Vacaville school board to consider changes to McClellan Street remodel – The Vacaville Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Vacaville Unified School District’s improvement project for the longtime campus at 100 McClellan St. is moving along, but unforeseen circumstances during the project’s construction have resulted in a request to amend the funding amount.

The school board will consider a contract amendment to increase unforeseen conditions allowance and supplement the owner-requested changes allowance at Thursday’s meeting.

At its May 13 meeting, the board approved a contract with F&H Construction out of Lodi for improvements to the Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy campus to the tune of $12.6 million, approximately $1.45 million below the construction cost budget. Additional roofing work was removed before the project went out to bid because it would have taken VUSD over its budget on the day of the bid, per a staff report by Daniel Banowetz, VUSD’s chief facilities, maintenance and operations officer.

Source: Vacaville school board to consider changes to McClellan Street remodel – The Vacaville Reporter

School board selects next facilities project manager – Daily Republic

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

Vacaville school board approves playground lease with neighboring school – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

School board members have approved the proposed commercial lease with Shelley Dally Early Learning Village and Pleasant Valley School.

A commercial lease with Pleasant Valley School at the Shelley Dally Early Learning Village site was approved Thursday for the coming school year.

The agreement is a no-cost land lease for 880 square feet of play area space to be used by the Pleasant Valley School.

Source: Vacaville school board approves playground lease with neighboring school

VUSD Board set to consider Shelly Dally land lease plan, preschool grant requirements – Daily Republic

By Susan Hiland

School Board members will consider items connected to the Shelly Dally Early Learning Village at the next regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

The first issue is a request by the staff for approval of a commercial lease with Pleasant Valley School at the Shelly Dally Early Learning Village site. This agreement is a no-cost land lease for 880 square feet of play area space to be used by the Pleasant Valley School.

Pleasant Valley School is adjacent to the Shelly Dally Early Learning Village.

Source: Vacaville School Board set to consider Shelly Dally land lease plan, preschool grant requirements

Officials unveil plans for new Kairos learning center, campus – The Vacaville Reporter

By Kimberly K. Fu

Dozens gathered at Nashe Mesta Park in Vacaville’s Brighton Landing neighborhood Friday to enjoy food, fun and celebrate progress of Kairos Public Schools’ school expansion.

As students scampered around the playground during the Kairos Innovative Scholars Program annual picnic, parents and education officials perused renderings of two phases of the planned Kairos campus. It will be located just beyond the park, on 11 acres owned by the school.

Jared Austin, Kairos co-founder and executive director, detailed the soon-to-be 11,000 square foot learning center complete with ample bells and whistles.

Source: Officials unveil plans for new Kairos learning center, campus – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield boutique shop moving into old Gomer School – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

The past four years have been a period of nonstop growth for boutique store Farmer’s Closet, which has evolved from an online store to a mobile business to a pair of brick-and-mortar stores in Fairfield and Winters.

And the growth does not stop. Next week, Farmer’s Closet will be moving its Fairfield location into the old Gomer School building in Suisun Valley.

Business co-owner Amber Blanc said that she and her sister, Lacy DeQuattro, had more inventory than their Fairfield Corners shop could accommodate.

“We developed an app last January, so we ship all over the U.S. and Canada,” she said. “The space at Oliver Road we’ve been at for the last four years, we’ve just kind of outgrown it.”

Source: Fairfield boutique shop moving into old Gomer School – The Reporter

Beloved Vacaville custodian keeps elementary school COVID safe | abc10.com

By John Bartell

The people who make Northern California Strong are those who inspire us and make our communities a great place to live. ABC10 wants to highlight their strength by recognizing what they do. This week we want to introduce you to Mick Simpson, a custodian at Alamo Elementary in Vacaville.

He’s a man of many faces and the star of Alamo Elementary School’s morning video announcements. When he’s not playing “Captain Underpants” or the “Crazy Cat Lady”, Mick Simpson is the Vacaville Unified School District’s self-proclaimed COVID Buster.

Source: Beloved Vacaville custodian keeps elementary school COVID safe | abc10.com

FSUSD Prepares for Summer Maintenance Projects – Daily Republic

By Kris Corey

Every summer, the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District’s (FSUSD) Maintenance Department oversees several large maintenance projects, and this practice will continue for summer 2021. The necessary repairs are above the threshold that the Maintenance Department is allowed to self-perform according to California Public Contract Code. As a result, bids are released for contractors to perform the required work. Projects for summer 2021, include HVAC replacement at one site, roof replacement at four sites, asphalt work at nine sites, exterior painting at three sites, and gym bleacher service at all high schools and middle schools. The estimate for all the projects is $2.2M. Any remaining funds will go toward tree removal, flooring repair, and cafeteria table replacements.

Source: Press Release: FSUSD Prepares for Summer Maintenance Projects

Solano to buy old school site to secure Cordelia fire station location – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

The Solano County Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to purchase the former Falls Elementary School site in order to protect the Cordelia Fire Protection District Station No. 29 that is located on the property.

“It really was to look at future fire protection services . . . and response is critical,” Supervisor Jim Spering said about why he brought the issue to the county administration and now the board. “This location is absolutely critical.”

The county agreed to pay the Fairfield-Suisun School District $550,000, plus administrative fees and estimated closing costs, to buy 10 acres located at 1624 and 1634 Rockville Road in rural Fairfield.

Source: Solano to buy old school site to secure Cordelia fire station location

John Knight Middle School students  get glimpse at new campus – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Usually, students receiving their novels during the spring semester is nothing more ceremonial than a teacher passing out copies in class. For students at John Knight Middle School in Dixon, it was an opportunity to set foot on campus after a long period of distance learning.

And it was not just any campus they set foot on but one that had not been occupied by students since before most of the current Knight student body had been born.

On Wednesday, the school hosted a spring novel pickup, where students could come by to obtain novels, textbooks and supplies for the next semester. It marked the first student event at 455 East A St. since the relocation of Dixon High School in 2007. The newly rebranded John Knight Middle School, previously known as CA Jacobs Middle School, was scheduled to open at the old high school campus in the fall of 2020, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a delay in the final stages of renovation pushed Knight’s opening back to January.

Source: John Knight Middle School students pick up books, get glimpse at new campus – The Reporter

Solano County plans to purchase old Falls School site – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

Solano County supervisors announced the county’s intent Tuesday to purchase the former Falls School site.

The county announced it will pay the Fairfield-Suisun School District $550,000, plus half of the closing costs, to purchase the property at 1624 and 1634 Rockville Road.

A public hearing on the matter is set for March 2.

The school closed in 1998.

The county did not indicate what its plans are for the property, and when asked what those plans are, the email response was ambiguous at best.

Source: Solano County plans to purchase old Falls School site

School district completes $5.1M in projects at Mary Bird campus – Daily Republic

More than $5 million in work to upgrade the Fairfield-Suisun School District’s designated preschool center has been completed, the district has announced.

Mary Bird Early Childhood Education Center has, since it opened in 2016, served as what district officials describe as a model preschool program to districts across the state and has received recognition and awards for how it serves children ages 3 to 5 years old.

Three classrooms were added to the site, in addition to other projects.

Source: School district completes $5.1M in projects at Mary Bird campus

FSUSD Completes Project at Mary Bird Early Childhood Education Center – Daily Republic

By Kris Corey

January 21, 2021 – Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) has recently completed a construction project at Mary Bird Early Childhood Education Center. Since opening in 2016, the school has served as a model preschool program to districts across the state, and has received recognitions and awards for successfully serving children ages three to five years old. Now, Mary Bird has three new, spacious 1,250 square feet classrooms, each with a student restroom, three hand-washing sinks, built-in storage, and solar tubes (alternative skylights) to allow for more natural daylight. This brings the school’s total to ten classrooms, each designed to meet the specific needs of a preschool program. Adjacent to the classrooms is a new 1,953 square feet main office as the previous location was inadequately sized to serve as the main office and enrollment center for all State Preschool sites across the District. In addition, the site received a new parking lot and an expanded kitchen. The expanded parking will allow the parents and numerous staff serving the District’s youngest students adequate space to park and safely access the campus.

Source: Press Release: FSUSD Completes Project at Mary Bird Early Childhood Education Center Receives New Classrooms and Main Office

FSUSD Completes Measure J Project at Fairview Elementary School – Daily Republic

By Kris Corey

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) has recently completed a two-year construction project at Fairview Elementary, one of the oldest campuses in the District. The K-5 school received a new 12,096 square foot administration and kindergarten complex with five kindergarten classrooms and play area. The new 5,055 square foot library, previously housed in a portable, includes an innovation lab with a large roll-up door to incorporate outdoor learning experiences. All twenty-three classrooms of the original school built in 1954 were modernized and the offices reconfigured to allow ample working space for staff. Other improvements include modernized and expanded kitchen, new play equipment, new shade structures, an expanded parking lot, and a refurbished play field.

Source: Press Release: FSUSD Completes Measure J Project at Fairview Elementary School

FSUSD breaks ground for $6M performing arts building at Oakbrook Academy – The Reporter

By Richard Bammer

The value of the arts, which supports creative and critical thinking skills so highly prized in a 21st-century economy, is getting more than symbolic due in Fairfield-Suisun Unified.

The district, the county’s largest with some 22,000 students across 30 campuses, recently broke ground on a $6 million performing arts building at Oakbrook Academy of the Arts in Fairfield. When completed in August, the structure is projected to enhance the TK-8 school’s mission of commingling core academic subjects with a wide array of arts offerings, from the visual arts and dance to music and theater.

The news comes 11 months after state schools chief Tony Thurmond cited the Oakbrook Drive school for its “exemplary arts education,” one of 13 California schools that demonstrated a high level of arts education programs and practices as it transformed into an arts academy. The academy also was a 2020 recipient of the distinguished California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award, given to creative programs and meet the needs of a diverse population of students.

Source: FSUSD breaks ground for $6M performing arts building at Oakbrook Academy – The Reporter

Corbus Field gets December makeover – Times-Herald

New turf was installed at Corbus Field in Vallejo this week. The money for the project is paid through Measure S funds, according to the Vallejo Unified School District. The work on the field is part of phase one of a makeover. Phase two is not expected to happen until 2024 and will be much more involved. Vallejo and Jesse Bethel high schools share the field for sports like football, soccer and track.

Source: Photo: Corbus Field gets December makeover – Times-Herald

FSUSD COMPLETES MEASURE J PROJECT AT SHELDON ACADEMY OF INNOVATIVE LEARNING – Daily Republic

By Kris Corey

Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) has recently completed a two-year construction project at Sheldon Academy of Innovative Learning that has dramatically altered the appearance and functionality of the campus. The K-8 school received a new 24,360 square feet two-story classroom building that replaced the 18 aging portables and two portable restrooms. The new 5,965 square feet library, previously housed in a portable, includes a college and career classroom and an innovation lab with a large roll-up door to incorporate outdoor learning experiences. The classrooms in the original 1963 building were modernized and the front office was relocated to a central location, clearly indicating for the first time where visitors are to enter the campus.

Source: Good News: FSUSD COMPLETES MEASURE J PROJECT AT SHELDON ACADEMY OF INNOVATIVE LEARNING

Travis school trustees to consider budget, new construction impact fees – Daily Republic

By Todd R. Hansen

A public hearing on facility needs for the Travis School District and a proposed Level 2 fee on new residential construction will be conducted Tuesday when the Board of Trustees meet during a virtual session.

Board members also will take public comment on the proposed 2020-21 budget, and will later in the meeting consider adoption of the budget, which also includes financial projections for 2021-22 and 2022-23.

“The Proposed Adopted Budget for 2020-21 demonstrates that the district will be able to meet its financial obligations for (2020-21) with the use of ending fund balance reserves. However, the district will not be able to meet its obligations in the subsequent years without substantial reductions to expenditures,” the budget document states.

Source: Travis school trustees to consider budget, new construction impact fees

Dixon school board to discuss timeline to procure furniture for middle school move – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

The Governing Board of the Dixon Unified School District will hear an update on the process to get furniture and equipment ready before the new John Knight Middle School opens in January.

John Knight Middle School, the new name for CA Jacobs Middle School, will be operating out of the old Dixon High School campus on East A Street.

The renovation of the old Dixon High campus to house DUSD’s lone middle school is one of the largest projects funded by Measure Q, a district improvement initiative approved by voters in 2016. The remodel was initially slated to be completed over the summer with middle schoolers starting at the new campus in the fall, but a delay in the final stages of renovation due to the coronavirus caused it to be pushed back to January.

Source: Dixon school board to discuss timeline to procure furniture for middle school move – The Reporter

Solano Widenmann Leadership Academy name proposed to school board – Times-Herald

By John Glidden

A special citizen advisory committee is recommending the Vallejo City Unified School District board consider renaming Solano Middle School to the Solano Widenmann Leadership Academy.

The school board received information about the new name during its meeting Wednesday afternoon. Trustees appointed the special committee in April after the district moved Widenmann Elementary School to the middle school site for the start of the 2019-20 school year.

“By keeping a portion of both schools in the name, we can continue to acknowledge the history of our region, the different cultures that make up our schools, and the contributions of both individuals to our community,” wrote Victoria Grace, committee spokesperson, in a letter to the school board.

Source: Solano Widenmann Leadership Academy name proposed to school board – Times-Herald