Monthly Archives: July 2025

Backpack to the Future DUSD | Independent Voice

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The Dixon Unified School District will host its annual Backpack to the Future Festival from 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 2 at Pardi Plaza, 132 E. A St.

The event offers a variety of resources, entertainment and activities to help families prepare for the upcoming school year.

According to Superintendent Brett Barley, the event is packed with family fun.

“There will be a deejay, some story time activities with the library, mascots, food and tables where kids can color and draw while their parents learn about our services and participate in giveaways,” Barley said.

Source: Backpack to the Future | Independent Voice

How to donate new books to Vallejo students before the school year – Yahoo! news

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By Jordan Baker

Want to donate new books to Vallejo students? For the fifth consecutive year, Another Chapter Solano is throwing its Back to School giveaway.

Another Chapter began as a response to the educational challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has blossomed into an annual tradition focused on helping Vallejo students receive back-to-school essentials.

According to Another Chapter Solano, more than three-fourths of Vallejo City Unified School District students are reading below grade level.

Source: How to donate new books to Vallejo students before the school year

Former high school coach joins celebration for CC Sabathia’s Hall of Fame enshrinement | dailyrepublic.com

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By Matt Miller

Vallejo should be well-represented on Sunday in Cooperstown, New York, as CC Sabathia is enshrined into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Vacaville residents Abe and Terri Hobbs will be in attendance to join the festivities. Abe Hobbs was Sabathia’s high school baseball coach at Vallejo High School and the families have remained close.

“We have more in common than baseball now,” Hobbs said. “We both have four kids, so we have that connection. He’s 45 now and I’m 55. Where has the time gone?”

Source: Former high school coach joins celebration for CC Sabathia’s Hall of Fame enshrinement | Community | dailyrepublic.com

SCOE trustees tap in-house administrator as interim leader – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

The Solano County Board of Education on Wednesday named a longtime public school educator who currently serves as a senior administrator with the Solano County Office of Education to be the interim superintendent of county schools.

The appointment of Nicola Parr, who earned a doctoral degree and currently serves as senior director of Student Services and Educational Options for SCOE in Fairfield, is a conditional one, pending the submission of her active administrative credential at the next public board meeting, Aug. 13.

Source: SCOE trustees tap in-house administrator as interim leader – The Vacaville Reporter

County Board of Education appoints 1st Black superintendent of schools | dailyrepublic.com

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Nikki Parr has been appointed as interim superintendent of schools for the Solano County Office of Education.

The Board of Education announced the appointment on Thursday.

Parr replaces Lisette Estrella-Henderson, who is leaving on Sept. 1 – 15 months before the end of her second elected term. Like Parr, she had been appointed to the post when her predecessor, Jay Speck, also vacated his last term early. That was Jan. 9, 2017.

Source: County Board of Education appoints 1st Black superintendent of schools | News | dailyrepublic.com

Grand jury: Expand successful school resource officer programs | dailyrepublic.com

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Expanding the school resource officer programs at the Fairfield and Vacaville police departments is strongly recommended by the 2024-25 Solano County civil grand jury.

It further encourages other districts to institute an resource officer programs if funding and personnel become available. Vallejo City and River Delta (Rio Vista) are the only districts that did not have programs at the time the grand jury did its review.

Source: Grand jury: Expand successful school resource officer programs | News | dailyrepublic.com

Tentative teacher-district wage agreements on Vacaville Unified agenda – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Tentative wage agreements between unionized teachers and district administrators, among other contracts, are on the agenda when Vacaville Unified leaders meet Thursday night.

David Robertson, the assistant superintendent of Human Resources, requests approval of two revised agreements between the district and the Vacaville Teachers Association, with one calling for a nearly 3 percent, across-the-board hike in pay for several employee sectors. They include digital education specialists, nurses, librarians, content area specialists; special education teachers; and the lead nurse.

Source: Tentative teacher-district wage agreements on Vacaville Unified agenda

Ex-Vallejo Charter School campus becomes new home for Student Services team – Times Herald

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The Vallejo City Unified School District announced on Monday that the former Vallejo Charter School campus will become the new home for its Student Services team.

The venue at 2833 Tennessee St. will oversee enrollment, transfer requests, and general concerns, plus the Student Health Clinic (formerly at Pennycook Elementary School).

Source: Ex-Vallejo Charter School campus becomes new home for Student Services team

Exhibitors wanted for FSUSD 8th-grade career fair | dailyrepublic.com

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The Fairfield-Suisun school district is looking for exhibitors for its “Inspire Dreams: Start Now” career exploration event for eighth-grade students.

“This unique initiative is designed to motivate students to discover their passions and envision future careers within their own community. Through hands-on activities and meaningful conversations with local professionals, students will have the opportunity to explore a variety of career paths and make valuable connections that can lead to mentoring, internships, and future employment,” the district said in a statement.

Source: Exhibitors wanted for FSUSD 8th-grade career fair | News | dailyrepublic.com

How ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ affects students, schools and colleges : NPR

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In just six months, the Trump administration and Republican-controlled Congress have brought lasting change – and enormous unpredictability – to federal education policy.

The U.S. Department of Education, under Secretary Linda McMahon, has cut roughly half its staff. It is also withholding nearly $7 billion in grant funding to school districts – for before- and after-school programs, teacher training, services for English language learners and more – while that funding undergoes further review.

Source: How ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ affects students, schools and colleges : NPR

Jesse Bethel High School Law Academy honored at statewide symposium – Times Herald Online

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By Thomas Gase

The Jesse Bethel High School Law Academy just keeps proving it’s a successful program.

The academy was recently honored with the Premier Law Academy Award at a statewide symposium hosted by the California Legal Pathways Collaborative, a program of the California Lawyers Foundation

Source: Jesse Bethel High School Law Academy honored at statewide symposium – Times Herald Online

Local superintendents react to education cuts – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Two Vacaville-area education leaders generally assailed the Trump administration’s recent withholding of nearly $7 billion in education funding just weeks before the start of the 2025-26 academic year but steered clear of questioning the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to gut the federal Department of Education, agreeing it was too early to foresee its outcome.

The high court on Monday ruled that the Trump administration can proceed with dismantling the DOE by firing about one-half the workforce, or some 1,300 employees who help to manage federal college loans, track student achievement and enforce civil right laws in schools, among other things.

Source: Local superintendents react to education cuts – The Vacaville Reporter

SROs make the grade – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick McConnell

The Solano County Grand Jury recently released a report on School Resource Officers in Solano County schools, particularly from the Vacaville Police Department and Fairfield Police Department. The report, issued July 1, is largely complimentary of the 30+ year program, for which officers receive special training.

“It was clear to this Jury that the presence of SROs in those two Solano County cities’ school districts is very beneficial and should be operated in a manner to maximize efficiency within the program,” the report reads.

Source: SROs make the grade – The Vacaville Reporter

2025 National Youth Science Camp Delegates – Year 2025 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has named two outstanding students as California’s delegates to the 62nd annual National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp).

Uzochi Orji of Murrieta (Riverside County), a senior at Murrieta Mesa High in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, and Irene L. Pan of Fullerton (Orange County), a junior at Valencia High School in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, were selected for their high achievement and proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).

“These two exemplary students are spearheading the future of our state in technology and industry by pursuing their interests in STEAM and are representing California as young researchers and as community leaders. I am confident they will continue to contribute meaningfully to the scientific community, to our state, and to our future,” said Thurmond. “I am immensely proud of them for their academic achievements and selection as California’s delegates to the National Youth Science Camp.”

Source: 2025 National Youth Science Camp Delegates – Year 2025 (CA Dept of Education)

Vacaville Unified celebrates historic exam success – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Robin Miller

Vacaville Unified School District is celebrating a historic academic milestone as students achieved unprecedented success on Advanced Placement (AP) exams during the 2024-25 school year.

In a press release issued Wednesday, district officials announced that 1,040 AP exams were passed by students this year — more than ever before in the district’s history. The overall pass rate rose to 79 percent, a significant jump from last year’s 68 percent.

Source: Vacaville Unified celebrates historic exam success – The Vacaville Reporter

VCUSD’s 7-11 committee considers seven more schools that could see potential closure – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Sarah Rodriguez

A citizen-led advisory committee, otherwise known as the 7-11 committee, used a second meeting on school consolidation within the Vallejo City Unified School District to name seven targeted schools that could see a possible closing due to declining student enrollment.

The committee, entering Phase 2 of its series of meetings, said it is evaluating and rank-ordering the following seven school sites for potential closure. It is not known at this time how many, if any, of the schools will be closed.

Source: VCUSD’s 7-11 committee considers seven more schools that could see potential closure – The Vacaville Reporter

Griffin Academy teacher draws inspiration from the stars – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Sarah Rodriguez

As an astronomer, he has always looked to the stars. But as a musician — and occasional composer — Dr. Dan Peluso has always looked inward, where the rhythm lives in his chest.

His project and submission for the 2025–2026 U.S. Fulbright Scholars Program served as a crossover between the two.

Putting his admiration for both music and astronomy at the forefront of his work, the Griffin Academy astrophysics and mathematics teacher was able to secure semifinalist status, granting him the ultimate opportunity: Showcase his work on a larger stage.

Source: Griffin Academy teacher draws inspiration from the stars – The Vacaville Reporter

What do NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon and Mac Dre have in common? – SF Chronicle

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NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and rap legend Mac Dre were in a Bay Area breakdance crew together as teenagers, according to local rapper Baby Bash.

The “Suga Suga” rapper, whose real name is Ronald Ray Bryant, claims that he attended Springstown Junior High School with Gordon and Mac Dre, in Vallejo, where the three men grew up.

Source: What do NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon and Mac Dre have in common?

Travis Credit Union Awards $40K in Scholarships – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Sarah Rodriguez

Every summer Travis Credit Union selects 20 local college-bound high school graduates to award the Community Impact Scholarship. This year, of those 20, eight were selected from Solano County schools.

“We are honored to support these outstanding students as they embark on their next chapter,” said Kevin Miller, president and CEO of Travis Credit Union. “Their hard work, resilience, and passion for giving back to their communities truly embody the spirit of Travis Credit Union’s Community Impact Scholarship.”

Source: Travis Credit Union Awards $40K in Scholarships to recent high school – The Vacaville Reporter

Vallejo council pushes parks, security towers, block parties, school safety – Times Herald Online

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By Janis Mara

The Vallejo City Council on Tuesday directed city staff to research measures to deter violent crime in the summer including purchasing security towers, developing a block party program, re-establishing a safety-oriented school program and subsidizing park programs for youth.

Staffers were asked to present proposed budget amendments funding the measures at the council’s regular meeting July 8. Also, the council directed staff to re-establish the Safe Start to School Programs at Lincoln Elementary, Hogan Middle School, St. Vincent Preschool through Eighth Grade and Pennycook Elementary School after school starts.

Source: Vallejo council pushes parks, security towers, block parties, school safety – Times Herald Online