Plans underway for hiring new Conklin replacement | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

It’s full-steam-ahead in the search to replace Travis Unified School District Superintendent Pam Conklin.

Conklin announced her retirement last month.

At the last meeting, the board hired McPherson & Jacobson, a third-party firm, to facilitate the search to fill the position.

On Tuesday, the board held a special meeting to discuss parameters for the position and a timeline to hire a new person to fill the role of superintendent by the end of April.

Source: Plans underway for hiring new Conklin replacement | Education | dailyrepublic.com

TUSD Ramps Up Search for New Superintendent – BNN

By Nasiru Eneji Abdulrasheed

Fairfield’s Travis Unified School District is in the midst of a significant transition, following Superintendent Pam Conklin’s retirement announcement last month. In response, the board has engaged McPherson & Jacobson, an external firm, to lead the search for a new superintendent, aiming for a candidate to be in place by the end of April.

Source: Travis Unified School District Ramps Up Search for New Superintend…

Travis board looks to firm to assist with search for new superintendent | dailyrepublic.com

The Travis Unified School District Board has begun the search to replace the retiring superintendent.

Superintendent Pam Conklin announced her retirement on Feb. 7.

The board decided to go with a third party search firm to find her replacement.

The board heard from three firms at Tuesday’s special meeting: Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates; Leadership Associates; and McPherson & Jacobson.

Source: Travis board looks to firm to assist with search for new superintendent | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Travis superintendent announces retirement | dailyrepublic.com

Superintendent Pam Conklin announced her retirement from the Travis Unified School District.

In a letter sent Wednesday by board President Matthew Bidou to the Travis School Community, he announced that Conklin plans to retire at the end of the school year.

Conklin took over the office of superintendent officially in April 2017. She served as interim superintendent after Superintendent Kate Wren Gavlak retired in February of that year.

Source: Travis superintendent announces retirement | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Travis school board finally has a new board member | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

Travis School Board has a new member, Melinda Beyer from Travis Air Force Base who filled the spot left by former board Trustee member Zenobia “Z” Muhammad.

Her resignation left a vacancy in Trustee Area 1 of the Travis Unified Governing Board for several months.

Under the Education Code, the Board had to fill the vacancy by appointment prior to the November 5, election. The individual appointed will hold office until the next regularly scheduled election for Governing Board on November 5, which is the same year Muhammad’s term would have ended according to the staff report.

Source: Travis school board finally has a new board member | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Vanden keeps streak of Academic Decathlon state appearances alive | dailyrepublic.com

The Vanden High Academic Decathlon team is going to the state competition for the 23rd straight year – finishing second overall at this year’s regional competition.

Campolindo High School in Morago won the Bay Region Academic Decathlon, which finished Saturday, and will represent Contra Costa County at the state finals to be held March 22-24 in Santa Clara.

The Vanden team is comprised of Cailyn Nguyen, Alyssa Patterson, Xavier Ramirez, Sarah Salmi, Charlotte Rains, Kindal Reddic, Rohan Kamath, Alan Dorji, Mahi Chanan, Joshua Richardson, Hannah Leibert, Michael Pierandozzi, Brayden Lam, Isabella Lam and Francesco Xie Santora. The coach is David Kenyon.

Source: Vanden keeps streak of Academic Decathlon state appearances alive | News | dailyrepublic.com

Students compete in final VEX Robotics competition | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

The final VEX Robotics competition saw students from 11 teams hailing from four different Solano schools compete for top spots.

The Solano County Office of Education (SCOE) and Solano Community College (SCC) partnered to host the events this year.

“After the pandemic we found that a lot of the robotics teams were not active anymore,” said Lilibeth Pinpin, director of innovative programs and student success for the Solano County Office of Education. “This really helps students get reconnected with school. The kids were really excited to be back and that translates to other areas in school.”

Source: Students compete in final VEX Robotics competition | Benicia-Vallejo | dailyrepublic.com

Fairfield City Council moves forward on plans for new Markeley Lane | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

Safety concerns have been at the forefront of complaints from parents, teachers and students over Markeley Lane ever since the new overpass was constructed. A portion of the road was closed when the Peabody Road overpass was built.

Before the overpass, Markeley Lane gave easy access to parents and students for Center Elementary, Golden West Middle and Vanden High schools.

Drivers must now access the schools using other streets, often leading to long traffic backups and many safety concerns.

Source: Fairfield City Council moves forward on plans for new Markeley Lane | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Travis school board creates first Strategic Plan | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

The Travis Unified School District board approved the first Travis Strategic Plan for the next few years at its Tuesday meeting.

The Strategic Plan is a management plan for the district, which also lays down the foundation for goals, tackling budgeting issues and creating a template for the Local Control and Accountability Plan, or LCAP.

The plan was developed in collaboration with representatives from Travis community members, board members and staff last month over the course of three days, according to Fred Van Vleck, lead consultant for the National Center For Executive Leadership, who gave a recap of the workshop.

Source: Travis school board creates first Strategic Plan | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Goldridge property declared surplus at Travis board meeting | dailyrepublic.com

The Travis Unified School District board voted to approve a resolution declaring the Goldridge property as surplus.

At the Nov. 14, 2023, meeting, the Board learned about options for the use or disposal of unused district property, including specifically the Goldridge property, according to the staff report.

The board was advised that current law, until July 1, 2024, provides a streamlined option for it to declare a property “surplus.” This can be done if it has not been used for a school facility.

Source: Goldridge property declared surplus at Travis board meeting | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Travis comes to terms with funding fencing around schools | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

The discussion on how to install fencing at three schools – Vanden High School, Golden West Middle School and the Travis Education Center – continued at Tuesday night’s meeting for the Travis governing board.

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

The cost overall remains at around $2.8 million, which did not include the work on sidewalks to adapt for the new fencing, which would be a required additional part of the project for some areas of the fence line.

Source: Travis comes to terms with funding fencing around schools | Education | dailyrepublic.com

All-girls team leads Vex robotics league heading into finals | dailyrepublic.com

A five-member, all-girls team from three schools and three school districts leads the VEX robotics league heading into the final competition.

“And they are killing the boys,” Lilibeth Pinpin, director of Innovation Programs and Student Success at the Solano County Office of Education, said in an interview about Team Solano, formally known as Solano County Girls Who Code Club.

The group is comprised of four high school students and one middle school student, organized by parents, and representing Vacaville Christian High in the Vacaville Christian Schools, Rodriguez High in the Fairfield-Suisun school district, and Golden West Middle School in the Travis school district.

Source: All-girls team leads Vex robotics league heading into finals | News | dailyrepublic.com

Travis school board continues talks on fencing | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

The discussion on fencing three schools – Vanden High School, Golden West Middle School and the Travis Education Center – continued at Tuesday night’s meeting for the Travis governing board.

At last month’s meeting, the board asked the staff to draw up plans for completing the project in phases rather than one at a time, to detail the cost difference.

This idea of fencing in the three schools has been discussed for many years. The increase of gun violence over those years has made some board members concerned about student safety.

Source: Travis school board continues talks on fencing | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Meal seconds will cost students more in coming year | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

The Travis Unified School District governing board approved an increase in price for second servings in the cafeteria at the Tuesday night meeting.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service requires that the price of an adult meal must fully cover all costs, including the USDA Food’s fair market value.

The breakfast and lunches served are still free but if students wants seconds, they will have to pay for it.

Source: Meal seconds will cost students more in coming year | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Fairfield PD expanding cannabis education, enforcement efforts – The Vacaville Reporter

By Lynzie Lowe

After receiving Cannabis Education and Enforcement Grant Program funding, the Traffic Unit of the Fairfield Police Department is now ramping up its efforts to educate the public about the dangers of driving under the influence of cannabis while working to keep impaired drivers off the road.

“The Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program marks an important step toward reducing impaired driving crashes, increasing public awareness surrounding the dangers of impaired driving, and making California’s roadways a safer place to travel,” read a statement released by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials.

Source: Fairfield PD expanding cannabis education, enforcement efforts – The Vacaville Reporter

Travis school board requests waiver from state to search of new board member | dailyrepublic.com

By Susan Hiland

The Travis Unified School District board decided to ask the state Board of Education for a waiver of the appointment timeline to allow additional time to seek a qualified applicant for the vacant trustee seat.

Zenobia Muhammad left the Trustee Area 1 seat in August. The board wanted to fill this vacancy by appointment, but no one applied for the position by the deadline, which was 60 days after Muhammad left.

The requirements for the position include that a person must be 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the state, a resident of the district and Trustee Area 1, a registered voter, and not otherwise be disqualified by the Constitution or laws of the state from holding a civil office.

Source: Travis school board requests waiver from state to search of new board member | Education | dailyrepublic.com

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

Local Friday Night Live groups take podium at youth summit | dailyrepublic.com

Vanden and Benicia high school students presented workshops at the recent California Friday Night Live Youth Summit in Anaheim.

Vanden’s Friday Night Live representatives presented a workshop titled “One Pill Can Kill,” about the dangers of fentanyl. The presentation was a collaboration with Drug Safe Solano and Solano County Public Health, the Solano County Office of Education reported.

Vanden representatives could not be reached Tuesday.

Source: Local Friday Night Live groups take podium at youth summit | News | dailyrepublic.com

‘Street Talk’ for road safety at Vanden: Organize, lobby political leaders – The Vacaville Reporter

By Richard Bammer

A Travis Unified trustee, two Fairfield City Council members, a Solano County Supervisor and concerned district parents met Saturday to discuss safe streets near Vanden High while they gathered in the school’s parking lot.

Two Fairfield streets at issue for the local elected leaders and the parents were Markeley and Viking lanes, which intersect. Markeley does not extend to the Peabody Road overcrossing, where for years a lone Markeley Lane sign has led to a grassy, undeveloped field.

Since Markeley does not reach to the four-lane overcrossing — and was never extended at the same time during the overcrossing’s construction — traffic backups are commonplace during the school year in the mornings and afternoons, when students arrive and depart, at four schools in the area. Besides Vanden, which has more than 1,600 students, the others are Golden West Middle School, with more than 700 students; Center Elementary, with more than 500; and the Travis Education Center, which has more than 70.

Source: ‘Street Talk’ for road safety at Vanden: Organize, lobby political leaders – The Vacaville Reporter