Monthly Archives: January 2024

Vacaville youth sought to design Play for All Park mural – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Lynzie Lowe

The Vacaville Public Education Foundation is seeking mural designs created by local youth for the pavilion at the Play for All Park.

“Designs must be colorful and include a school house, as well as an owl,” said organizers. “Other elements like trees, books, animals, stars, and other creative ideas can be included. Interior spaces of the pavilion can also be incorporated into the concept.”

According to organizers, all Vacaville Unified School District students in grades 7-12 are eligible to enter.

Source: Vacaville youth sought to design Play for All Park mural – The Vacaville Reporter

A blast from the past in Fairfield – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Nick McConnell

For anyone feeling nostalgic for the days of mixtapes instead of playlists, pagers instead of smartphones, and Blockbuster instead of Nextflix, the Farfield-Suisun Unified School District uncovered a little piece of the 1990s at the Fairfield-Suisun Adult School campus last week.

Contractors digging near the site’s flagpole for a solar installation project found a time capsule sealed and buried by members of the 1999 sixth-grade class before the millennium at what was then Bransford Elementary School.

Items found included handwritten notes, drawings, baseball and Pokemon cards, action figures and news clippings. Teacher Steve Patton, who still works for the district as an eighth-grade teacher, had some of his personal belongings uncovered by the excavation.

Source: A blast from the past in Fairfield – The Vacaville Reporter

First 5 Solano announces construction date for learning center – Times Herald Online

Posted on by

By Thomas Gase

Six months after First 5 Solano announced its purchase of the former Beverly Hills Elementary School on Coronel Avenue, construction is scheduled to begin in March to create the first Multi-Agency Early Learning Center in California.

The center, slated to be completed in June 2026, will be a hub for early learning that will provide a variety of early care and education opportunities for infants through preschoolers and families of all income levels, while creating economic opportunities for providers and filling a critical need in the county.

“This is a proud moment for Solano County and reflective of our commitment to supporting children 5 and younger,” said Solano County Supervisor Erin Hannigan in a news release. “I applaud First 5 Solano for envisioning the Vallejo Early Learning Center, and all the community partners who came together to help make it a reality. This will impact the lives of children and families for generations.”

Source: First 5 Solano announces construction date for learning center – Times Herald Online

SPI Responds to Governor’s Proposed 2024–25 Budget – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

Posted on by

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 2024–25:

I am grateful to Governor Newsom that there are no major reductions or pullbacks in vital education programs. By preserving our Educator Workforce Investments, Community Schools Investments, and Learning Recovery Investments, we ensure that our students, families, and educators have what they need to improve literacy, math proficiency, and social–emotional wellness. We are pleased to see the Proposition 98 guarantee slightly up from its projected value but disappointed in the Average Daily Attendance decline, with COLA at 0.76 percent when it was projected to be at 3.5 percent.

Source: SPI Responds to Governor’s Proposed 2024–25 Budget – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

County approves contract for early learning center renovations | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

The Solano County supervisors on Tuesday transferred the former Beverly Hills Elementary School property in Vallejo to Child Start Inc. to be used as an early learning center.

Supervisor Erin Hannigan called it a “proud moment” in the county’s history of supporting children 5 and younger, and Supervisor Monica Brown noted the need for such centers in the county.

“Early education is what the future of society rests on,” Brown said.

Source: County approves contract for early learning center renovations | Company | dailyrepublic.com

SCOE creates ribbon wall as part of MLK celebration | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

The Solano County Office of Education has created a “Dreams, Gratitudes & Wishes” ribbon art wall in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The art piece is on display through the end of January in the office lobby.

“The art wall will feature ribbons (on which) community members, SCOE employees and students can write a special thought of gratitude, a dream they are working toward or a wish. The ribbons will hang together in a colorful display, flanked by quotes from Dr. King,” SCOE organizers said in a statement.

Source: SCOE creates ribbon wall as part of MLK celebration | News | dailyrepublic.com

Water conservation student video contest marks 14th year | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

The Solano County Water Agency is accepting 60-second video entries from students in grades 6 through 12 that support water conservation.

The prize for the winning entry in the 14th annual video contest is $1,500.

“The contest is soliciting original videos that express ideas related to this year’s theme, ‘Think Outside the Sink: Keeping the Rainfall in our Reservoir,’ ” according to a statement released by the Solano Resource Conservation District.

Source: Water conservation student video contest marks 14th year | News | dailyrepublic.com

CA Receives $4.99M in SASI Grants – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

Posted on by

On Thursday, January 4, the United States Department of Education announced that the California Department of Education (CDE) is among the recipients of the Supporting America’s School Infrastructure (SASI) Grant Program. Through a SASI Grant, CDE will receive $4.99 million toward improving school facilities in small school districts across California.

“I am pleased that we have been able to secure this federal support for our rural districts. We know how important school facilities are in providing a safe and healthy environment for our students. We must make sure that safe, healthy, and up-to-date school facilities are available to children in every community,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. “Every student should be learning in an optimal environment that supports them to be healthy, safe, engaged, and challenged.”

Source: CA Receives $4.99M in SASI Grants – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

Russell officially newest Vaca Unified trustee |  dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

It is official – Amy Tran Russell is the newest member of the Vacaville Unified School District board of trustees.

The Solano County Registrar of Voters certified the election on Friday and delivered the final paperwork to the county Office of Education, which called for the election after receiving a protest petition over the board’s appointment to the Trustee Area 6 post.

The school board had appointed Russell as the replacement for Trustee Kelly Welch, who moved out of district and had to step down from the board. However, the protest petition was filed, forcing what was the second special election the school district held since September.

Source: Russell officially newest Vaca Unified trustee | News | dailyrepublic.com

County Elections Office gearing up for March 5 primary | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

The Vacaville Unified School District just completed the second of two special elections to fill vacated terms on its board of trustees.

Lindsay Kelly was elected in September to represent Trustee Area 4, and Amy Tran Russell was elected in December in Trustee Area 6.

Both terms extend through the end of the November general election.Both elections were conducted by the Solano County Registrar of Voters Office, and while the last of those special elections will not be certified until Jan. 5, the county office is pivoting in preparation for the March 5 primary.

Source: County Elections Office gearing up for March 5 primary | News | dailyrepublic.com

SCOE and SCC Team Up to Host Solano County VEX Robotics League | Independent Voice

Posted on by

Solano County Office of Education (SCOE) and Solano Community College (SCC) have partnered together in hosting a VEX robotics league for Solano County students, with the latest competition happening Friday night, December 15th at Solano Community College.

The Solano County VEX Robotics League is open to all VEX Robotics teams in middle and high school in Solano County. Ten teams representing Golden West Middle School in Travis Unified School District, Rodriguez High School in Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, Vacaville Christian School and the Solano County Girls Who Code Club have competed in the competitions; the competition series includes four separate events with the final competition being held in January.

Source: SCOE and SCC Team Up to Host Solano County VEX Robotics League | Independent Voice