Author Archives: lmreyes

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Lisa Reyes, Human Resources, Solano County Office of Education

Vaca Pena Marching Band Academy opens registration for sixth-graders | dailyrepublic.com

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A new sixth-grade Marching Band Academy at Vaca Pena Middle School begins this fall and registrations is open to next year’s sixth-grade students.

The program is limited to a small cohort of 60-64 students and will focus on daily music instruction. Students can still participate in middle school extracurricular activities, have earlier access to advanced coursework, and participate in three marching band competitions during the school year.

The VUSD School Board approved the addition of a Sixth Grade Music Academy with a Marching Band focus at Vaca Pena at the February school board meeting. The Academy will allow students to develop a love of performance and will contribute to the long-term participation in school band program.

Source: Vaca Pena Marching Band Academy opens registration for sixth-graders | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Longtime Solano College professor, board member is Woman of the Year | dailyrepublic.com

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A longtime math professor at Solano Community College, and member of the college’s governing board, has been selected as the 3rd Senate District’s Woman of the Year.

Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, on Tuesday announced A. Marie Young as his choice for this year’s honor.

“I am deeply honored to receive this distinguished recognition from Sen. Dodd,” Young said in a statement released by Dodd’s office. “It is a testament to my longstanding commitment of volunteering through the years to support organizations serving communities at the local, regional, state and national levels. I am grateful for the opportunity to provide leadership, to collaborate and achieve a shared mission to uplift communities in need.”

Source: Longtime Solano College professor, board member is Woman of the Year | News | dailyrepublic.com

Nominations being taken for Early Childhood Educator of the Year. | dailyrepublic.com

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The Solano County Office of Education is accepting nominations for the Early Childhood Educator of the Year.

“Solano County Office of Education encourages parents, guardians, educators and community members who live or work in Solano County to nominate early childhood educators who have made a positive difference in their communities,” the agency said in a statement.

“Any Solano County early learning and care provider serving children ages infant to preschool may be nominated. The recognition program includes teachers, assistants, paraeducators, food service staff, transportation staff, school site administrators and family child care owner/directors.”

Source: Nominations being taken for Early Childhood Educator of the Year. | News | dailyrepublic.com

Artists, performers wanted for Student Art Showcase | dailyrepublic.com

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Solano County students of all ages are invited to participate in the fourth annual Solano Student Art Showcase.

The showcase, hosted by the Solano County Office of Education, has room for singers, songwriters, poets, jugglers, comedians, magicians, musicians, dancers, dance troops, cheer teams and others.

The event is free for all performers, artists and attendees.

“The annual art showcase recognizes and supports youth resiliency through the arts, providing a space for young artists to express themselves. The event also promotes mental health, wellness and prevention of alcohol, tobacco and drug use,” SCOE said in a statement.

Source: Artists, performers wanted for Student Art Showcase | News | dailyrepublic.com

Volunteers sought for California Academic Decathlon | dailyrepublic.com

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Volunteers willing to travel to Santa Clara are sought for the state academic decathlon March 22-23.

The event brings together 50 of the top schools across California. It’s estimated about 450 high school students will compete.

The competitive event modeled after the Olympics to stimulate academic honor and achievement “athletes of the mind.” It consists of 10 events, including tests in music, language and literature, mathematics, economics, science and social science.

Source: Volunteers sought for California Academic Decathlon | News | dailyrepublic.com

Army visits Vacaville High with a ‘teaching vehicle,’ recruiting in mind – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

It wasn’t the iconic “I Want You for the U.S. Army” poster by James Montgomery Flagg, with the top-hatted, gray-haired and stern-looking Uncle Sam pointing his finger at anyone who looked his way.

Instead it was the Army Mobile Medical Exhibit parked Monday morning in a Vacaville High School parking lot off West Monte Vista Avenue.

Black and sleek, a massive, eye-popping polished recruiting tool for the U.S. Army, it was a semi tractor-trailer with medical simulation equipment and experiences, digital and hands-on, inside.

Source: Army visits Vacaville High with a ‘teaching vehicle,’ recruiting in mind – The Vacaville Reporter

Why hackers are targeting young public school students : NPR

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By Kavitha Cardoza

When Celeste Gravatt first heard about a data breach in her kids school system in February 2023, it sounded innocuous.

“I didn’t really think anything of it at first,” Gravatt says.

Officials at Minneapolis Public Schools called it a “system incident,” then “technical difficulties,” and finally, “an encryption event.”

Source: Why hackers are targeting young public school students : NPR

2024 Middle Schools to Watch – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has announced that 52 high-performing California middle grades schools have been recognized as California Schools to Watch for 2024. To earn this designation, schools must complete an extensive application and host a site visit by middle grades experts. To retain the designation, each school is reevaluated every three years.

There are 16 new California Schools to Watch this year. An additional 36 schools reapplied to the program, demonstrated their sustained progress, and have been redesignated as 2024 California Schools to Watch. Altogether, there are 200 California Schools to Watch.

Source: 2024 Middle Schools to Watch – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

Celebrating reading, learning and having fun – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Isabella Bautista, 9, loves to read “Dork Diaries,” a children’s book series.

“It’s about a girl who’s going through life,” said Isabella, referring to the 14-year-old protagonist, Nikki Maxwell, in stories by Rachel Renee Russell, written and illustrated in a diary format and also uses drawings, doodles and comic strips to tell the tale.

Speaking in Megan Coxe’s third-grade classroom on Friday at Callison Elementary, Isabella relished the day, because it was Literacy Character Day, part of National Read Across America Day. Created by the National Education Association, it is a day to encourage children to read and to inspire lifelong learning.

Source: Celebrating reading, learning and having fun – The Vacaville Reporter

Community members come together for a day of reading | dailyrepublic.com

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By Susan Hiland

Students at Jean Callison Elementary School were immersed in literacy this week as part of Read Across America.

The big finale on Friday was Literacy Character Day, which was a special event promoting the love of reading and lifelong learning, according to Principal Kacey Ramos.

Each year, National Read Across America Day is celebrated on March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. The annual event is part of Read Across America, an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association.

Source: Community members come together for a day of reading | Education | dailyrepublic.com

BUSD Superintendent thanks voters as Measure C nears official passage – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Lynzie Lowe

While Measure C has not yet officially been passed by voters, Benicia Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Damon Wright said the 62.34 percent of tallied votes in favor of the Measure thus far “means everything to our district.”

“I want to thank the residents of Benicia for supporting our schools and investing in our children,” said Wright. “Passing Measure C provides $122.5 million for facility improvements, which will enable the district to address necessary safety repairs and complete much-needed modernization projects.”

As of Friday evening, a total of nine precincts had reported 6,004 in favor of the measure and 2,678 votes against, which has it narrowly cruising to victory with the necessary 55 percent or more of the total votes needed to pass.

Source: Benicia USD Superintendent thanks voters as Measure C nears official passage – The Vacaville Reporter

Budget Center Announces Official Program for Policy Insights Conference – California Budget and Policy Center

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By Kyra Moeller

Today, the California Budget & Policy Center announced the official program for its annual conference, Policy Insights, which was announced late last year, and will take place Tuesday, April 16, at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center.

“With the release of the program, featuring 11 dynamic workshops and plenary sessions, Policy Insights 2024 promises to be an enriching event for California’s public policy community,” said Chris Hoene, executive director at the California Budget & Policy Center. “We encourage all statewide advocates, legislative and government staff, nonprofit organizations, and foundations dedicated to improving public policy to join us as we delve into pressing issues and chart a course towards a more equitable California for all.”

Source: Budget Center Announces Official Program for Policy Insights Conference – California Budget and Policy Center

Plans underway for hiring new Conklin replacement | dailyrepublic.com

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By Susan Hiland

It’s full-steam-ahead in the search to replace Travis Unified School District Superintendent Pam Conklin.

Conklin announced her retirement last month.

At the last meeting, the board hired McPherson & Jacobson, a third-party firm, to facilitate the search to fill the position.

On Tuesday, the board held a special meeting to discuss parameters for the position and a timeline to hire a new person to fill the role of superintendent by the end of April.

Source: Plans underway for hiring new Conklin replacement | Education | dailyrepublic.com

TUSD Ramps Up Search for New Superintendent – BNN

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By Nasiru Eneji Abdulrasheed

Fairfield’s Travis Unified School District is in the midst of a significant transition, following Superintendent Pam Conklin’s retirement announcement last month. In response, the board has engaged McPherson & Jacobson, an external firm, to lead the search for a new superintendent, aiming for a candidate to be in place by the end of April.

Source: Travis Unified School District Ramps Up Search for New Superintend…

Community forum aims to link families with child care programs – The Vacaville Reporter

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The Solano County Office of Education, with other partners, will host the annual Child Care Planning Council community forum Saturday in the Fairfield Civic Center Library.

The event, 10 a.m. to noon in the 1150 Kentucky St. library, seeks to link Solano families and educators with information about high-quality child care opportunities in Solano County, according to organizers of the gathering, who issued a press statement.

Child care providers, parents, guardians, educators and community members are invited to learn about child care options throughout Solano County, including paid and assisted programs.

Source: Community forum aims to link families with child care programs – The Vacaville Reporter

Vallejo educators to rally for more pay, student success | EdSource

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Members of the Vallejo teachers union will be rallying and addressing board members at Thursday night’s regular meeting to push the district to better serve students and increase pay.

After five months of negotiations, the Vallejo Education Association (VEA) and the Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) declared an impasse at the end of February and have a state-appointed mediator, according to the California Teachers Association (CTA). The first mediation will be next week.

Source: Vallejo educators to rally for more pay, student success | EdSource

Students wanted for annual Kindness Video Contest | dailyrepublic.com

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The Solano County District Attorney’s Office is calling on junior high and high school students to create videos for Kindness Campaign 2024.

This is the sixth year for the video contest “showcasing the power of kindness on campus,” the DA’s Office said.

The district attorney “invites students to submit a video between 30 seconds and two minutes in length that expresses what the power of kindness can accomplish in their school community. It asks the question, ‘How can the power of kindness be used in our schools, homes, and communities to make a positive difference?'”

Source: Students wanted for annual Kindness Video Contest | News | dailyrepublic.com

CA schools gained billions during COVID-19 pandemic. Now the money is running out – Times Herald Online

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By Carolyn Jones

An end to billions of dollars in federal Covid relief funds, declining enrollment, staff raises, hiring binges and stagnant state funding should combine over the next few months to create steep budget shortfalls, with low-income districts affected the most.

“The fiscal cliff is going to vary,” said Marguerite Roza, director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University. “The districts that got the most Covid relief dollars, those that have the most low-income students, are going to face the biggest losses.”

Source: California schools gained billions during COVID-19 pandemic. Now the money is running out – Times Herald Online

Early election results indicate unofficial passage of Benicia Measures – Times Herald Online

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The polls have officially closed in Solano County and election results are slowly coming in. Here are the most recent, and unofficial, results on the measures facing Solano County voters in Tuesday’s California Primary.

Measure A

With eight precincts reporting and 4,152 votes cast as of 10 p.m., the City of Benicia’s proposed hotel tax – known as Transient Occupancy Tax – was rolling to victory with 80.39 percent of the votes.

The tax would raise the transient occupancy tax on hotels and vacation rentals from 9 to 13 percent. This increase is projected to boost annual city revenues by around $250,000, with oversight from a citizens committee.

Source: Early election results indicate unofficial passage of Benicia Measures – Times Herald Online

SPI Announces 2024 Model Continuation High Schools – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced today that 31 schools throughout the state were recognized as Model Continuation High Schools for 2024. Model Continuation High Schools provide comprehensive services to at-risk youth through the use of exemplary instructional strategies, flexible scheduling, and guidance and counseling services. Continuation schools provide a high school diploma program for students who have not graduated from high school, are required to attend school and are at risk of not completing their education.

“Congratulations to these outstanding schools for their all-around excellence as alternative centers of learning,” said Superintendent Thurmond. “Teachers and administrators at our Model Continuation High Schools work to develop relationships with students to create a positive and personalized learning environment and provide them with opportunities to explore options beyond high school, preparing students for the next chapter in their lives.”

Source: SPI Announces 2024 Model Continuation High Schools – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)