VUSD board hears Kairos proposal, names softball field – The Vacaville Reporter

By Nick McConnell

A proposal from Kairos regarding expansion plans for a new high school was among the highlights at Thursday night’s Vacaville Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting.

The board also voted to name the softball field at Vacaville High School after Joan Murmagh, a longtime softball coach, girls’ athletic director and league commissioner for the school who helped build the girls’ athletics program at the school since the 1970s.

Meanwhile, Laura Moderos, a classified employee and union member, said concerns she raised at the last board meeting have yet to be addressed, as negotiations between the district and union are ongoing. She said she wanted to raise the issues to the district so that solutions can be found to improve student outcomes.

Source: VUSD board hears Kairos proposal, names softball field – The Vacaville Reporter

Travis board talks fencing around schools | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

The Travis Unified School District board discussed the idea of putting fencing around the perimeters of three schools – Vanden High School, Golden West Middle School and Travis Education Center.

This is not a new idea but it has seen increasing pressure from parents over the past few years with the number of school shootings rising across the country.

Gabe Moulaison, chief business officer, gave the presentation on the staff findings for the project.

Source: Travis board talks fencing around schools | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Travis school district approves Facilities Master Plan | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

Travis Unified school board approved the Facilities Master Plan at Tuesday night’s meeting.

The Kitchell Consulting group came to the meeting and gave a presentation on the assessed schools they looked at in the District for this report.

They went through the facilities from the roofs, through the multiple systems that run the schools.

Source: Travis school district approves Facilities Master Plan | Education | dailyrepublic.com

FSUSD opens new library building at Cleo Gordon | dailyrepublic.com

The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) unveiled a new library building at Cleo Gordon Elementary on September 12.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was a well-attended event, with many dignitaries present. Among the distinguished guests were members of the FSUSD Governing Board, representatives from the City of Fairfield, FSUSD administrators, Cleo Gordon Elementary School staff members, and, most notably, Cleo Gordon Elementary School students.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony symbolized the beginning of a new chapter for the school. The library building, equipped with modern facilities and resources, will provide an upgraded learning environment for generations to come. Following the ribbon cutting, guests had the opportunity to participate in a student-led tour of the new and improved building according to a press release.

Source: Good News: FSUSD opens new library building at Cleo Gordon | News | dailyrepublic.com

Former Vallejo schools purchased for lease by First 5 Solano and GVRD – Times-Herald

By Thomas Gase

Two former Vallejo schools — Beverly Hills Elementary and Franklin Middle School — were purchased this week for lease by First 5 Solano and the Greater Vallejo Recreation District.F

ranklin Middle School now has a 30-year lease with GVRD for the venue to be used for recreation programs, while First 5 Solano sealed a deal for the former Beverly Hills Elementary to create the first multi-agency early learning center in the state.

Located at 1450 Coronel Ave. in Vallejo, the learning center was purchased by First 5 from the Vallejo School District for $2.8 million. The center, slated to be completed by June 2025, aims to be a hub for early learning that will provide a variety of early care and education opportunities for infants through preschoolers and families of all income levels, while creating economic opportunities for providers and filling a critical need in the county.

Source: Former Vallejo schools purchased for lease by First 5 Solano and GVRD – Times-Herald

Supervisors approve purchase of Early Learning Center site – Daily Republic

The Solano County supervisors on Tuesday approved the purchase of the former Beverly Hills Elementary School site for the development of an early learning center.

The purchase price to the Vallejo City Unified School District is $2.8 million, the county reported. Additional administrative fees and closing costs add another estimated $7,281.

The full amount is in the recently approved 2023-24 Recommended Budget, with $2 million from the Accumulated Capital Outlay account of the General Fund. The remaining $800,000, plus the administrative fees and closing costs, are budgeted in the First 5 Solano recommended budget.

Source: Supervisors approve purchase of Early Learning Center site

County, Vallejo school district ‘ink’ Beverly Hills campus sale – Daily Republic

The Vallejo City Unified School District trustees on Thursday agreed to sell the Beverly Hills Elementary School site to the county for development of an early childhood education and wellness center.

The sale price is $2.8 million, the school district announced.

The county Board of Supervisors is scheduled to take up final approval on June 27. Funding is available, but the county has source options it is considering. The board will consider $2 million of it in the upcoming budget hearings, while the First 5 Commission is seeking funds for the remaining $800,000 so it does not have to use its reserves.

Source: County, Vallejo school district ‘ink’ Beverly Hills campus sale

Former Vallejo schools to become youth-serving sites – Times-Herald

By Chris Ramirez

The Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) Board of Education unanimously authorized Wednesday the sale of a former elementary school and rent-free leasing of a former middle school, putting into motion the development of future youth-serving facilities.

The district board of education officially deemed the Beverly Hills Elementary School as “surplus” in early 2020, a ruling the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) concurred with last November. The school closed the same year as the surplus ruling — along with Franklin Middle School — due to districtwide enrollment decline. The district suffered a more than 40% loss of students between 2000 and 2019, according to an EdSource special report.

Source: Former Vallejo schools to become youth-serving sites – Times-Herald

Vallejo Regional Education Center renamed after Al Berenguer – Times-Herald

By Thomas Gase

Al Berenguer used to tell his children Ike, Yvonne Berenguer and Therese, that as an educator “one can wear many hats.”

“You are the king of your own castle and teaching is a noble profession,” Ike quoted his father’s favorite saying on Saturday. “An educator has to learn so many things so he or she can possibly be a firefighter, police officer, nurse, educator or librarian.

On Saturday, the Vallejo City Unified School District added another item to that list: School name.

Source: Vallejo Regional Education Center renamed after Al Berenguer – Times-Herald

Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy celebrates new multi-purpose room with Ribbon Cutting – The Vacaville Reporter

By Rebecca Wasik

Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy’s new campus on McClellan Street in Vacaville is finally complete.

The Knights celebrated the completion of their new multi-purpose room with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday morning. Students, staff and members of the community were invited to see the new multi-purpose space and enjoy breakfast from the multi-purpose room’s kitchen. The completion of the campus was made possible through Measure A, which was passed in 2014.

The new multi-purpose room can be used for sports, cooking and as a cafeteria. It also includes a stage for assemblies or performances.

Source: Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy celebrates new multi-purpose room with Ribbon Cutting – The Vacaville Reporter

Travis school board talks safety fence at meeting – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

The Travis Unified School District debated placing a fence around several schools as a safety measure at Tuesday’s meeting.

The board heard a report on the possibility of installing a perimeter fence around Vanden High School, Golden West Middle School and Travis Education Center.

Gabe Moulaison, chief business officer, reported that he was calling the area “The Block,” because it was one full block around which they are looking to install fencing.

Source: Travis school board talks safety fence at meeting

Travis school board to hear report on perimeter fencing – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

The Travis Unified School District will be talking about the installation of perimeter fence around Vanden High School, Golden West Middle School and Travis Education Center at the Tuesday board meeting.

Gabe Moulaison, chief business officer, will be giving the report.

The estimated financial impact would be about $1.2 million for the fencing and work, according to the staff report.

Also to be discussed is the possibility of adding a public information officer position.

Source: Travis school board to hear report on perimeter fencing

Vallejo school district agrees to sale of Grant school – Times-Herald

By Chris Ramirez

The former Grant School has been sold to the City of Vallejo for potential future development on the site.

The Vallejo City Unified School District owns two unused properties that the city is intent on purchasing. The Vallejo City Council voted last week to agree to the sale of both properties, prompting Wednesday’s school board vote on two resolutions that would accept those terms.

VCUSD’s board of education unanimously voted to sell the Grant School, built in the 1980s on a 2.63-acre property. The district sold the site for free because both options of renovating the current structure and rebuilding would cost more than its $300,000 appraisal.

Source: Vallejo school district agrees to sale of Grant school – Times-Herald

Matt Garcia Academy future looks bright with full school board backing – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Fairfield-Suisun School District Board President David Isom was clear at the beginning of the board meeting Thursday night that the district was not going to close the Matt Garcia Career and College Academy.

“This discussion is not about closing the school,” Isom said. “The school is not closing. This item tonight is about information only and no action will be taken.”

Isom asked if any board member supported closing the school. Not one raised a hand in support of that idea.

Source: Matt Garcia Academy future looks bright with full school board backing

Trustees to hear update on Matt Garcia Career and College Academy – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Trustees of the Fairfield-Suisun School District will hear a presentation Thursday on the future of the Matt Garcia Career and College Academy.

The board at its previous meeting heard a presentation on the school which, according to some trustees, seems to have some issues that need to be addressed.

The idea of shutting it down was discussed but before anything was decided, the board asked for more research to be done.

Source: Trustees to hear update on Matt Garcia Career and College Academy

Officials schedule meeting to talk about closing Matt Garcia academy – Daily Republic

Supporters of the Matt Garcia Career and College Academy will meet with district officials along with parents and students next week to discuss the possible closure of the school.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. Feb. 10 in the Multipurpose Room at 1100 Civic Center Drive.

The school was dedicated to slain City Councilman Matt Garcia in October 2010. It has seen many changes since then.

Source: Officials schedule meeting to talk about closing Matt Garcia academy

Fairfield-Suisun board may ax Matt Garcia campus – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

The Matt Garcia Career and College Academy is struggling and it is possible in the future the Fairfield-Suisun School District will shut it down.

After a tour by staff and board members a few weeks ago, issues were revealed that put the question of the school’s continued value in the spotlight.

Sheila McCabe, assistant superintendent of Educational Services, and Kristen Witt, senior director of Secondary Education, gave a summation Thursday night of the positives and negatives facing the school.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun board may ax Matt Garcia campus

California school districts pass $20 billion in construction bonds, but some rural areas say no to higher taxes | EdSource

By John Fensterwald & Carolyn Jones

Notwithstanding worries about a looming recession and misperceptions that schools are swimming in money, California voters approved 71 of 101 TK-12 and community college construction bond proposals last month. The 65 of 94 TK-12 and six of seven community college district ballot measures that won will generate $20 billion in renovations and new construction.

The overall passage of 71% is below the average approval rate of 80% since 2001, according to CaliforniaCityFinance.com. The voting margins also “seemed thinner this year,” said Jeff Becker, executive director of facilities for the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. He also chairs the Coalition for Adequate School Housing or CASH, the California lobby for school facilities.

Source: California school districts pass $20 billion in construction bonds, but some rural areas say no to higher taxes | EdSource

Committee recommends against renaming Vanden football facility – Daily Republic

The committee that reviewed a proposed renaming of the Vanden High School Gammon Field to “The Daniel Dejon Hughes Stadium at Gammon Field” in tribute to slain Vanden student Daniel Dejon Hughes has made a recommendation to decline the proposal.

The Travis School District board of trustees on Tuesday night will hear the full report from the committee meeting from Oct. 3 in a report given by Superintendent Pam Conklin.

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at 2751 De Ronde Drive, Fairfield.

Source: Committee recommends against renaming Vanden football facility

Committee allows voices to be heard on Vanden stadium name proposal – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

Dejon Daniel Hughes spoke again Monday about his wish to see his son, Daniel Hughes, memorialized with a renaming or addition of the name of his son to the sign on the Vanden High School stadium.

This time it was different because he was speaking to a committee created for the sole purpose of making that decision.

Daniel Hughes died after being shot in April 2021. His family has wished to create a legacy for him by having his name included at the stadium where he had such great times with friends and family.

Source: Committee allows voices – pro and con – to be heard on Vanden stadium name proposal