By Thomas Gase
The William Spalding era in Vallejo ends this weekend.
After 37 years working in education and nearly three years as Vallejo City Unified School District’s Superintendent, Spalding is retiring at the end of June. He will be replaced on Monday by Ruben Aurelio, who was named the new superintendent in April.
Spalding sent out a news release on Tuesday, thanking the City of Vallejo.
Source: Spalding thankful for ‘most consequential time for Vallejo’ – Times Herald Online
By Lynzie Lowe
To help outfit Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District students with materials the upcoming school year, the Fairfield Community Services Foundation has launched the first-ever Sneakers for Success drive.
“After more than 15 years of supporting Fairfield’s youth through our annual back-to-school, backpack, and food giveaway, the Fairfield Community Services Foundation has looked to enhance what our community needs,” said Jeremy Profitt, Fairfield Community Services Foundation Board Member. “This initiative is not just about providing shoes; it’s about empowering our community and giving our youth a successful head start to the school year.”
The Solano County Office of Education earned a quartet of awards from the National School Public Relations Association.
“SCOE received national recognition for its vibrant ‘Dreams, Gratitudes & Wishes’ community art showcase that traveled to various events and locations promoting connections between community members and a collective sense of belonging,” the county agency said in a statement.
The award was part of the association’s Golden Achievement Awards program.
Source: Public relations group recognizes SCOE | News | dailyrepublic.com
Six local school staff members recently were recognized as Solano Early Childhood Educators of the Year.
The top educators, honored at a Friday reception, are: Administrator: Sabrina Drake, Solano Community College, Fairfield campus; Special Education Teacher: Heather Hanks, SCOE Me Too Program at T.C. McDaniel Early Learning Center in Fairfield; Preschool Teacher: Maribel Romero, Mathew Turner Preschool in Benicia; Family Childcare Teacher: Fabiola Jimenez, Kiddoz Daycare in Vallejo; Infant Toddler Teacher: Tami Morris, Circle of Friends in Fairfield; and Support Staff: Rachel Taylor, Solano Community College, Fairfield campus.
Source: Six locals honored as top Early Childhood educators | News | dailyrepublic.com
The Solano County chapter of the Association of California School Administrators recently honored administrators for their outstanding leadership and commitment to education.
Source: FSUSD administrators honored for leadership, commitment | News | dailyrepublic.com
By Richard Bammer
Dixon Unified leaders Thursday night are expected to approve two key documents that will guide the rural eastern Solano County school district in the coming year: the Local Control Accountability Plan and the 2024-25 budget.
NIck Girimonte, the assistant superintendent of educational services, will recommend approval of the LCAP, a sort of blueprint of the district’s budget for the coming academic year and subsequent two years.
It is a plan, according to agenda documents, that describes the goals, actions, services and expenses “to support positive student outcomes that address state and local priorities.”
Source: DUSD trustees expected to approve LCAP, 2024-25 budget – The Vacaville Reporter
Travis Unified School District trustees this week voted to place a $65 million facilities improvement bond on the Nov. 5 ballot.
The bond would set a rate of 6 cents on every $100 of assessed value, generating an average of $4.7 million per year for facility needs. It would take 55% of the voters to approve the measure. The last initiative garnered 50% support.
“The board believes that a high quality education is the fundamental right of every student, and seeks to provide a 21st century education in a safe and engaging learning environment for all students,” the proposed resolution states.
Source: Voters in Travis Unified district to vote on facilities bond | News | dailyrepublic.com
District leaders are expected to approve the Local Control Accountability Plan and the 2024-25 budget, key annual financial documents, when the Travis Unified governing board meets Tuesday evening in Fairfield.
Approval of the $86.5 million budget comes on the heels of a June 4 governing board meeting, when Chief Business Officer Gabe Moulaison, in a public hearing and presentation, detailed the pending academic year’s proposed budget for the 5,400-student district. (It operates five elementary schools — two on Travis Air Force Base, Scandia and Travis, and two, Cambridge and Foxboro, in Vacaville, and Center Elementary in Fairfield — Golden West Middle School, Vanden High, and a continuation high school.)
Twenty Fairfield-Suisun Unified teachers last week completed a program designed to help new teachers gain “essential skills and knowledge in effective teaching practices.”
“The participating teachers are in the early stages of their careers, either currently in their first years of teaching or about to begin in the upcoming school year, and are all working toward earning their preliminary teaching credentials,” the district said about the FSUSD Pre-Induction Teacher Institute.
“Throughout the institute, the teachers gained essential skills and knowledge in effective teaching practices, including the development of standards-aligned learning intentions and success criteria for students. They also delved into the elements of unit and lesson design and learned how to plan inclusive and equitable learning experiences for all students.”
Source: First-year ‘teacher institute’ declared a success | News | dailyrepublic.com
By Richard Bammer
School’s out but child hunger is always in session.
Vacaville Unified’s Seamless Summer Food Program offers free nutritious breakfasts and lunches to all children 18 and younger, Mondays to Fridays through Aug. 9 at three sites across town. Note: There will be no service on Wednesday (Juneteenth) and July 4 (Independence Day).
Children must be present to receive meals. No application is necessary and no questions are asked.
Source: School’s out in Vacaville, but the summer food program is in – The Vacaville Reporter
By Richard Bammer
Applications are being accepted for the Institute, sponsored by the Solano County Office of Education in Fairfield and Touro University California in Vallejo. For those students who wish to attend, they must apply online before June 28 for the event, set for the week of Aug. 5.
A five-day intensive youth advocate training program, it will be led by experts in the field of youth development, peer education, and public health, among other things. The aim is to develop and encourage the next generation of public health leaders, Jennifer Leonard, a spokeswoman for the SCOE, said in a press statement.
Source: SCOE accepting applications for summer Youth Leadership Institute – The Vacaville Reporter
By Todd R. Hansen
The Fairfield-Suisun Unified Teachers Association this week approved the tentative contract with the school district.
“It was overwhelmingly passed,” union President Pam Williamson said of Monday’s vote. “We had an 88% passed of those who voted.”
The district Board of Trustees is scheduled to vote on the deal on June 27. Williamson does not expect any hiccup in the board’s action.
Source: Fairfield-Suisun Unified teachers pass one-year contract | News | dailyrepublic.com
By Todd R. Hansen
The Travis Unified school board on Monday tabled a decision on whether to place a $65 million general obligation bond on the November ballot.
Two board members – President Matthew Bidou and Vice President Will Wade – indicated their support for putting the measure on the ballot, and support for the measure itself, but Trustee Ivery Hood said, “I will not be supporting the bond.”
“I guess my primary reason is that I feel like we’ve gone out twice to the community and what I’ve learned over the years is that there’s a (percentage) of the community that already supports the schools, and are paying the Mello-Roos, and I think it throws things out of balance,” Hood said.
Source: Travis Unified trustees hold off on bond vote | News | dailyrepublic.com
By Richard Bammer
The Local Control Accountability Plan and the projected 2024-25 budget are on the agenda when Dixon Unified leaders meet Thursday evening in Dixon.
Trudy Barrington, the school district’s chief business official, will offer information about the 2024-25 LCAP, a sort of blueprint for the district’s budget for the coming academic year. She also will offer information about the two outlying years, through June 30, 2027, based on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state budget revision released early last month.
Source: LCAP, 2024-25 budget on DUSD governing board agenda – The Vacaville Reporter
By Richard Bammer
Local Control Accountability Plans and the projected 2024-25 budgets for the district and several charter schools are on the agenda when Vacaville Unified leaders meet Thursday evening in Vacaville.
Kelly Burks, the associate superintendent of business and administrative services, will present the Local Control Funding Formula, a description of the district’s money sources, first in a public hearing, followed by information about the 2024-25 LCAP, a sort of blueprint for the district’s projected $185 million in expenses while revenue tops out at $167 million for the coming academic year.
Under the funding formula, California school districts get money from state, local and federal funds. By law, districts must adopt their budgets by June 30, the end of the fiscal year.
Source: LCAPs, budgets for district, several charter schools on VUSD agenda – The Vacaville Reporter
By Amy Maginnis-Honey
The city council recently approved $1.8 million toward the restoration of Markeley Lane.
Funding includes conceptual planning, environmental documentation, right-of-way acquisition, and full design for the Markeley Lane extension from Viking Lane to Peabody Road.
Staff would pursue grant funding to build this project. Preliminary estimates indicate construction would cost $3.2 million.
Source: Markeley Lane restoration gets some funding; more may be on the way | Highway | dailyrepublic.com
By Richard Bammer
The Local Control Accountability Plan and the 2024-25 budget are on the agenda when Travis Unified leaders meet Tuesday evening in Fairfield.
Tiffany Benson, the assistant superintendent for educational services, will present the Local Control Funding Formula, a description of the district’s money sources, first in a public hearing, followed by information about the LCAP, a sort of blueprint for how the district will spend some $86 million in expenses for the coming academic year.
Under the funding formula, California school districts get money from the state, local and federal funds.
Source: LCAP and 2024-25 budget on TUSD trustees’ agenda – The Vacaville Reporter
By Thomas Gase
Ernest Kimme Charter Academy graduate Devin Osbun pauses to take a quick selfie of himself with a special scroll after walking across the stage during the Commencement Ceremonies on Thursday at Wildcat Stadium in Vacaville.
Source: Reflections of a graduating class – The Vacaville Reporter
School districts and community organizations across the Sacramento region are offering free summer meals.
For most programs, kids ages 18 and younger can get free breakfast and lunch with no qualifications or paperwork required.
The Sacramento Public Library is offering free lunches at 14 library locations throughout Sacramento County. Their meals are offered Tuesday through Friday from 12-1 p.m. starting June 18.
Source: Sacramento’s free summer lunch programs, no questions asked | abc10.com
By Thomas Gase
Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy’s graduates, Natalie Bolton (left) and Natalie Aaron, are showered with bubbles as they march in procession with their fellow 86 classmates at the beginning of Commencement Ceremonies on Friday at Tom Zunino Stadium in Vacaville, California.
Source: Buckingham Charter seniors graduate – The Vacaville Reporter