Category Archives: School Board – Dixon Unified

Dixon Unified leaders to hear another update on Measure Q – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Dixon Unified leaders face a relatively light agenda when they meet tonight in Dixon.

Superintendent Brian Dolan will provide an update on Measure Q, a $30.4 million bond on the November general election ballot.

If passed by voters it will provide money to upgrade the district’s aging schools, including Old Dixon High, built in 1940, and Anderson Elementary, built in 1949.

The five-member governing board also will hear information about bylaws that cover trustee vacancies. Three trustee seats — those now held by Guy Garcia, Joe Di Paola and Melissa Maseda — are up for election on Nov. 8.

Source: Dixon Unified leaders to hear another update on Measure Q – The Reporter

Test scores, updates on Measure Q, school farm on Dixon Unified agenda – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

State standardized test scores, and updates on Measure Q and the School Farm at Dixon High are on the agenda when Dixon Unified leaders meet Thursday night.

Mike Walbridge, assistant superintendent for educational services, will update the five-member governing board on the recently released results from the 2015-16 California Assessment of Student Proficiency and Progress, or CAASPP, an all-computerized test in its second year of use and based on the new Common Core State Standards.

Releasing test data Aug. 23, the state Department of Education indicated that math scores grew by 1 percent, to 32 percent, with the 1,700 students tested meeting or exceeding state standards.

Source: Test scores, updates on Measure Q, school farm on Dixon Unified agenda

Update on $30.4M Measure Q on Dixon Unified agenda tonight – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

An update on the status of Measure Q, the $30.4 million bond on the Nov. 8 ballot; an update about enrollment and staffing; and an update on the School Farm at Dixon High are on the agenda when Dixon Unified leaders meet tonight in Dixon.

Superintendent Brian Dolan will offer updates on Measure Q, which was sent last week to the Solano County Registrar of Voters for approval; and the update of enrollment and staffing.

The results of months of stakeholder meetings, trustee discussion and public hearings, the measure, if passed by voters, will provide money to upgrade the district’s aging schools, including the Old Dixon High, built in 1940, and Anderson Elementary, built in 1949.

Source: Update on $30.4M Measure Q on Dixon Unified agenda tonight

Dixon Unified leaders turn down second, $4 million bond measure – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Dixon Unified leaders on Wednesday decided against adding a separate $4 million bond measure to the city’s November ballot.

The five-member governing board, during a special meeting in the City Council chamber, voted unanimously not to send one of two versions of Measure R to the Solano County Registrar of Voters for approval and its wording placed on the ballot.

The decision came one week after a somewhat contentious regular board meeting, during which trustees amended a proposed $34.5 million bond measure and, instead, approved a $30.4 million bond, Measure Q, to upgrade some aging district schools that voters will consider on Election Day, Nov. 8.

Source: Dixon Unified leaders turn down second, $4 million bond measure

Dixon Unified leaders amend proposed $34.5M bond measure, to $30.4M – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

After a somewhat contentious governing board meeting, Dixon Unified leaders on Thursday amended a proposed $34.5 million bond measure and, instead, approved a $30.4 million bond to upgrade some aging district schools that voters will consider on Election Day, Nov. 8.

The reduced bond measure, which will be sent for ballot approval to the County Registrar of Voters in the coming days, came after nearly four hours that eventually boiled down to pro-and-con discussion about placing one of two separate $4 million bond measures on the ballot that would allow voters to decide whether they wish to pay for existing lease financing, through certificates of participation (COPs). They are connected to the original construction of Gretchen Higgins Elementary. (A COP is a type of financing in which an investor, such as a school district or city council, buys a share of the lease revenues rather than the bond being secured by those revenues.)

Source: Dixon Unified leaders amend proposed $34.5M bond measure, to $30.4M

Dixon USD leaders poised to send $34.5M bond measure to voters – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Dixon Unified leaders, when they meet tonight, will be poised to pass a resolution to place on the Nov. 8 ballot a $34.5 million bond measure to upgrade aging schools.

Their expected approval comes after a district survey some weeks ago indicated enough support for the bond, which, by law, must at least meet a 55 percent “yes” threshold in order to pass.

If approved, property owners can expect a $41.55 annual rate for every $100,000 of assessed value, according to agenda documents. For a median-priced Dixon home of $250,000, it translates to roughly $100 to $115 per year.

Additionally, while bond sales would be expected to generate nearly $35 million, total costs of the bond would be $57 million over a 25-year period.

 

Source: Dixon Unified School District leaders poised to send $34.5M bond measure to voters

Area school board candidates begin to file election papers – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

The local election season is underway for incumbents, challengers and others who want to serve on central and eastern Solano County school boards.

Candidates seeking four- and two-year terms have begun to file documents to place their names on the Nov. 8 ballot, said John Gardner, the assistant at the Solano County Registrar of Voters.

In Vacaville Unified, where five of seven seats are up for grabs, incumbent trustee Michael Kitzes, manager of the Vacaville Children’s Mental Health Clinic for Solano County and the longest-serving governing board member, turned in on Monday his notice that he will seek re-election.

In a Wednesday text message to The Reporter, trustee Nolan Sullivan, a manager with Yolo County, wrote that he was “still deciding” whether to run for re-election.

 

Source: Area school board candidates begin to file election papers

Proposed bond update, design firm approval on DUSD agenda – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Dixon Unified leaders, when they meet tonight in Dixon, will hear an update on a proposed bond measure and learn of the prequalification of a design firm to upgrade and modernize the school’s district’s eight campuses, some of them more than 60 years old.

As he has in the recent past, Superintendent Brian Dolan will lead the discussion about the bond measure, to include sample ballot language and a review of the project list with an ultimate price tag of more than $30 million.

A district voter survey carried out some weeks ago, he said in a text message to The Reporter, indicated enough support for the bond to meet a 55 percent voter-approval threshold, as required by law.

Source: Proposed bond update, design firm approval on DUSD agenda

Dixon Unified leaders to OK 2016-17 budget – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Facing a mandatory state deadline today, Dixon Unified leaders, when they meet tonight, are expected to approve the school district’s 2016-17 budget and its accompanying Local Control Accountability Plan.

The five-member governing board, after a series of presentations and public hearings earlier this year, will sign off on a good-news budget, with $33.2 in revenues exceeding $32.9 million in expenses, an ending balance of $3.2 million, and $2.3 million in prudent reserves.

And they will sign off on the LCAP, which guides virtually all spending in the 3,500-student, rural eastern Solano County district, especially for programs meant to help minorities, low-income and foster youth.

 

 

Source: Dixon Unified leaders to OK 2016-17 budget

Bond measure, trustee election, LCAP, budget on DUSD agenda tonight – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Dixon Unified leaders, when they meet tonight, will gear up to prepare for a November election school bond measure, officially note that three of five trustee seats are on the fall ballot, and hold public hearings on the 2016-17 budget and the LCAP.

Superintendent Brian Dolan will lead the discussion before trustees vote to authorize to prepare a general obligation bond for the 3,500-student rural district.

“We want to be clear with the community and officially go on record” about the board’s intentions to move forward with the bond measure, project to be “in the neighborhood of $30 to $34 million,” he said Wednesday.

He said once the matter is approved at Thursday’s meeting, trustees will vote on it at their Aug. 4 meeting, in order to meet county Registrar of Voters requirements.

 

Source: Bond measure, trustee election, LCAP, budget on DUSD agenda tonight

Montessori, master plans and bond update on Dixon Unified agenda – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

A facilities agreement with the Montessori Charter School, a district athletics master plan, a facilities master plan, and an update on a proposed bond measure are on the agenda when Dixon Unified leaders meet tonight in Dixon.

Under Proposition 39, the district is required to take care of facilities needs for the North Almond Street charter school (the old Silveyville school campus), that the school’s facilities be “reasonably equivalent” to other district schools, according to agenda documents.

The estimated cost of the agreement is $180,000, and Adrian Vargas, the chief financial officer, will lead the discussion prior to the trustee vote.

Superintendent Brian Dolan will lead the discussion of the district’s athletics master plan, but there were no agenda documents about the details or nature of the plan.

Source: Montessori, master plans and bond update on Dixon Unified agenda

Dixon Unified leaders to hold facilities master plan workshop Saturday – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

With their eyes cast on the possibility of a new bond measure, Dixon Unified leaders will hold a Facilities Master Plan governing board workshop Saturday morning in Dixon.

Trustees will review details of the recently finished master plan and will discuss which of the rural school district’s eight campuses need the most help, upgrades and possible new construction, and when.

The workshop comes three months after the governing board approved a contract for polling services to gauge the public’s appetite for a possible new bond measure on the Nov. 8 general election.

A consultant advised trustees that, if the bond goes forward and is approved, that the district must not exceed its “bonding capacity” of $41 million, because the taxpayers are still funding Measure J, a $29 million bond passed by voters in 2002, a measure that has been refinanced, saving taxpayers an estimated $8 million.

Source: Dixon Unified leaders to hold facilities master plan workshop Saturday

DUSD leaders appoint new trustee – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Dixon Unified leaders selected a preschool educator and president of a PTO to replace Andrew Bloom, who resigned his trustee post in March.

On a unanimous vote Monday night during a special governing board meeting, four trustees picked Melissa Maseda and she was sworn in immediately by board president John Gabby.

Their decision, made in the Dixon City Council chamber, came after she and four other candidates offered personal statements, followed by a winnowing of the field to three finalists, all of whom were asked the same set of six questions.

Following the six questions, the board — besides Gabby, Caitlin O’Halloran, Guy Garcia and Joe DiPaola — “had very little deliberation,” Superintendent Brian Dolan said Tuesday.

Source: DUSD leaders appoint new trustee

Dixon Unified School Board to select new member Monday – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Dixon Unified leaders, when they gather for a special meeting Monday night, will select one of six candidates to replace Andrew Bloom, who resigned his trustee post in March.

The six are Michael Ceremello, a former Dixon City Council member and military veteran; Luke Foster, an attorney and assistant coach with Dixon Youth Rugby; Brandon Lodigiani, an employee with a biotechnology firm and former president of the Dixon Quarterback Club; Melissa Maseda, an educator and former PTO president; Lloyd McCabe, a California Department of Education consultant and former high school agriculture science teacher; and Robert Strong, an Air Force veteran who has also worked in the oil-spill recovery business.

The four current trustees — John Gabby, Caitlin O’Halloran, Guy Garcia and Joe DiPaola — will make a provisional appointment to replace Bloom.

 

via: Dixon Unified School Board to select new member Monday

Bond survey results, trustee replacement on DUSD agenda – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

A report on survey results stemming from a proposed bond measure, discussion and action on the appointment process to replace a trustee, and a report on the Next Generation Science Standards are on the agenda when Dixon Unified trustees meet Thursday in Dixon.

Superintendent Brian Dolan will discuss with the four-member governing board the polling results.

If they indicate voters might be willing to approve a bond measure, then a second survey will be carried out, offering more details about the projects the money will pay for.

The board, on Feb. 18, approved a $14,000 contract for polling services with Sextant Strategies & Research, a Los Angeles-based political and policy opinion research firm.

Source: Bond survey results, trustee replacement on Dixon Unified agenda

Dixon Unified school district board seeks to fill vacancy – The Reporter

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The Governing Board of the Dixon Unified School District took action at its meeting last night to open an application window for any individuals interested in filling the current board member vacancy. The Board also established a meeting date to interview applicants for the seat and make the provisional appointment.

The vacancy on the Board was created by the resignation of Andy Bloom in March. Whomever the Board appoints to the position will serve until Dec. 8. The remaining two years of Mr. Bloom’s term will be added to the ballot for November 2016. The person appointed to the seat now is eligible to run for that seat or either of the two seats with expiring terms already on the November ballot.

The application window runs from through 4 p.m. April 18. Applicants must complete a form and submit a written statement of no more than 500 words explaining why they want to serve on the Governing Board.

Source: Dixon Unified school district board seeks to fill vacancy

Wolk recognizes Dixon resident as Woman of the Year – The Reporter

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In celebration of Women’s History Month Thursday, Senator Lois Wolk, D-Solano, honored Caitlin O’Halloran of Dixon as the 3rd Senate District’s Woman of the Year.

Every March, the California State Senate celebrates Women’s History Month by honoring women whose contributions improve lives in their communities, a tradition dating back to 1987.

O’Halloran, a Dixon resident, is the co-founder of the Dixon Montessori Charter School and currently serves as a governing board member and vice president of the Dixon Unified School District, commissioner for the State Board of Education Advisory Commission on Charter Schools and president of the Dixon Public Library Board.

O’Halloran also currently serves as Wolk’s Legislative and District director, managing district staff to communicate, represent and provide outreach for the senator throughout six counties and working with Capitol staff on Wolk’s legislative package.

Source: Wolk recognizes Dixon resident as Woman of the Year

Dixon Unified leaders to mull vacant trustee seat, hear update on bond measure polling – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Filling a board member vacancy, an update on public opinion polling related to a bond measure, and the second interim report of the 2015-16 budget are on the agenda when Dixon Unified leaders meet tonight.

Trustee Andrew Bloom, citing a family medical issue, resigned from the five-member board March 2, making a public announcement at the March 3 board meeting.

Superintendent Brian Dolan will tell the board its several ways it can fill the seat.

They include making a provisional appointment until the next general election, on Nov. 8. That person will then hold office until the end of Bloom’s term, Dec. 7, 2018. Secondly, the board may order a special election, but, under state law, there is not enough time to hold such an election before the Nov. 8 general election. Therefore, the board would operate with only four members until the November election.

Source: Dixon Unified leaders to mull vacant trustee seat, hear update on bond measure polling

Bond refunding, School Accountability Report Cards on Dixon agenda – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Refunding an existing bond measure, School Accountability Report Cards, and information about a lawsuit over disclosure of student information and records are on the agenda when Dixon Unified leaders meet tonight.

The five-member governing board is expected to pass a resolution authorizing the sale and reissue of Measure J bonds, a $29 million property tax measure passed by voters in 2002.

Adrian Vargas, the district’s chief financial officer, will make a presentation before the vote, which will come as trustees are once again considering a property tax measure, likely for the fall 2016 ballot, to ask voters to pay for the building, repair and improvement of the district’s eight campuses, some of them built in the 1950s.

Source: Bond refunding, School Accountability Report Cards on Dixon agenda

Dixon Unified leaders considering new school bond – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

With a mixed recent history of school bond passage, Dixon Unified leaders are once gain considering a property tax measure, likely for the fall 2016 ballot, to ask voters to pay for the building, repair and improvement of the district’s eight campuses, some of them built in the 1950s.

When the governing board meets tonight, several agenda items refer directly to a possible new bond measure.

At the same time, as part of other money matters, trustees are likely to approve the refinancing of Measure J, a $29 million bond passed by voters in 2002, and hire a San Francisco-based law firm to help them do it.

via Dixon Unified leaders considering new school bond.