an insurance claims adjuster. Martin is a real estate broker. McCallum is a broadcaster.
Source: Streamed candidate forum set for Vaca schools Trustee Area 4
By Jordan Baker
Perseverance was the word of the day for Vallejo High School and John Finney High School 2023 graduates on Monday.
“You’ve shown perseverance,” Vallejo City Unified School District Superintendent William Spalding told the group at a special ceremony for students unable to participate in June’s graduation ceremony because of a lack of credits.
“Maybe not the exact way you planned it, but what you’ve done is very important,” Spalding said. “You’ve gone to finish up the work. You’ve shown the type of perseverance you’ll need your whole life.
By Susan Hiland
In a brief meeting Thursday night for the Fairfield Governing School Board, Sheila McCabe, assistant Superintendent of Education Services, reminded everyone that summer is nearly done and the new school year will begin in just a few short weeks.
“Some important dates are coming up,” she said. “School will actually be started before our next meeting.”
Those important events and dates include a Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District Teacher Hiring Fair from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the at the FSUSD Central Office on 2490 Hilborn Road. Register at bit.ly/hiringfair23.
Source: Fairfield school board hears important upcoming dates for the new school year
By Susan Hiland
The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District will welcome students back to the classrooms in a few short weeks, and new teachers will be there to greet them.
Linda Houston was offered a position as special education teacher at a hiring fair Saturday for the school district.
The mother of two grown sons is excited to be returning to the classroom after taking time away last year. For many years, she worked as a paraeducator in the special-education classroom and left for a job as an administrative assistant.
Source: FSUSD hires new staff for the coming school year at job fair
By Amy Maginnis-Honey
The city council opted to form a subcommittee to pursue finances and support for a new Markeley Lane, off Peabody Road.
Vice Mayor Pam Bertani, who serves the district, and Mayor Catherine Moy are the subcommittee. Moy has been meeting with Solano County Supervisor Mitch Mashburn and Vacaville Mayor John Carli. “They will do everything they can to help us fund this,” she said.
Source: Council forms subcommittee to explore funding for Markeley Lane
By Thomas Gase
When it comes to youth and art in Vallejo, the group Vallejo Seeking Solutions wants to draw a better canvas.
In a city known for its diverse artistic talent, this group is aiming to put together a vocational arts school that would develop talents for youth in that field at an earlier age.
And they want to let everyone know about it.
The group is hosting a town hall meeting on Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the JFK Library’s Joseph Room to discuss the proposed Minsodie Vocational School of the Arts. The group has been working diligently for three years to bring a school in that capacity to the city.
Source: Vocational school on the drawing board? – Times-Herald
The Fairfield High School Hall of Fame induction class for 2023 will feature one of the best hurdlers ever to come out of Solano County and a baseball team that shocked the Sac-Joaquin Section with a championship run.
Daje Pugh earned the state track and field championship in the 300-meter hurdles in 2012, was a six-time state placer and a seven-time Section Masters champion. Pugh went on to compete collegiately at Washington and Kentucky.
The 1999 Fairfield baseball team won the section title despite entering the postseason tournament as the third seed out of the Monticello Empire League. The Falcons went undefeated in the playoffs and defeated Woodland, with future Boston Red Sox star Dustin Pedroia, in the title game.
Source: Fairfield High names its upcoming Hall of Fame class for 2023
By Nick McConnell
Michael Kitzes looks forward as president of the Vacaville Unified School District Governing Board to welcoming a new board member this evening. Two applicants are vying for the Area 6 seat left vacant when Kelly Welsh resigned from the board in May.
Tracee Stacy would not be so new after having served on the board from 2016 to 2020. She was unseated by Welsh three years ago. The other applicant is a newcomer, Amy Tran Russell. Each will make her case to join the board and one will do so by the end of the meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m.
Candidates will be invited to give a statement, Superintendent Ed Santopadre said at the board meeting in June, and answer questions from the five board members. The board will then deliberate before announcing the appointment. Ranked choice voting will be used to select the new member.
Source: VUSD board to appoint Area 6 trustee – The Vacaville Reporter
By Amy Maginnis-Honey
Casey Ellis is one proud vocal coach.
Her student, Senzel Ahmady, is starring as Jasmine in Disney’s Theatrical Productions “Aladdin,” arriving Aug. 2 at the Orpheum Theatre for a two-week run.
Ahmady is a 2020 graduate of Rodriguez High School who honed her musical theater skills with Ellis at the Young Artists Academy of Music in Vacaville. She also attended Nelda Munday and Green Valley Middle School.
Ellis said in an email that Ahmady was always eager to learn new things and had quite a stage presence in her youth.
Source: Rodriguez grad starring as Jasmine in ‘Aladdin’ stage show
The California State Board of Education today approved the 2023 Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools, instructional guidance for educators that affirms California’s commitment to ensuring equity and excellence in math learning for all students.
“I’m thankful for everyone who worked tirelessly to develop this framework to ensure California’s students have equitable access to rigorous and high-quality math instruction that will prepare them for the future. The framework has struck a great balance in new ways to engage students in developing a love for math while supporting those on an accelerated path,” said Mary Nicely, Chief Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Our State Superintendent is a champion of equity and excellence, and it is our core mission that every child—regardless of race, ZIP code, or background—has access to a quality education. The approval of the revised Math Framework is one more step forward to meeting the needs of all California’s students.”
Source: California Approves Revised Math Framework – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)
By Carolyn Jones
Wilfred Adu-Beng was already grappling with a mountain of hardships after his father and stepmother died. Getting his younger brother — for whom he was suddenly responsible — to middle school every day proved to be one of the biggest hurdles of all.
In essence, it was impossible. Adu-Beng, a psychiatric tech at a hospital near San Bernardino, often worked swing or early morning shifts.
He lived too far from the school for his brother to take the bus. Adu-Beng feared he’d have to quit his job in order to get his brother to school.
Source: Bill would regulate ride-share companies that take students to school | EdSource
Credit: Allison Shelley for American Education
California teacher candidates would get paid while student teaching, and the state would begin a public relations campaign to recruit new teachers to the profession, if two new bills pass the Legislature and are signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The bills are among a raft of legislation that lawmakers are considering during the 2023-24 legislative session to make it easier for people to become teachers.
Before earning a credential, California teachers are required to complete 600 hours of student teaching. The lack of pay for this work has long been considered a major roadblock for teacher candidates, who must still pay tuition, for books and supplies plus other living expenses, while completing student teaching and taking teacher preparation courses.
Source: Proposed California laws could remove hurdles to becoming a teacher | EdSource
The 2022-23 Solano County civil grand jury explored how public schools have responded to the return of in-person instruction following the Covid-19 shutdown.
“One of the purposes of the jury’s report was to learn what actions were taken to create a successful and safe return for students,” the report’s summary states. It was issued on June 30.
It concludes that school districts “have utilized Covid-19 funds effectively to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff.” It does not address any academic response.
Source: Grand jury goes beyond pandemic in look at schools post-pandemic
By Matt Miller
Laid up with a severe back injury after helping his invalid father into the house, Matt Ceriani thought his baseball days might officially be over.
Ceriani, a 1994 Vanden High School graduate, played many years as a catcher and had successfully turned it into a coaching career, mainly working with those hoping to succeed at his favorite position. Then an idea came to mind.
“I was lying there one night, looking out into the dark, and I could literally see it,” Ceriani said. “I wanted a device that could be used online where kids couldn’t lie about their throwing times. It was a pipe dream, but it was an idea I thought, ‘I can do this.’”
Source: Vanden grad hopes his electronic timing device catches attention of catchers, coaches