Category Archives: Travis Unified School District

Travis trustees OK 6.7% raise for teachers, most staff – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

A new state law to change the start times for schools starting this academic year served as cover for 6.7% raises for most of the Travis School District’s workforce.

The district and its teachers union came to an agreement Sept. 30.

Trustees on Tuesday approved a memorandum or understanding with the Travis Unified Teachers Association.

The agreement stems from Senate Bill 328, which changed the start times for schools by 15 minutes. The teachers union requested a renegotiation of salaries because of the additional time teachers would need to be at school.

Source: Travis trustees OK 6.7% raise for teachers, most staff

Travis board denies request to add slain student’s name to Vanden High’s Gammon Field – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Daniel Hughes’ name will not be added to Gammon Field at Vanden High School.

The decision was made Tuesday by the Travis School District governing board and follows the recommendation of a committee established to review the request.

Daniel Dejon Hughes, 17, was a junior at Vanden High when he was shot on Easter Sunday in 2021 and died 14 days later on April 18, 2021. The criminal case against the suspected shooter is making its way through the courts.

Source: Travis board denies request to add slain student’s name to Vanden High’s Gammon Field

Committee recommends against renaming Vanden football facility – Daily Republic

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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

Toys for Tots coordinator tells school children Santa needs help – Daily Republic

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By Todd R. Hansen

Kindergartners at Scandia Elementary School on Travis Air Force Base this week were told Santa needs community helpers to deliver all his Christmas promises.

“I talked to the kids about how Santa can only give out so many presents to every child in the world and how it’s up to parents to get presents for their kids as well, to help out Santa. I explained that some families may need a little help getting presents for their kids and that’s where Toys for Tots steps in,” said Staff Sgt. Salvatore Rizzo, the 2022 Solano County Toys for Tots coordinator.

Source: Toys for Tots coordinator tells school children Santa needs help

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

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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

TUSD committee to consider naming Vanden stadium after slain student – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Will the Vanden High stadium be named for a well-known student-athlete who was shot on Easter 2021 and died two weeks later?

A committee convened to consider naming the stadium in memory of Daniel Hughes, 17, will meet at 4:30 p.m. Monday in the Travis Education Center, 2775 De Ronde Drive, Fairfield.

The Naming of the Facility Committee, as it is being called, will hear Dejon Hughes, Daniel’s father, and supporters of the idea argue that the idea should be presented to the Travis Unified governing board for consideration and possibly a vote.

Source: TUSD committee to consider naming Vanden stadium after slain student – The Vacaville Reporter

TUSD committee to consider naming Vanden stadium after slain student – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Will the Vanden High stadium be named for a well-known student-athlete who was shot on Easter 2021 and died two weeks later?

A committee convened to consider naming the stadium in memory of Daniel Hughes, 17, will meet at 4:30 p.m. Monday in the Travis Education Center, 2775 De Ronde Drive, Fairfield.

The Naming of the Facility Committee, as it is being called, will hear Dejon Hughes, Daniel’s father, and supporters of the idea argue that the idea should be presented to the Travis Unified governing board for consideration and possibly a vote.

Source: TUSD committee to consider naming Vanden stadium after slain student – The Vacaville Reporter

Travis School District seeks 1 person to flesh out board prior to election – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The Travis School District is looking for someone to represent Trustee Area 1 and Travis Air Force Base – and seeks to file the vacancy soon.

Three seats on the board were set for election as part of the Nov. 8 general election. No candidate filed for the Trustee Area 1 seat.

Since the deadline for candidates to file for this election has passed, this means there is a “failure to elect” a trustee to this seat, resulting in a vacancy, Superintendent Pam Conklin reports.

Source: Travis School District seeks 1 person to flesh out board prior to election

Travis School District reaps benefit of fees charged to developers – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Account helps pay for portable classroom rentals at various sites

Developers working within the bounds of the Travis School District in Fairfield and Vacaville are paying significantly more to the school district now than they were at the start of 2022.

Fees charged to residential developers are nearly 11.2% more while fees charged to commercial developers are up nearly 18.2%.

The boost in the fees, charged per square foot for both residential and commercial development, helped the district absorb a one-time debt payment of $5.29 million while maintaining the integrity of the account that’s designated for the developer fees.

Source: Travis School District reaps benefit of fees charged to developers

Travis schools start fresh with social wellness a core objective – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

August brings with it the end of summer for many, and the beginning of the school year.

Gavin Rakin, 13, of Vacaville, on Thursday was starting his second year at Golden West Middle School.

“I am looking forward to meeting new people,” he said. “Last year, I wasn’t here very long, so I didn’t really meet a lot of people.”He likes math and is pretty excited to jump into algebra.

Source: Travis schools start fresh with social wellness a core objective

Travis Air Force Base families snag school supplies – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

The first day of school for Travis Unified School District is coming up fast — Aug. 11, to be precise — which means families are already in full-bore school-supply shopping mode.

Trying to get the best deals on pencils and calculators can be financially burdensome, but Operation Homefront wants to ensure that all students have the materials necessary to return to class. Once again, it has teamed up with Dollar Tree to host the Back-to-School Brigade, where backpacks filled with school supplies are distributed at locations throughout the United States.

On Friday, a backpack distribution was hosted at Travis Air Force Base for military families. In past years, the event had been held inside a hangar and families could walk up to tables to pick up a backpack, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was held as a drive-thru event outside the 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Building.

Source: Travis Air Force Base families snag school supplies – The Vacaville Reporter

Travis school board to hear update on LCAP, other finances – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The Travis school board will hear a presentation on the Local Control Accountability Plan at Tuesday’s meeting.

The LCAP focuses on closing the achievement gap through effective actions and services that create a solid pathway to success for all students, according to district information.

Source: Travis school board to hear update on LCAP, other finances

Travis board moves ahead with plans to improve college-prep success among students – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Travis School District trustees gave the go-ahead Tuesday to move forward with plans to secure grant money to provide college-prep coursework support to students who may otherwise not be able to further their educations.

The district through its A-G Completion Improvement Grant Plan seeks $123,131 for the A-G Access portion of the grant and $46,161 for the Learning Loss Mitigation portion of the grant.

The plan will be submitted for adoption at the board meeting in June.

Source: Travis board moves ahead with plans to improve college-prep success among students

Travis board eyes A-G grant planning to boost student success – Daily Republic

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The A-G Completion Improvement Grant Plan will be presented for discussion at 5 p.m. Tuesday during the Travis School District board meeting.

Estimated funding from this grant is $123,131 for the A-G Access portion of the grant and $46,161 for the Learning Loss Mitigation portion of the grant.The plan will be submitted for adoption at the board meeting in June.

Source: Travis board eyes A-G grant planning to boost student success

Travis hears report on mental health of students in district – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

It is a tsunami of needs that has impacted our schools, according to Allyson Rude Azevedo, Director of Student Service, at the Travis school board meeting, Tuesday evening.

She along with Sylvia Crowder, School Social Worker, provided an overview of the mental health and climate of the school district.

The revelations rocked the attending parents, causing much outrage.

In February of this year an anonymous survey was handed out to students from elementary school through high school to judge how things were going emotionally for them.

Source: Travis hears report on mental health of students in district

Jerry Eaton, former Vanden teacher, VUSD trustee and CTA official, dies – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Jerry Eaton, a former Vanden High teacher, former Vacaville Unified trustee and a California Teachers Association official, died Wednesday in Burlingame.

Neither the family nor CTA leaders gave a cause of death. His birthdate could not be confirmed at press time, but Eaton, a lifelong Californian widely regarded as a fierce advocate for students and educators as a longtime union activist and leader, was in his late 60s or early 70s.

News of his death shocked some employees Thursday at Vanden High in Fairfield.

Source: Jerry Eaton, former Vanden teacher, VUSD trustee and CTA official, dies – The Vacaville Reporter

Travis schools expanding transitional kindergarten program – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Sue Brothers, assistant superintendent for Educational Services at Travis School District, said transitional kindergarten will include all 4-year-olds by the 2024-25 school year.

She discussed the district’s draft plan for transitional kindergarten at Tuesday night’s meeting.

“Over the next few years, more students will become eligible,” Brothers said.

The plan currently serves 4-year-olds who turn 5 by Dec. 2. Over the next four years, age eligibility increases to include two more months of birthdays each year until all 4-year-olds are eligible by 2024-25.

Source: Travis schools expanding transitional kindergarten program

Travis district in need of teachers, other staffers – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

The Travis School District does not have enough qualified teachers, and the board of trustees has declared a Declaration of Need.

The board declared at Tuesday night’s meeting that the schools have an insufficient number of certificated teachers who meet the district’s employment criteria for the positions.

The Declaration of Need allows the district to hire staff who are not yet fully credentialed.

Source: Travis district in need of teachers, other staffers

Always Something To Celebrate – Times-Herald

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Parents and community members celebrated students’ achievements and viewed their projects online during the Virtual Science and Engineering Fair, March 17, followed by a virtual awards ceremony.

“The Science and Engineering Fair is an excellent opportunity for our elementary, middle, and high school students to apply science and engineering skills to investigate problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and develop intelligent conclusions. Through this event, we hope to inspire more students to consider a career in science, engineering, or a related field,” said Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson.

Source: April 14 Vallejo/Vacaville Arts and Entertainment Source: Always Something To Celebrate – Times-Herald

Vanden High’s Tristin Castro ready to fight back cancer diagnosis – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Corey Kirk

Sitting in NorthBay’s VacaValley Hospital Emergency Room with his parents, 16-year-old Tristin Castro waiting anxiously for doctors to enter.

On the cusp of joining his friends on the Vanden Vikings varsity baseball team, Tristin originally had his sights set on another high school baseball season. However, those plans were dashed after he heard the three-word phrase no one could prepare for.

Source: Vanden High’s Tristin Castro ready to fight back cancer diagnosis – The Vacaville Reporter