Category Archives: School safety

Oakland firm recognized for security work at SCC Vallejo campus | dailyrepublic.com

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The Vallejo Center Security Enhancement Project project has been recognized with a Project Excellence Award by the Northern California Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association.

Net Electric Inc. was awarded a $460,000 city contract to enhance the security system as the Solano Community College campus in Vallejo. The scope of work included additional cameras in the parking area, new license plate reader with pole-mounted lighting, installation of emergency phones and lighting improvements on the Vallejo Campus.

Source: Oakland firm recognized for security work at SCC Vallejo campus | News | dailyrepublic.com

SROs make the grade – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick McConnell

The Solano County Grand Jury recently released a report on School Resource Officers in Solano County schools, particularly from the Vacaville Police Department and Fairfield Police Department. The report, issued July 1, is largely complimentary of the 30+ year program, for which officers receive special training.

“It was clear to this Jury that the presence of SROs in those two Solano County cities’ school districts is very beneficial and should be operated in a manner to maximize efficiency within the program,” the report reads.

Source: SROs make the grade – The Vacaville Reporter

Vallejo school district and police pilot ‘Safe School Days’ initiative – Times Herald Online

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By Sarah Rodriguez

Beginning today, the Vallejo City Unified School District and the Vallejo Police Department are set to launch “Safe Start to School Days,” a pilot initiative to ensure safety.

Through Friday, the three-day initiative will station officers at three elementary school campuses during drop-off hours from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. The schedule is as follows:

  • April 23: Patterson Elementary
  • April 24: Lincoln Elementary
  • April 25: Loma Vista Environmental Science Academy

Source: Vallejo school district and police pilot ‘Safe School Days’ initiative – Times Herald Online

Campus safety topic of special Travis Unified closed session | dailyrepublic.com

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The Travis Unified School District trustees have scheduled a special closed session meeting on Monday.

“Jason Johnson, campus safety consultations, will provide recommendations regarding safety training and protocols at TUSD,” the meeting agenda states.

It is not clear why this is being held in closed session. District policy is not typically an exemption to the state open meeting laws. The district could not be reached for comment on Friday.

Source: Campus safety topic of special Travis Unified closed session | News | dailyrepublic.com

More safety precautions coming in front of Vallejo High – Times Herald Online

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By Thomas Gase

With an aim to provide more safety in front of Vallejo High School, the city announced it’s conducting pedestrian and traffic safety improvement to Nebraska and Amador streets later this month.

The work — which will begin March 24 and end on April 4 — will feature three speed bumps on Nebraska Street, along with “Speed bump ahead” signs at both ends of the street. Finally, three sets of “State law yield to pedestrians within crosswalk’ signs will be on the centerline of each existing yellow crosswalk.

Source: More safety precautions coming in front of Vallejo High – Times Herald Online

School ‘report cards,’ safety plans included on TUSD agenda – The Vacaville Reporter

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School “report cards,” the results of the most recent statewide tests given to students in grades three through eight and 11, and safety plans for the school district’s eight campuses are scheduled under the consent calendar to be routinely approved when Travis Unified leaders meet Tuesday in Fairfield.

The tests, which provide a districtwide snapshot of student achievement, focus primarily on mathematics and English skills.

The so-called nation’s “report card,” released Jan. 29 by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, showed fourth graders’ math scores improved following historic declines between 2022 and 2024, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, while results for eighth graders showed no change.

Source: School ‘report cards,’ safety plans included on TUSD agenda – The Vacaville Reporter

Vallejoans voice concerns in public safety meeting – Times Herald Online

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By Janis Mara

Residents attending a Vallejo City Council public safety meeting Tuesday asked for more police officers, police reform, traffic calming and a fix for sex workers. Meanwhile, council members responded with specific, measurable proposals.

While it’s yet to see if the proposals including a public safety task force, a crime reduction plan, a prostitution ordinance and an increase to the traffic budget will come to fruition, the nearly three-and-a-half-hour workshop meeting held at the JFK Library on Santa Clara Avenue was replete with passion, mutual support, anger and hope.

Source: Vallejoans voice concerns in public safety meeting – Times Herald Online

SCC campus safety chief issues advisory about immigration enforcement – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

News reports and images of recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents’ arrests of immigrants across the country, handcuffed and loaded into vans or onto Air Force planes, have created anxiety and concern among some students at Solano Community College, school officials say.

But to calm fears, Mike Rowe, public information officer for the college’s Department of Public Safety in Fairfield, pointed out Monday’s social media post by Brian H. Travis, chief of the SCC District’s DPS.

Source: SCC campus safety chief issues advisory about immigration enforcement – The Vacaville Reporter

SPI Responds to Title IX Protection Changes – Year 2025 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond issued a public statement on social media External link opens in new window or tab. and a “Dear Colleague” letter to all California local educational agencies (LEAs) on Friday, in response to the “Dear Colleague” letter sent to all schools by the United States Department of Education (ED) External link opens in new window or tab. on Friday morning.

While the letter sent by Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor rolled back Biden administration rules that extended Title IX protections to students on the basis of gender identity, Thurmond’s letter and public statement affirmed that California schools will continue extending protections against discrimination to all students on the basis of gender, gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation:

“In California, “all” still means all. While the Trump Education Department announced that they will no longer protect all students from discrimination, California law is unaffected by recent changes to federal policy and continues to provide safeguards against discrimination and harassment based on gender, gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation. While federal guidance devolves, our commitment to safeguarding the rights of all students persists.”

Source: SPI Responds to Title IX Protection Changes – Year 2025 (CA Dept of Education)

Copper theft at Vallejo school forces cancellation of classes – NBC Bay Area

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A copper theft at a Vallejo school has cut power to the campus and will leave it temporarily closed until further notice.

The Vallejo City Unified School District said the theft happened sometime between Friday evening and Saturday morning at Solano Widenmann Leadership Academy.

“We are deeply saddened and frustrated that this has happened again to one of our schools,” VCUSD said in a statement. “These incidents disrupt learning and negatively impact our families and the entire school community.”

Source: Copper theft at Vallejo school forces cancellation of classes – NBC Bay Area

Vallejo school closes indefinitely after copper theft cuts power – San Francisco Chronicle

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By Jessica Flores

Classes were canceled indefinitely at a Vallejo school due to a theft that severely damaged the campus’ electrical systems, district officials announced.

Vallejo City Unified School District staff alerted officials Saturday morning that there was no power at Solano Widenmann Leadership Academy, where a basketball competition was being held, said district spokesperson Celina Baguiao.

Source: Vallejo school closes indefinitely after copper theft cuts power 

Latest school shooting spurs safety conversations in Vacaville – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Robin Miller

It was 25 years ago that two students walked into Columbine High School and opened fire, killing 13 people and wounding 21 others before turning the guns on themselves. Monday’s school shooting at a Madison, Wisc., school has once again stirred the same debates that raged over school safety and gun violence back then.

In the wake of the most recent shooting, parents and school leaders across the nation are again talking about the issues.

Source: Latest school shooting spurs safety conversations in Vacaville – The Vacaville Reporter

Vallejo City Unified School District pilots new security system – Times Herald Online

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By Thomas Gase

Looking to improve campus security, the Vallejo City Unified School District announced Thursday that it will be piloting a new safety system at Jesse Bethel and Vallejo high schools next week.

The Evolv system, beginning operation on Tuesday, aims to provide an additional layer of security during school hours, football games at Corbus Field and basketball games at Bottari Gym.

The Evolv Express system will be rolled out at Jesse Bethel on Tuesday. Corbus Field on Vallejo High’s campus will begin using it during the football game on Friday, Oct. 25. This is a free, one-year pilot program, and the district will evaluate its effectiveness before deciding whether to use it in the future.

Source: Vallejo City Unified School District pilots new security system – Times Herald Online

F-S Unified trustees talk ‘safety plan’ at Thursday meeting | dailyrepublic.com

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The Fairfield-Suisun school board on Thursday will review an updated Comprehensive School Safety Plan.

It states “FSUSD is completing an internal review on the following topics: Threats.”

“The internal review mentioned in the Comprehensive Safe School Plan is part of a broader initiative to address and respond to the national increase in threats, particularly those circulating on social media. This effort includes ongoing collaboration with local law enforcement, including the Fairfield Police Department, to ensure that we are taking proactive steps in protecting our students and staff,” Jaden Baird, executive director of Communications & Community Engagement, said in an email response to the Daily Republic.

Source: F-S Unified trustees talk ‘safety plan’ at Thursday meeting | News | dailyrepublic.com

Vallejo school safety program won’t be enforced until January – despite being successful

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By Philippe Djegal

Despite proving successful, a pilot program aimed at curbing crime outside two schools in Vallejo won’t be enforced when students return to class next week.

Last spring, during the final month of the school year, security guards and barriers bookended Nebraska Street between Amador and Pierce streets between Vallejo High School and the John Finney Education Complex. It was a strategy brainstormed by the City of Vallejo and Vallejo City Unified School District for about one year before moving forward with the temporary closure.

“Unfortunately, there’s been some drive-by shootings and unsafe things that have happened, and we want to be proactive and make sure we protect our youth,” said John Fox, vice president of the VCUSD board.

Source: Vallejo school safety program won’t be enforced until January – despite being successful

Vallejo starts pilot program to close Nebraska Street during school hours – Times Herald Online

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By Thomas Gase

The Vallejo City Unified School District and the City of Vallejo announced a month-long pilot program designed to address incidents of gun violence on front of Vallejo High School.

The program, set to start on Monday, will close Nebraska Street between Amador and Pierce streets during school hours.

This decision comes after a series of shootings in area between Vallejo and John Finney High schools in the past year and a half. The street will be closed 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days starting on Monday and continuing through June 7. The road will not be closed during weekends and holidays.

Source: Vallejo starts pilot program to close Nebraska Street during school hours – Times Herald Online

Campus Safety Consultations hired by Travis Board of Trustees | dailyrepublic.com

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By Susan Hiland

Jason Johnson, owner of Campus Safety Consultations was hired by the Travis Board of Trustees to examine the safety of school properties.

Johnson made a presentation about a proposal for safety and security consultation services at the board meeting Tuesday night.

The Travis Unified School District is taking a proactive approach to campus safety after a threat was called in on Feb. 2, which proved to be false.

Source: Campus Safety Consultations hired by Travis Board of Trustees | News | dailyrepublic.com

Solano CC staff gets emergency training |  dailyrepublic.com

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Solano Community College has concluded a comprehensive training program on Emergency Operation Center protocols, culminating in a strategic tabletop exercise.

The training was aimed at preparing staff for effective management of resources during emergencies, which often present complex challenges, including the allocation of personnel, equipment, and facilities. Recognizing the potential stress of such scenarios, the training was designed to bolster the college’s preparedness for safeguarding its community.

Source: Solano CC staff gets emergency training | News | dailyrepublic.com

Solano students, teachers prepare for the ‘big one’ – Times Herald Online

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By Thomas Gase

Much of the nation and Solano County were like Bill Haley and the Comets on Thursday morning — ready to shake, rattle and roll.

A day after an earthquake hit Northern California, schools across the nation and in Vallejo prepared to deal with “the big one” by participating in the ShakeOut earthquake drill at 10:19 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

According to www.shakeout.org, there were more than 56 million people participating in the drill globally. Of those, most came came the United States, with 10 million participants coming from California alone for the drill that began taking place yearly in 2008. Of the 10 million in California, Solano County had 45,938 participants, including 40,188 in K-12 schools and districts as well as another 1,287 in college universities and 579 in childcare and preschools. Non-profit organizations in the county had 1,220 people do the drill.

Source: Solano students, teachers prepare for the ‘big one’ – Times Herald Online

SPI’s Summit to Support Youth and Reduce Crime – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

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Amid reports of a spike in crime, including crimes committed by juveniles, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is developing a new program to help youth prepare for bright futures and to help prevent youth from engaging in crime.

Thurmond announced today that he will be working with partners to develop a paid internship program to help teens and young adults earn while they learn about career pathways. Youth will also be connected with career advisors who will help them learn about career and employment opportunities to ensure they have a secure role in the global economy in the years ahead, which will benefit not only themselves and their families but their respective surrounding communities.

Source: SPI’s Summit to Support Youth and Reduce Crime – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)