By Susan Hiland
A school board member is challenging various state requirements for students as unfair and possibly discriminatory.
Trustee Helen Tilley made her comments Thursday as the Fairfield-Suisun School District board was given an update about the state’s graduation requirements.
Source: Fairfield-Suisun trustee challenges state graduation requirements as ‘discriminatory’
By Susan Hiland
Students are embracing reading, with students and staff reading more than 355,000 books over the past school year, according to the presentation given Thursday to the Fairfield-Suisun School District board members.
Jenn Roush, assistant director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, was one of several presenters at the meeting giving the board an overview of various programs within the school district.
Source: Trustees hear updates on various Fairfield-Suisun programs
By Susan Hiland
Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees heard an overview Thursday of Measure J projects that have been completed and the final projects that need to be completed in coming years.
Measure J, a $249 million general obligation bond that’s being repaid through property tax assessments, was approved by voters June 7, 2016, with the third and final bond sale occurring Feb. 20, 2020. The presentation comes at a time when the school board is placing another property tax measure to finance future projects on the November ballot.
The Measure J projects started with the replacement of the synthetic tracks and fields in the stadiums at all three comprehensive high schools in 2016. The district has completed several projects and is in design for most of the final projects of the bond program.
Source: Fairfield-Suisun trustees get overview of Measure J projects, eye future funding
By Todd R. Hansen
Jack Flynn, who lists himself with the Solano County Registrar of Voters as a student and hospitality associate, is challenging for the Trustee Area 5 seat on the Fairfield-Suisun School District board.
The incumbent for that office, Jonathan R. Richardson, had previously filed his paperwork.
Craig Wilson, in Trustee Area 1, and David C. Isom, in Trustee Area 7, also have completed their nomination paperwork.
Source: College student steps forward to challenge for seat on Fairfield-Suisun school board
By Todd R. Hansen
All three incumbents up for re-election on the Fairfield-Suisun School District board of trustees have filed their candidate papers with the Solano County Registrar of Voters.
Craig Wilson, in Trustee Area 1, Jonathan Richardson, in Trustee Area 5, and David C. Isom, in Trustee Area 7, have completed the nomination paperwork. No challengers have taken out papers as of Monday.
The deadline to file is Aug. 12.
Source: 3 Fairfield-Suisun school district incumbents seek new terms; Travis election crowded
By Kris Corey
On November 8, 2022, many school districts across California will have Board trustee elections on local ballots. The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) will have three positions open for election in the following Trustee Areas: Area 4, Area 5, and Area 7.
This election of ordinary citizens to a board that oversees the public education of our community’s youth is an important example of a democratic approach to local control. After all, it is the Governing Board, elected by the people, who are entrusted with the educational lives of our children and their future in our society. Serving as a trustee is a challenging task that provides an opportunity to contribute significantly to the health of our community.
Source: Press Release: Information Session – Running For School Board
By Susan Hiland
A divided school board this week voted 6-1 to place a quarter of a billion dollar bond on the Nov. 8 ballot to provide what the Fairfield-Suisun School District describes as facilities improvements.
Trustee Ana Petero voted against the plan.
Superintendent Kris Corey said the bond will not increase taxes for the community. Instead, it will extend the terms of the combined Measures C and J bonds. By extending the terms and not increasing the tax rate, she said, the community will generate $249.6 million to use for school facilities projects.
Source: Fairfield school board OKs $249.6M facilities bond for November ballot
By Susan Hiland
The governing board for the Fairfield-Suisun School District approved updates this week to several job descriptions for the coming school year as well as made changes for some salaries.
Job descriptions were updated Thursday for several positions, including the senior director of Elementary Education; assistant director of Elementary Education; director of Special Education; assistant director of Human Resources-Risk Management; compliance office; assistant director of Curriculum Instruction and Assessment; executive director of Communications and Community Engagement; director of Human Resources; and assistant director of Human Resources.
Source: Fairfield-Suisun school board updates job descriptions, makes salary changes
By Susan Hiland
The Fairfield-Suisun School District is gearing up for the new school year.
Board members heard an update Thursday on all the new things staff and students can expect when they come back to campus.
Schools are still dealing with Covid 19 issues but some things have changed from last year, according to Sheila McCabe, director of Secondary Education.
Source: Trustees in Fairfield-Suisun look ahead to new school year amid Covid concerns
By Susan Hiland
Trustees of the Fairfield-Suisun School District received an update Thursday on school funding that tweaks goals found in the first year of a three-year plan.
Assistant Superintendent Sheila McCabe gave the presentation on proposed updates to the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan.
Source: Fairfield-Suisun school board hears update on district spending plan
By Susan Hiland
Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees will vote Thursday on the California Interscholastic Federation multiple-school agreement that could allow students at private and charter schools to compete on public school athletic teams.
A CIF agreement such as this is between two schools and allows students from a school that does not have an athletic program to participate in their “resident school’s” athletic program. The governing board must approve these agreements.
The board currently has two agreements in place with Public Safety Academy with all of the district’s comprehensive high schools and between Fairfield Christian Academy and Rodriguez High School.
Source: Fairfield-Suisun board set to vote on multiple-school sports agreements
By Susan Hiland
The Fairfield-Suisun school board on Thursday will consider bids for the exterior painting at Suisun Elementary and H. Glenn Richardson schools as part of a number of campus improvement projects.
The board also will consider bids for the relocation of the playground at Mary Bird to prepare the site for a new classroom and kitchen building currently in design, the board documents states.
The district has solicited bids for the installation of a shade structure at H. Glenn Richardson and Matt Garcia Career & College Academy and two shade structures at Armijo High School.
Source: Campus improvements considered by Fairfield-Suisun school trustees
By Susan Hiland
The Fairfield-School District will receive more than $1.3 million in funding from the “A-G” Completion Improvement Grant program, according to a staff report. The total includes about $12,500 which was recently added.
Trustees on Thursday reviewed and approved the plan for the “A-G” grant program but not without comments from board member Ana Petero.
“My concern is for the funding. I think the funding can go to other places that are better for spending the money,” she said. “We really need to consider where we spend money.”
By Susan Hiland
An early view of the Fairfield-Suisun School District’s financial picture shows a shortfall in the general fund of tens of millions of dollars and the need to reduce costs in coming years.
The School Board will vote Thursday on the second interim report and certification of the district’s ability to meet its financial obligations for the coming year.
The financial review has several parts: district certification of the interim report; a general fund statement of revenues, expenditures and changes in fund balance that are either unrestricted resources or restricted resources; a combined summary that includes average daily attendance, criteria and standards, a cash flow statement, a multiple-year projection and assumptions along with the combined resources summary for unrestricted resources or restricted resources.
Source: Fairfield school board looks at projected shortfall of $35.7M
By Susan Hiland
The Fairfield-Suisun school board will take a look Thursday at the impact on the school district of the governor’s proposed budget – with a first pass that shows an additional $4.9 million in available state funding.
Laneia Grindle, assistant superintendent of Business Services, will make a presentation about the changes proposed for the 2022-23 school year.
Current school district funding based on average daily attendance is $10,193 per student or $207.4 million, according to a staff report. The estimated funding per ADA for the 2022-23 school year is $10,763 – or $212.3 million.
Source: Fairfield-Suisun board to look at governor’s proposed budget impact
The Fairfield-Suisun School District’s governing board voted unanimously Thursday to affirm the appointment of Marina Romero as the district’s facilities project manager.
Romero for the past six years held the position of energy manager in the district. She managed the implementation of the California Clean Energy Jobs Act (Proposition 39) projects, leading to multiple energy savings measures for the district that include:
• Installation of energy-efficient interior and exterior lighting projects at 19 sites.
• Lighting control upgrades at 13 sites.
• Replacement of Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning units at three sites.
• Installation of photovoltaic structures (solar panels) at five sites
• Deferred maintenance project bids and contracts to improve energy efficiency
By Nicole Langarica
The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) Governing Board elected its new president and vice president for 2022 during its Organizational Meeting December 16, 2021.
Trustee Bethany Smith was selected as the new Governing Board President. “I am honored to have the support of my colleagues as we continue to navigate the challenges of the pandemic and address its impacts on students, staff, and our community,” remarked Smith. Board President Smith recognized and thanked outgoing President Jonathan Richardson for his leadership during a year that presented many challenges. Board Member Richardson will continue to serve the FSUSD community as a trustee.
Source: Press Release: Smith named new president of FSUSD Governing Board
Trustees of the Fairfield-Suisun School District will consider adopting changes to various board policies at theirs meeting Thursday.
The presentation will be given by Trustee Judi Honeywell.
The policies to be updated include Civility; Integrated Waste Management; Drug and Alcohol Testing for School Bus Drivers; Collective Bargaining Agreement; Employee Security; Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting; Suicide Prevention; Safe Routes to School Program; Search and Seizure; Sexual Harassment; Child Care and Development; Environmental Education; and Developer Fees.
Source: Fairfield-Suisun school trustees to consider board policy changes
By Nicole Langarica
The significant increase in pay for Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) substitutes, ratified by the Governing Board at last night’s meeting, makes the District highly competitive in attracting available substitute candidates to its ranks. On average, teacher substitutes will realize a 50% increase in compensation with the new salaries for teacher substitutes. The need for substitutes is a crisis situation as school districts struggle to find workers. Any individual with a Bachelors of Arts of Science degree may be eligible to serve in this important capacity.
Day-to-day substitutes holding a “substitute permit”, a “valid” teaching credential, or those who have completed professional development training will receive an $11.03 per hour increase earning $34.48 per hour. Substitutes working 21 consecutive school days will receive $300 per day. Because of the extensive need for substitutes working in special education classrooms, substitutes serving in this capacity will receive $310 per work day. FSUSD values retired employees. Retired FSUSD employees who return to substitute teach in the district shall receive $42.76 hourly compensation for a total of $310 per work day.
Source: Press Release: Governing Board Doubles Down on Efforts to Recruit Substitute Teachers
By Susan Hiland
Trustees who govern the public schools in Fairfield and Suisun City got a final update Thursday on safety and other measures related to the pandemic as campuses prepare to reopen.
Superintendent Kris Corey went over new and updated policies for handling the health of students and staff.
The Fairfield-Suisun School District will adhere to the most recent guidance from the California Department of Public Health. That guidance includes requirements related to wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing, ventilation, hygiene practices, cleaning, food services and school visitors.
Source: Trustees hear update for monitoring health of students, staff, as start of school year nears