Author Archives: lmreyes

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Lisa Reyes, Human Resources, Solano County Office of Education

SPI’s Summit to Support Youth and Reduce Crime – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

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Amid reports of a spike in crime, including crimes committed by juveniles, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is developing a new program to help youth prepare for bright futures and to help prevent youth from engaging in crime.

Thurmond announced today that he will be working with partners to develop a paid internship program to help teens and young adults earn while they learn about career pathways. Youth will also be connected with career advisors who will help them learn about career and employment opportunities to ensure they have a secure role in the global economy in the years ahead, which will benefit not only themselves and their families but their respective surrounding communities.

Source: SPI’s Summit to Support Youth and Reduce Crime – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

Fairfield governing school board approves unaudited financial report | dailyrepublic.com

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By Susan Hiland

Amanda Rish, director of Fiscal Services, gave a report to the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District governing board on the financial status of all funds of the district as of June 30.

This will be the basis for the 2022-2023 audit report which will be coming in a few months.

The unrestricted funds revenues and expenditures were $236.6 million, according to Rish’s report. The expenses totaled $186.1 million. For the category of other sources/uses there was $50.5 million and an increase in funds of $127,515.

Source: Fairfield governing school board approves unaudited financial report | Education | dailyrepublic.com

VUSD Trustees hear library updates, public commenters – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick McConnell

The Vacaville Unified School District Board of Trustees received updates to plans for a new library during its Thursday meeting.

Library officials told the board about planned additions, including an adult reading room, space for outdoor programming, and other updated furnishing. A temporary library space will be made available until the project is fully completed.

Superintendent Ed Santopadre announced former principal Adam Rich as Senior Director of Facilities Maintenance.

Source: VUSD Trustees hear library updates, public commenters – The Vacaville Reporter

Dixon Unified superintendent announces retirement to school board – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick McConnell

Dixon Unified School District Superintendent Brian Dolan submitted his request to retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year, which the board accepted unanimously at its regular meeting on Thursday.

Dolan has been superintendent for 13 years and has served in the district for 26.

“I just want to say how grateful I am having had the opportunity to work in this school district for these 26 years.”

Dolan said he submitted his letter in accordance with board policy, which asks superintendents to make this request.

Source: Dixon Unified superintendent announces retirement to school board – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield school board votes for updates for ESSER III funds | dailyrepublic.com

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By Susan Hiland

The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District governing school board voted to approve changes to the allocation of ESSER III funds at its Thursday night meeting.

The supplemental Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief III funds, which were received in 2021 to the tune of $25.8 million, increased over the past year by $46,352, and the district has found they need to reallocate some of the money.

The state had several requirements for the ESSER III funds. The allocation needed to address three areas which included Strategies for Continuous and Safe In-Person Learning, including a description of how the district planned to use funds to continuously and safely operate schools for in-person learning in a way that reduces or prevents the spread of the Covid-19 virus; the impact of lost instructional time, including a description of how the district planned to use a minimum of 20% of the funds to address the academic impact of learning loss through the implementation of evidence-based interventions such as summer learning, summer enrichment, extended day learning opportunities, comprehensive after school programs or extended school year programs and how to use whatever funds remained, according to the staff report.

Source: Fairfield school board votes for updates for ESSER III funds | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Nomination deadline for Vaca school district special election is today | dailyrepublic.com

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The deadline for filing candidate papers is 5 p.m. today (Sept. 22) for the Dec. 19 special election for Trustee Area 6 on the Vacaville Unified School District board.

The only candidate to complete the filing requirements as of Thursday, Amy Tran Russell, is also the candidate the school board had appointed to fill the vacancy prior to a protest petition being filed with the Solano County Office of Education, which forced the special election.

Tracee Stacy has taken out nomination papers, but has yet to file them, the Solano County Registrar of Voters Office reported.

Source: Nomination deadline for Vaca school district special election is today | News | dailyrepublic.com

Last of ballots tallied on Vaca Unified special election | dailyrepublic.com

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The last of the late-arriving mail-in ballots have been tallied in the special election for the Trustee Area 4 seat on the Vacaville Unified School District board.

The 59 ballots that were postmarked by the Sept. 12 election day, but arrived at the county Election’s Office through Tuesday, did not change the outcome. In fact, the winner, Lindsay Kelly, padded her advantage.

Kelly had 454 votes after election day, and finished with 487 or 46.47% of the vote. Dave McCallum added 20 votes to his election day total, finishing with 436 votes (41/6%) and Michael Martin totaled 125 votes (11.93%), six more than election day. The turnout was 12.28% of the 8,570 registered voters in the trustee area, the county reported.

Source: Last of ballots tallied on Vaca Unified special election | News | dailyrepublic.com

Solano College superintendent president announces retirement | dailyrepublic.com

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Solano Community College Superintendent-President Celia Esposito-Noy has announced she will retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year.

“It has been an incredible honor to serve as the superintendent-president of SCC,” Esposito-Noy wrote in an email to college staff. “This college will always hold a special place in my heart because of your dedication, support, and friendship.”

Esposito-Noy began her tenure in January 2016, and has seen enrollment climb by more than 9,000 students, “including growth in first-time student enrollment; the establishment of two medical school pathways; a (bachelor’s) degree in Biomanufacturing; and the institution’s sound fiscal practices,” a statement released by the college states.

Source: Solano College superintendent president announces retirement | News | dailyrepublic.com

SPI Bills Now on Governor’s Desk for Signature – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

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Eleven bills sponsored by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and seven bills Thurmond supports have achieved a significant milestone: They were successfully passed by both the State Senate and the State Assembly. The bills, which largely address inclusive education, the teacher pipeline, and student well-being and success, are now on the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until October 14, 2023, to sign the bills into law.

“I’m pleased that these key pieces of legislation, which protect inclusive education, help open the teacher pipeline, and support the mental health and well-being of students, have passed the Legislature and are now being considered by the Governor,” Thurmond said. “This is an important step in building a brighter future for all of California’s students. I applaud the efforts of our legislators and everyone involved who worked on these important pieces of legislation.”

One of the key pieces of legislation to protect inclusive education is Assembly Bill (AB) 1078. Authored by Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Perris) and sponsored by Thurmond, AB 1078 will allow a fine to be assessed on any district that has insufficient instructional materials, especially in an attempt to discriminate against students of color or LGBTQ+ students. If signed into law by the Governor, an urgency clause would allow AB 1078 to take effect immediately.

Source: SPI Bills Now on Governor’s Desk for Signature – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

FSUSD opens new library building at Cleo Gordon | dailyrepublic.com

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The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) unveiled a new library building at Cleo Gordon Elementary on September 12.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was a well-attended event, with many dignitaries present. Among the distinguished guests were members of the FSUSD Governing Board, representatives from the City of Fairfield, FSUSD administrators, Cleo Gordon Elementary School staff members, and, most notably, Cleo Gordon Elementary School students.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony symbolized the beginning of a new chapter for the school. The library building, equipped with modern facilities and resources, will provide an upgraded learning environment for generations to come. Following the ribbon cutting, guests had the opportunity to participate in a student-led tour of the new and improved building according to a press release.

Source: Good News: FSUSD opens new library building at Cleo Gordon | News | dailyrepublic.com

Kelly wins seat on Vacaville Unified school board | dailyrepublic.com

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Lindsay Kelly appears to have won the Trustee Area 4 seat on the Vacaville Unified School District board, narrowly defeating Dave McCallum by 38 votes in a special election that drew an 11.58% turnout.

The unofficial tally as of Wednesday had Kelly with 454 votes, or 45.9% of the 993 ballots cast. McCallum finished with 416 votes (42.06%) and Michael Martin was third with 119 votes (12.03%).

There are 8,570 registered voters in the trustee area, the county reported.

Source: Kelly wins seat on Vacaville Unified school board | News | dailyrepublic.com

County to run second Vacaville Unified special election | dailyrepublic.com

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The Solano County supervisors agreed to have the county run a special election to decide who will represent Trustee Area 6 on the Vacaville Unified School District board.

The consent agenda action came Tuesday, the same day a special election was being held to decide who will represent Trustee Area 4 on that same school board.

Both are the result of protest petitions being filed with the Solano County Office of Education after the school board had appointed individuals to the posts, and are led by a group that does not think their voices – marked as parents – are being heard by the district on critical issues.

Source: County to run second Vacaville Unified special election | News | dailyrepublic.com

Early returns favor McCallum, Kelly in Vacaville special school election | dailyrepublic.com

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The first vote-count Tuesday night in the Vacaville Unified School District Trustee Area 4 special election put Dave McCallum out in front, with Lindsay Kelly close behind.

The 8:24 p.m. results, inclusive to early mail-in ballots received, had McCallum with 192 votes, representing 44.34% of the 433 ballots counted at the time, the Solano County Registrar of Voters reported.

Kelly was second with 182 votes (42.03%) and Michael Martin was third with 59 votes (13.63%), the county reported.

Source: Early returns favor McCallum, Kelly in Vacaville special school election | News | dailyrepublic.com

Supporting Travis Air Force Base’s Five & Thrive | dailyrepublic.com

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By Sheila McCabe

The mission of Five & Thrive is to tackle the top five quality-of-life issues military families face because their quality of life is directly tied to the readiness, resilience, recruitment and retention of our armed forces.

The five areas that fall within Five & Thrive are (1) Childcare; (2) Education; (3) Healthcare; (4) Housing; and (5) Spouse Employment.

This summer, Dixon Unified School District, Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, Travis Unified School District, and Vacaville Unified School District joined forces to address one of the barriers related to education – summer registration.

Source: Civic Leaders: Supporting Travis Air Force Base’s Five & Thrive | Lifestyle | dailyrepublic.com

Lindsay Kelly leads race for VUSD Trustee Area 4 – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick McConnell

Lindsay Kelly is expected to be named to the Vacaville Unified School District Board of Trustees Area 4 seat, after leading the vote tally in the special vacancy election held Tuesday.

As of 9:13 p.m., the Solano County Registrar of Voters released their final vote totals for the evening, which showed Kelly ahead with 453 votes. Dave McCallum followed with 416 votes, and Michael Martin came in third with 119 votes out of a total 988.

Vacaville Parents United, a local interest group for parents, held a petition drive to force this special vacancy election. The election cost the district an estimated $113,000 to the district, which Superintendent Ed Santopadre said would come out the district’s general fund.

Source: Lindsay Kelly leads race for VUSD Trustee Area 4 – The Vacaville Reporter

VUSD releases 2023-24 enrollment data – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick McConnell

The Vacaville Unified School District’s enrollment numbers are up over last year by over 100 students, Superintendent Ed Santopadre announced last week at the September VUSD board of trustees meeting.

Without counting charter school students, the district has a total of 11,345 students this fall, up from 11,181 last year, marking an increase of 164 students.

Vacaville High School reported 2,030 students this year, and Will C. Wood reported 1,701.

Source: VUSD releases 2023-24 enrollment data – The Vacaville Reporter

‘FSUSD Runs This!’ returns this week | dailyrepublic.com

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The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District will host a “FSUSD Runs This!” event this weekend.This community-centered initiative aims to promote health, wellness and a sense of unity among residents of all ages and physical abilities, according to a press release.

The event is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Saturday at Nelda Mundy Elementary School, 70 Vintage Valley Drive, Fairfield.

Participants can register online in advance by visiting the official event page, www.active.com/fairfield-ca/running/distance-running-races/fsusd-runs-this-1-event-2023. For those who prefer on-site registration, an option will be available on the day of the event.

Source: The Week Ahead: ‘FSUSD Runs This!’ returns this week | Fairfield | dailyrepublic.com

Who will win VUSD’s Trustee Area 4 seat? – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Who among three candidates will win a seat to represent Vacaville Unified’s Trustee Area 4 on Tuesday?

That’s when voters will decide the outcome of a special election for a post vacated by a petition drive earlier this year.

Those seeking the seat are former VUSD trustee David McCallum, 63, a local radio broadcaster who was appointed to the governing board when another member resigned but was forced out by the petition drive. Others are Michael W. Martin, 41, a local real estate broker; and Lindsay Kelly, 44, an insurance claims adjuster.

Source: Who will win VUSD’s Trustee Area 4 seat? – The Vacaville Reporter

Travis governing board looks to fill vacant seat at next meeting | dailyrepublic.com

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By Susan Hiland

The Travis Unified School District Governing Board will consider the selection process to replace board member and clerk Zenobia Muhammad at its next meeting.

Muhammad tendered her resignation on Aug. 31.

The options going forward are to either provisionally appoint or call a special election to fill the vacancy.

The board will discuss the best course of action on Tuesday. If they decide on an appointment, then they will conduct applicant interviews at the Oct. 10 meeting. To choose a special election means the seat will be vacant until the next election in 2024.

Source: Travis governing board looks to fill vacant seat at next meeting | Education | dailyrepublic.com