A special meeting of the Vallejo City Unified School District is planned for 10 a.m. today — Monday, Nov. 26 — to do Superintendent Adam Clark’s overdue Performance Evaluation.

This will be done in closed session, with a public session to follow, to report any reportable actions taken during the closed session.

There are also a few vendor contracts the board will be asked to either accept or decline at this meeting, including one between the Vallejo City Unified School District.

Source: VCUSD Superintendent performance evaluation special meeting today – Times-Herald

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

Agreements with its unions, approval of the Griffin Academy High School, and a possible changing of the guard on the dais are scheduled for discussion at the Vallejo City Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday.

The issue of whether Marianne Kearney-Brown, who ascended to the board president position when Burky Worel resigned a few meetings ago, will be able to retain that post, is on the meeting’s agenda. Trustees will also discuss electing a new vice president in case there is a change.

The approval of Griffin Academy, which is connected to the MIT Academy charter school, would have no impact on the current budget but will likely negatively impact revenues beginning in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, due to loss of student average daily attendance.

Source: Kearney-Brown’s status to be discussed at VCUSD meeting – Times-Herald

By Vallejo Times Herald

Residents seeking more information about the Vallejo school board candidates are encouraged to view the Citizens for Vallejo candidates’ forum held on Sept. 30, the group announced.

Recorded by Marc Garman, the videotaped forum has been edited and is now available for viewing at the CFV website — www.citizensforvallejo.net.

“Learn more about the candidates positions. Watch the candidates speak on issues of importance to the Vallejo school district,” CFV officials said in a news release. “This may be your last opportunity to hear these candidates views on the Measure S school bond, district hiring, student absenteeism, solving the district’s deficit and charter schools, a few issues addressed at the forum.”

Officials said that seven of the eight candidates participated in the forum. Questions were prepared in advance by CFV and selected from the attending audience, they added.

Source: Vallejo school board candidates’ forum available for viewing – Times-Herald

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

The Vallejo City Unified School District’s Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday will include an update on teacher staffing; a list of those who have attained tenure, certifying this year’s teaching materials, work to be done at various sites and another slew of contracts with outside vendors.

The meeting will also recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Bullying Prevention Month.

The Education Code stipulates what Governing Boards must do to receive funds for textbooks and instructional materials and to expend those funds. Resolution No. ­2874 is presented to the Governing Board to provide for the annual certification for 2018-2019 school year. Its adoption permits the district to use this school year’s state instructional materials funds, which is estimated to be approximately $600,000.

Source: Newly tenured teachers, more vendors on tap for VCUSD’s board meeting – Times-Herald

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

The election of a new vice president, in the wake of former president Burky Worel’s resignation, will be among the topics discussed at the regular Governing Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m. today (Wednesday).

Also on tap: Officially recognizing CC and Amber Sabathia for their help to students, as well as another list of recommended contracts between vendors and the Vallejo City Unified School District.

Superintendent Adam Clark will make the case for recognizing CC and Amber Sabathia Day for their PitCCH In Foundation’s ongoing distribution of backpacks and supplies to Vallejo students — most recently 1,800 at Vallejo High School and one to every 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade VCUSD student and to every student at Cooper Elementary School. Since its inception, the PitCCh In Foundation has donated more than 47,000 backpacks to students, saving parents hundreds of dollars.

Source: Vallejo School Board to elect new vice president – Times-Herald

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

A raise for substitute teachers and another slew of contracts Vallejo City Unified School District officials want approved fill the agenda for the school board’s meeting Wednesday.

The trustees are being asked to approve a restructuring of substitute pay to a tiered model with $160 for daily subs, $170 daily for long-term subs and $205 daily for retiree subs.

The district has had problems finding subs, so, in an effort to make the district more competitive with surrounding school districts, the staff is proposing increasing substitute pay. This is expected to cost about $2.3 million.

The agenda also includes what amounts to an appeal for one contract denied at the last meeting.

As part of the superintendent’s report, Chief Academic Officer Cheri Summers will offer what amounts to an appeal of the board’s decision to deny implementation of Imagine Learning, Inc. at the Aug. 1 meeting. That contract would have provided 2018-19 school year licenses to support language, literacy, and math strategy developments for all K-5 students, and especially English Learners, students performing significantly below grade level and students with gaps in specific concepts and skills. Principals and other staff members have requested the opportunity to address the board about the impact of this action.

Source: Possible substitute teacher raises, more possible vendor contracts on VCUSD agenda

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

Ramona Bishop’s dream of opening a charter school in the area has been dashed.

Again.

The Vallejo school board shared a rare moment of unity Wednesday night, voting 5-0 to reject Bishop’s ELITE Charter School petition.

Wednesday’s denial is the second such repudiation for the former Vallejo City Unified School District Superintendent in 2018. It comes nearly seven months after the Solano County Board of Education dismissed Bishop’s earlier plan to open a countywide charter school network.

Wednesday’s rejection at the district’s Board of Trustees meeting prompted a quick exodus of interested onlookers.

The board room was filled by many audience members wearing purple “Elite Parent by Choice” T-shirts in support of Bishop’s proposed charter school. When that petition was ultimately turned down, the room immediately drained of people, laughing and talking loudly, preventing the meeting from going forward for several minutes.

Source: Elite Charter School denied, many thousands in outside contracts, approved by Vallejo school board

By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen

The Vallejo City Unified School District Board of Trustees is set to consider approving a slew of contracts with outside consultants, including five aimed at addressing “disproportionality” in suspensions and special education referral.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, members will consider a $19,360 contract with DPREP, Inc., for CPR/First Aid and Active Shooter Response Training, and De-escalation, Tactical Communications, and K-12 Bus Driver Safety Awareness. And they’ll consider a $21,000 contract for Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team to conduct a review of the district’s Operations Department and another $14,500 to do the same with the Human Resources Department.

The trustees also plan to deny the Charter Petition for the Establishment of Elite Public Schools, proposed by former superintendent Ramona Bishop.

Source: Vallejo school board to debate thousands in outside contracts, including for sensitivity and active shooter trainings

By Times Herald Staff

Halfway through the month long nomination period and the Vallejo school board continues to generate interest as now seven residents have pulled candidacy paperwork, according to the Solano County Registrar of Voters.

Trustees Tony Ubalde and Ruscal Cayangyang joined the paperwork party on Friday, as they both seek re-election to the Vallejo City Unified School District Board of Education.

Board President Burky Worel, along with Ryan Messano, Allan Yeap, Clarence Martin, and John Fox have taken out candidacy paperwork to serve on the five-person board — none have submitted completed forms, yet, the county website states.

Source: Seven pull papers for Vallejo school board