By Richard Bammer

Two employee pay agreements and a resolution for the Nov. 5 election of governing board members are on the agenda when Fairfield-Suisun Unified leaders meet Thursday in Fairfield.

Following a presentatioin by Ken Whittemore, the assistant superintendent of human resources, trustees will be asked to consider approving the final tenative two-year pay agreement between the support and operations unit of Chapter 302 of the California Schools Employees Association, or CSEA. Formed in 1927 by a group of Oakland custodians, it is the largest school-support employees labor union in the United States.

The agreement, which likely will be approved, will be in effect from July 1 to June 30, 2026, but is pending ratification from the employees over several issues: hours and overtime; pay and allowances; health and welfare benefits; and leaves.

Source: Approval of employee contracts, trustee election updates on FSUSD agenda – The Vacaville Reporter

By Lynzie Lowe

The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District Governing Board will host a community forum Thursday to discuss its search for a superintendent.

The board announced Wednesday that it has selected Leadership Associates as the executive search firm to conduct the recruitment and comprehensive search process for the selection of the district’s next superintendent.

Board officials said the forum will be an opportunity for the community to hear about the search process and pose any questions they may have about the search.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun USD Board to host forum to discuss superintendent search – The Vacaville Reporter

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

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

By Susan Hiland

The Fairfield governing board has a new interim board member, Perry W. Polk, who took his oath of office and chair at a special meeting on Wednesday.

Polk along, with five others, applied for the school-board opening created by the exit of longtime board member, David C. Isom, in July.

The other interested candidates included Aaron Joseph Garcia, Cheryl Chatmon, James Hodgman, Kai Eusebio and Steven Donald Quinlan.

Source: Polk takes seat as new interim school board member | Education | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

The Fairfield-Suisun governing school board talked about the next steps in finding a replacement for the board president left by the resignation of David C. Isom at Thursday nights meeting.

Isom officially resigned his position on July 24.

This has left a vacancy that needs to be filled for a fully operating board. The board’s vice president, Craig Wilson, has stepped into the position for the interim.

Source: 3 candidates have come forward for presidents vacancy on FSUSD school board | Education | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

The Fairfield-Suisun governing school board will meet Thursday to decide how to go forth after board president David C. Isom’s resignation.

Isom officially resigned his position on July 24, and submitted his paperwork to Lisette Estrella-Henderson, Solano County Superintendent of Schools.

His resignation is effective Monday.

Source: Isom resignation as school board president prompts application process

By Susan Hiland

Discouraged and disheartened were two words used to describe the results of the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District board’s self-evaluation, which was discussed at Thursday’s evening meeting.

A survey was sent to seven board members to fill out and return asking whether board members felt that the goals set last June were achieved.

The assessment survey covered board-performance items such as vision-setting, curriculum, personnel, finance, policy development, collective bargaining, community relations and advocacy.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun school board’s response to self evaluation full of emotions

By Susan Hiland

The Fairfield school board will be doing a self-evaluation at the next board meeting.

The assessment will cover things like Board performance in relation to vision-setting, curriculum, personnel, finance, policy development, collective bargaining, community relations and advocacy.

Last year at the June meeting they set several goals for themselves, including Goal 1: Keeping the work of the Governing Board focused on student achievement; Goal 2: Participate in professional development and commit the time and energy necessary to be an informed and effective leader; and Goal 3: Improve communication as professional colleagues within the boundaries of the Brown Act.

Source: Fairfield board will do a self-evaluation at next meeting

By Susan Hiland

The Fairfield-Suisun School District’s governing board has approved the second interim financial report – a routine update on the state of the district’s finances.

The district looks to be able to meet its financial obligations in the coming budget year even with declining student enrollment, according to a staff report.

Amanda Rish, director of Fiscal Services, gave the presentation Thursday night.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun school board OKs latest financial update

By Susan Hiland

Changes to the order in which Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees conduct meetings drew the ire last week of an employee union leader and a trustee but was later defended by the board president as a way to encourage engagement.

Trustees voted Thursday night to make staff-recommended changes to the order of business at upcoming board meetings.

One of the changes that brought the wrath of several public speakers – including Fairfield Suisun Unified Teachers’ Association President Nancy Dunn – was moving reports for the employee unions and student board member to later in the meeting.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun schools trustees change up order for meeting agendas