Membership in the 4-H program is rebounding from the Covid-19 pandemic, boosting one of the longest running youth programs in Solano County.

Jennifer Henkens and Michael Ryan, with the UC Cooperative Extension Capitol Corridor staff, on Tuesday made a presentation to the Solano County Board of Supervisors.

“We have emerged (from the pandemic) and growing in all areas,” Jennifer Henkens, a Cooperative Extension supervisor, told the board.

Source: 4-H programs growing again after pandemic | News | dailyrepublic.com

By Richard Bammer

Dixon teachers will make sure the Dixon Unified School District’s governing board meeting tonight will be anything but routine. Far more likely, a gripe session marked by loud voices, signs, a petition with hundreds of signatures, and labor unity could well break out.

The reason?

Dixon Teachers Association members are miffed that, after six months of contract talks, teachers union representatives and district leaders both declared impasse at the end of April.

Source: At school board meeting, Dixon teachers to assail contract mediation – The Vacaville Reporter

Failed labor negotiations leave Dixon Unified School District teachers distraught.

That is the only way to put it after the last regularly-scheduled board meeting on April 18, when Dixon Teachers Association (DTA) Co-Vice President Melanie Sadorra made her statement from the podium.

“Unfortunately, despite DTA’s efforts and commitment, there has been no update since the last board meeting,” Sadorra said. “We have gotten no response regarding what we proposed on March 27, so it should not be surprising that Dixon is the only school district in Solano County that has not settled (negotiations) for the 2023-24 school year.”

Source: Dixon Unified School District Labor Talks Continue | Independent Voice

By Richard Bammer

A three-year employment contract for the newly named Dixon Unified School District superintendent is on the agenda when district trustees meet Thursday in Dixon.

The governing board will consider approving a $250,000 annual salary for Brett Barley, currently the superintendent of the California Montessori Project in the Sacramento area.

Barley, who earned a law degree from the University of San Diego and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, has been selected to lead the 3,000-student district, replacing Brian Dolan, who is retiring.

Source: New superintendent contract on DUSD trustees’ agenda – The Vacaville Reporter

By Angela Underwood

Dixon Unified School District (DUSD) leadership is soon changing guards with a new superintendent hire.

Shawntel McCammon, Dixon Unified School District spokesperson, told the Independent Voice after the March 14 school board meeting that officials “are working on finalizing contract negotiations and hope to have an announcement within/at the next few board meetings.”

Superintendent Brian Dolan is stepping down since taking up the post in 2012 and serving decades with the district after starting as a Vacaville High School history teacher in 1988. The process to find the future leader began in October 2023, when school board members approved a contract with Education Support Services to hold a national superintendent search.

Source: New Superintendent Hire to be Announced Soon | Independent Voice

By Richard Bammer

Brett Barley, superintendent of the California Montessori Project, has been selected to lead Dixon Unified School District, replacing Brian Dolan, who is retiring.

Barley, described as someone with a strong background in school district finance and budgeting came out on top after a series of candidate interviews. He will be formally appointed during Thursday’s trustee meeting at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers, 600 East A St., Dixon. He is expected to begin his new assignment on July 1, at the outset of the district’s fiscal year.

In a press statement, Shawntel McCammon, the district’s spokeswoman, said Barley emerged as the top candidate for his “strong acumen in district finance, budgeting, and business management,” coupled with strategic planning skills, community engagement, a track record of student achievement gains, and “equity-driven leadership.”

Source: Sacto-area Montessori superintendent tapped to lead Dixon Unified – The Vacaville Reporter

By Debra Dingman

At the end of this month, the application for the Dixon Unified School District superintendent position will close, and the final stages of replacing retiring Superintendent Brian Dolan will start with hopes of selecting a new executive by the end of March. Dolan announced in September that he would retire after 26 years in the district at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.

“The district already works with Education Support Services Group, and we contracted out an extension of our legal services, and it was a nice clean shift. They outlined the whole process,” explained David Bowen, DUSD Board Trustee Board president. The cost was not to exceed $18,500. “I think it will be closer to $15,000, but we won’t know until the process closes,” he added.

In late October, there was a special public meeting for the board to give their input, then ESS collected it all together and will be presenting in January the candidate profile list of preferred or required [assets.]

Source: National Search for Dixon Superintendent | Independent Voice

By Diana Lambert

Dixon Unified Superintendent Brian Dolan, 62, has reached the “sweet spot” — the age where superintendents begin to reap the best retirement benefits. He’ll retire after this school year.

Although Covid-19 took the fun out of the job for a while, Dolan is glad he stayed long enough to see things almost return to normal.

“If I were at retirement age, just coming out of Covid, I would’ve needed to work another year just to put a little shine back on the apple,” he said.

Source: Why five superintendents decided to walk away from their jobs | EdSource

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

By Katie Kim

More than 100 students gathered at the State Capitol Wednesday as part of a program designed to empower Chicano and Latino youth in their academic and professional endeavors.

The Capitol Day event was part of the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project’s (CLYLP) annual week-long Statewide Leadership Conference in Sacramento. Since its inception in 1982, the conference has provided workshops and seminars to enhance leadership skills, academic preparedness and an understanding of state and local government, among other goals.

Source: Program helping future Chicano, Latino leaders in Sacramento | abc10.com

By Rebecca Wasik

Parents waited in lines to purchase last-minute graduation leis and fanned themselves with commencement programs on Saturday morning as they awaited the arrival of the Dixon High School Class of 2023 at Finney Field.

The faces of friends and family in the bleachers were wet with both tears and sweat from the already searing sun. They were happy tears though, for the morning marked the beginning of adulthood for their graduating loved ones.

The DHS band began its rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance” as graduates filed into the stadium. Half of the graduating students walked past the home bleachers, while the other half walked past the visiting bleachers — each side depending on the first letter of the last name.

Source: Dixon High celebrates commencement – The Vacaville Reporter