Monthly Archives: October 2024

Vallejo High gets new floor for Bottari gym – Times Herald Online

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By Thomas Gase

As numerous Vallejo High School basketball and volleyball players walked into Bottari Gym on Monday afternoon, they were floored with what they saw.

Nearly 11 years after the school changed its mascot name from the Apaches to the Redhawks, the old gym had its floor replaced during the past month. The floor’s center now has the logo of the Redhawks in a design that was made by current Vallejo High athletic director and head baseball coach as well as head boys basketball coach Andrew Johansen.

“This is amazing,” Johansen said while looking that the gym on Monday. “It’s nice to know the student athletes have something new and something to be proud of. I’m just so glad this was done.”

Source: Vallejo High gets new floor for Bottari gym – Times Herald Online

F-S Unified trustees talk ‘safety plan’ at Thursday meeting | dailyrepublic.com

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The Fairfield-Suisun school board on Thursday will review an updated Comprehensive School Safety Plan.

It states “FSUSD is completing an internal review on the following topics: Threats.”

“The internal review mentioned in the Comprehensive Safe School Plan is part of a broader initiative to address and respond to the national increase in threats, particularly those circulating on social media. This effort includes ongoing collaboration with local law enforcement, including the Fairfield Police Department, to ensure that we are taking proactive steps in protecting our students and staff,” Jaden Baird, executive director of Communications & Community Engagement, said in an email response to the Daily Republic.

Source: F-S Unified trustees talk ‘safety plan’ at Thursday meeting | News | dailyrepublic.com

Fairfield council will consider free fare for youths, eliminating cash boxes | dailyrepublic.com

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Free fares for youths, and eliminating cash payments for transit services, will go before the City Council on Tuesday.

The council will hold a public hearing, and a vote on the resolution could follow.

As part of restoring ridership to pre-pandemic levels, FAST proposes to offer free fares for youth as an incentive to ride on FAST local fixed routes.

Source: Fairfield council will consider free fare for youths, eliminating cash boxes | News | dailyrepublic.com

SCC instructor will create dance festival with grant money | dailyrepublic.com

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Solano Community College dance, kinesiology and health-education professor Ginger Cain will use a grant of just over $3,550 to spearhead the development of the inaugural “Dance, Create, Collaborate” dance festival.

The funds will enable Cain to develop a festival that aims to connect SCC with the Early College High School program on campus, local high schools and Bay Area colleges. It will feature collaborations with community artists.

Cain received the grant from the California Teachers Association Institute for Teaching initiative. She was one of 74 recipients of the grant in 2024.

Source: SCC instructor will create dance festival with grant money | Diversions | dailyrepublic.com

K-12 reading and math scores inch upward, but are still below pre-pandemic levels |  dailyrepublic.com

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California’s K-12 students are gradually rebounding from the pandemic, with nearly all student groups — especially low-income, Black and Latino students — showing progress in math and English language arts, according to standardized test scores the state released today.

“Today’s results suggest that California’s public schools are making encouraging gains, and these gains are largest for our most vulnerable groups of students,” said Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the State Board of Education.

Source: K-12 reading and math scores inch upward, but are still below pre-pandemic levels | News | dailyrepublic.com

Registration being taken for Youth Resiliency Summit | dailyrepublic.com

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Authors, artists and professional youth advocates will be the keynote speakers at a Youth Resiliency Summit scheduled for Dec. 24.

“The 2024 Youth Resiliency Summit, sponsored by Solano County Office of Education in partnership with Napa County Friday Night Live and Solano County Public Health, invites high school students in Solano and Napa counties to join a day of inspiration, growth and community action,” organizers in Solano County said in a statement.

The summit is set to run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at American Canyon High School, 3000 Newell Drive, in American Canyon.

Source: Registration being taken for Youth Resiliency Summit | News | dailyrepublic.com

2023–24 Assessment Results Show Student Progress – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

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The California Department of Education (CDE) released assessment results today that show continued progress made by California’s K–12 students, including accelerated progress closing equity gaps for socioeconomically disadvantaged students, Black/African American students, and Hispanic/Latino students.

The results include data for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC).

Source: 2023–24 Assessment Results Show Student Progress – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

Statewide test scores improved in 2024, but achievement still not back to pre-Covid levels | EdSource

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By Diana Lambert, John Fensterwald, Zaidee Stavely, Lasherica Thornton, Mallika Seshadri and Monica Velez

California students made some progress toward regaining their pre-Covid levels of achievement with incremental increases in English language arts, math and science scores last school year, according to state data released Wednesday.

English language arts test scores overall increased slightly, from 46.7% of the state’s students meeting or exceeding proficiency standards in 2023 to 47% in 2024. Math and science scores also edged up incrementally, with 30.7% of students in both subjects meeting or exceeding proficiency standards compared with 30.2% the year before.

Source: Statewide test scores improved in 2024, but achievement still not back to pre-Covid levels | EdSource

VUSD leaders to hear update on arts and music in schools – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

A Vacaville Unified School District official will update district trustees on the 2024-25 proposed spending plans for arts, music and instructional materials for several schools, and the governing board likely will approve two related agenda items during a public meeting Thursday night.

In a computer-aided slide presentation, Ali Eeds, director of secondary education, will note the money comes from a block grant from the Arts & Music in Schools Funding Guarantee & Accountability Act, Proposition 28.

Source: VUSD leaders to hear update on arts and music in schools – The Vacaville Reporter

SPI Announces 2025 California Teachers of the Year – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today named five exceptional educators as the 2025 California Teachers of the Year. These educators are ambassadors of the profession and serve as representatives of the state for the calendar year. Superintendent Thurmond, who began his career as a social services worker, said he is pleased to recognize the five outstanding teachers who have had a tremendous impact in their schools, students, and communities.

Superintendent Thurmond praised the five outstanding educators named 2025 California Teachers of the Year, highlighting their dedication, innovation, and hard work. “These remarkable teachers have a lasting impact on their students, equipping them with the skills needed for success. They serve as an inspiration and exemplify the exceptional work happening in California schools,” he said.

Presented by the California Department of Education (CDE) and supported by the California Teachers of the Year Foundation, the California Teachers of the Year Program began in 1972 to honor outstanding teachers and encourage and inspire new teachers to enter the profession.

Source: SPI Announces 2025 California Teachers of the Year – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

Meet the two candidates running for Benicia school board Trustee Area 3 – Vallejo Sun

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Two political newcomers — Kashanna Harmon-Lee and Janny Manasse — are competing for a spot with the Benicia Unified school board this November. They’re running for Trustee Area 3, an area that covers the western portion of Benicia north of Interstate 780. Whoever wins will replace board member Gethsemane Moss, the first Black woman elected to the school board, whose term expires this year.

The Vallejo Sun interviewed both candidates to hear more about the experiences they would bring to the job, and the biggest challenges they see facing the school district. You can find out more about how we cover elections on our FAQ.

Source: Meet the two candidates running for Benicia school board Trustee Area 3

AB 2245 Amends Education Code Section 44910 – Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo

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On September 29, 2024, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (“AB”) 2245 into law, amending Education Code section 44910 to require school districts to grant service credit to regional occupational center or program (“ROCP”) teachers, if the ROCP is operated by a single school district.

Existing law establishes ROCPs for students to engage with and learn career technical education skills. While ROCP teachers are certificated employees, their ROCP service previously did not count toward attaining permanency. Prior to AB 2245, ROCP teachers remained in perpetual temporary status. Following two significant Court of Appeals’ decisions in 2006 and 2007,[1] ROCP instructors were properly designated as “probationary,” even though their status would not lead to permanent status (commonly referred to as “prob zeroes”).

Source: AB 2245 Amends Education Code Section 44910 to Grant Regional Occupational Center Program Teachers Pathway to Obtain Permanent Status: Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo

SCC bio manufacturing student travels to New York for bone marrow donation | dailyrepublic.com

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The city of Vacaville is saluting one of its own for donating bone marrow to help an 11-year-old in New York.

Through Solano Community College’s partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program Jose Solorio registered to a be a donor at an event on campus.

“My motivation for registering was because I wanted to help people, to give people a second chance at life,” he said in press materials. “I don’t think it’s fair for someone’s life to be cut short due to an inevitable disease. So if I could help prevent that from happening, I will.”

Source: SCC bio manufacturing student travels to New York for bone marrow donation | News | dailyrepublic.com

VUSD leaders to discuss proposed new bond measure at special meeting – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Vacaville Unified School District leaders will hear a facilities update and discuss Measure E, a $317 million general obligation bond program on the Nov. 5 ballot, when they meet Saturday morning for a special governing board workshop.

Adam Rich, the district’s senior director of facilities, will lead the workshop.

If approved by 55 percent of district voters, the bond will pay for new buildings and modernize or renovate others across the school district’s 19 campuses. If approved, it would levy costs to property owners of $48 per $100,000 of assessed value annually.

Source: VUSD leaders to discuss proposed new bond measure at special meeting – The Vacaville Reporter

New Superintendent Shares Route to Dixon | Independent Voice

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By Debra Dingman

New Dixon Unified School District Superintendent Brett Barley has only become more diversified in knowledge and skills as he wound his way toward a career in school administration. After being raised by both parents in teaching and school administration, it was likely he’d pursue education.

“The Barley family barbecues were always ‘teacher talk’ so it made sense for a small-town Michigan kid in search of better work to get into teaching,” Barley shared at a recent meeting about his path that led him to Dixon and why he thinks he can make it a “Destination District.” This father of two elementary-age sons seems to have a gift for understanding the complex and finding positive, workable solutions.

Source: New Superintendent Shares Route to Dixon | Independent Voice

High school students wanted for Leadership Council | dailyrepublic.com

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Rep. Mike Thompson and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry are seeking high school students interested in participating in the 2024-25 Student Leadership Council.

The council is a program “that allows local students to work directly with their elected officials and staff to develop leadership skills, learn how government works, and engage with our community.”

It is open to any high school student in the 4th Congressional District and the 4th Assembly District. Student leaders are expected to attend a minimum of three to five mandatory meetings during the year.

Source: High school students wanted for Leadership Council | News | dailyrepublic.com

Solano Winds community band goes beyond ‘The Planets’ – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

He was far from a one-hit wonder and forged a distinctive compositional style drawn from many sources — Strauss and Wagner to English folk songs and Sanskrit hymns. But perhaps more importantly, he laid the foundations for community bands in the 20th-century.

The influence of English composer Gustav Holst on wind bands cannot be denied, says Bill Doherty, leader of the Solano Winds community concert band, which opens its 30th season Oct. 11 with a program called “Sublime Suites: Celebrating Gustav Holst” at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre.

While Holst’s astrological suite “The Planets” (1916) is his best-known symphonic work, played fairly regularly in concert halls, his First Suite in E flat major for Military Band (1909) ranks as a touchstone of the modern band repetoire, said Doherty, who is in his last year as the Winds’ conductor.

Source: October 3 Vallejo/Vacaville Arts and Entertainment Source: Solano Winds community band goes beyond ‘The Planets’ – The Vacaville Reporter

Leaven Kids celebrate 15 years with two new awards | dailyrepublic.com

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Leaven Kids, a nonprofit committed to early childhood education, celebrated its 15th anniversary at its annual fundraising gala at the Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa.

The gala brought together more than 300 business leaders, community partners and philanthropists to support its mission of youth educational development.

The gala is Leaven Kids’ flagship fundraising event, featuring a formal dinner, live auction and keynote address. All proceeds from the evening will directly support the organization’s after-school programs, which provide tutoring and educational resources to students living in historically underserved neighborhoods.

Source: Leaven Kids celebrate 15 years with two new awards | News | dailyrepublic.com

Travis Credit Union Launches Generation Wealth at Benicia High School – KTLA 5

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Travis Credit Union (TCU) unveiled Generation Wealth, its newly refreshed and rebranded award-winning, interactive youth financial education initiative, today at Benicia High School. Formerly known as Mad City Money, more than 13,000 students have attended the TCU program since its inception in 2009.

Generation Wealth is aimed at empowering students with essential skills for successful money management throughout their lives. Through immersive scenarios, participants are tasked with navigating real-life situations that include jobs, salaries, bills, families, and credit scores, giving them a practical understanding of budgeting, saving, and financial decision-making.

Source: Travis Credit Union Launches Generation Wealth at Benicia High School

These are the 50 best school districts in America for 2025, report finds | WDTN.com

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Choosing where to live could come down to the strength of the school district for many parents, and a new study ranks the top 50 in the nation.

Niche, an education research and rankings platform, weighed data for over 11,000 school districts for its annual selection. The rankings are based on ratings from current students, alumni and parents, along with quantitative data from the U.S. Department of Education.

The study comes at a time when young students across the country are still trying to recover from “historic” learning setbacks caused by the pandemic. After a record injection of $190 billion in federal dollars, some students’ test scores have improved but millions are still behind, a June analysis found.

Source: These are the 50 best school districts in America for 2025, report finds | WDTN.com