Category Archives: Vacaville Unified School District

Agreement simplifies CSU admissions for VUSD high school seniors | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

Vacaville Unified School District high school seniors now have direct admission to the California State University system.

The school district and CSU signed a memorandum of understanding designed to expand access to higher education and simplify the college admissions process for VUSD high school seniors, the school district said in a press release.

Direct admission is a proactive college access program where eligible students receive an admission offer before even applying, as long as they meet certain academic standards. Students are then invited to take the next steps to finalize their admission.

Source: Agreement simplifies CSU admissions for VUSD high school seniors | News | dailyrepublic.com

School leaders spotlight successes – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Robin Miller

The state of Vacaville’s schools took center stage Wednesday as local education leaders shared updates and insights at the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce’s Business Issues Forum.

Vacaville Unified School District Superintendent Ed Santopadre and Travis Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Nick Girimonte joined business and community leaders to discuss student success, program growth, and the challenges ahead for both districts.

Santopadre opened by emphasizing the shared purpose between the two school systems.

Source: School leaders spotlight successes – The Vacaville Reporter

VUSD trustees to hear multiyear budget update – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

Multiyear budget numbers will be on the agenda when Vacaville Unified leaders meet Thursday night, as Kelly Burks, associate superintendent of business and administrative services, will offer an update from the district’s Budget Advisory Committee.

In a computer-aided slide presentation, she will detail the functions of the committee, its mission, its goals for the current fiscal year, and a timeline shared by the governing board and the BAC.

Highlighting some of the numbers in boldface, Burks will tell trustees that the red ink during the next three budget years, through 2027-28, will increase each year by $18.7 million, $19.1 million and $21.4 million, respectively.

Source: VUSD trustees to hear multiyear budget update – The Vacaville Reporter

Kairos Schools gains national recognition for middle school | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

Kairos Public Schools announced Wednesday it was rated by the U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s Best Middle Schools and Best Middle School Charter Schools.

“We are proud of our scholars and our incredible team of educators for their pursuit of excellence,” Jared Austin, co-founder, superintendent and chief executive officer of Kairos Public Schools, said in a statement.

“This national recognition is a powerful testament to their hard work, passion, and intentional collaboration. We are thrilled and honored to receive this recognition.”

Source: Kairos Schools gains national recognition for middle school | News | dailyrepublic.com

Local schools earn spots on 2025 Honor Roll | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

Seven Solano County schools, three from the Fairfield-Suisun Unified District, made the 2025 Honor Roll list of California’s top performing schools and districts.

Educational Partnership Results announced the news earlier this month.

ERP is a nonprofit organization that applies data science to accelerate student success, in partnership with state business leaders representing 28 chambers of commerce across the state.

Source: Local schools earn spots on 2025 Honor Roll | News | dailyrepublic.com

VUSD trustees to hear update on elementary literacy instruction – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

Vacaville Unified School District leaders on Thursday will hear an update about elementary school literacy, hold a hearing about Ernest Kimme Charter Academy’s revision as a continuation high school, and consider the “initial sunshine” proposals to open contract talks between the district and the Vacaville Teachers Association.

In a staff report and computer-aided slide presentation, Catherine Bozzini, the district’s director of elementary education, will tell governing board members about “significant shifts” that have occurred in reading curriculum, instruction and assessment during the previous three years, according to wording in the meeting agenda.

Source: VUSD trustees to hear update on elementary literacy instruction – The Vacaville Reporter

Solano students show test score gains – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Robin Miller

All school districts in Solano County saw gains in the number of students meeting or exceeding proficiency standards in English, Math, and Science on statewide assessments, a reflection of a broader trend across California, where the Department of Education data highlights continued academic progress among K–12 students.

The newly released state testing results come from the latest Smarter Balanced Assessments in English and math and the California Science Test, which students took in spring 2025. The assessments are computer-based, standardized tests used in several states, including California, to measure students’ understanding of content benchmarks in the three subjects.

Source: Solano students show test score gains – The Vacaville Reporter

Slime time at Sierra Vista – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

Sierra Vista K-8 Assistant Principal Diana Moore reacts as first grader Gentry Rubinato, 6; fourth grader Lucy Doss, 9; and first grader Haley Dismuke, 6, pour slime over her head during a school assembly on Friday. The sliming, organized by the school’s parent-teacher organization, rewarded the top fundraisers in the annual fundraising drive.

Source: PHOTO: Slime time at Sierra Vista – The Vacaville Reporter

Spending plan for arts and music, and a meat contract on VUSD agenda – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

A proposed spending plan for arts and music funding, appointments to the School Attendance Review Board, a six-figure contract with an area meat company, and the sale of certificates to refinance lease payments are on the agenda when Vacaville Unified leaders meet Thursday.

Ali Eeds, director of secondary education, will ask the governing board members to approve the district’s schools and dependent charter schools’ proposed spending plan for the 2025-26 for the Arts and Music Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act funds.

Source: Spending plan for arts and music, and a meat contract on VUSD agenda – The Vacaville Reporter

Grammy-nominated musician welcomed by Vaca High jazz band | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

The Vacaville High School Bulldog Jazz Band recently welcomed substitute teacher Michael Rocha, a four-time Grammy nominee and acclaimed jazz trumpeter.

The band is gearing up for this weekend’s Jazz, Wine & Food Festival.

The student musicians, along with those from Dixon High, Will C. Wood and Vanden will perform from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive. Admission is free.

Source: Grammy-nominated musician welcomed by Vaca High jazz band | News | dailyrepublic.com

Vaca High swings into Homecoming week fun – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

Student Evan Fuller, 16, a junior at Vacaville High School swings at a piñata during lunchtime on Wednesday in an effort to break it open. The competition, organized by the student council, is part of a week-long celebration leading up to Friday night’s Homecoming football game against Pioneer High School, the crowning of the queen, and a halftime fireworks show. Wednesday was also “Wacky Wednesday,” so students were wearing some wild outfits to show their school pride. “It’s just fun to dress up and show spirit,” said Bella McNelis, 17, a senior at the school who was among council members who helped some of the planning for the week of events.

Source: PHOTO: Vaca High swings into Homecoming week fun – The Vacaville Reporter

Beyond the bell at Vacaville schools – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Robin Miller

In a brightly lit classroom at Hemlock Elementary, the hum of focused chatter mixes with the rustle of paper and the scrape of pencil on worksheet. Instructor Naba Jafi leans over to help a kindergartener write the number, her voice calm and encouraging. Across the room, other students are giggling and holding up papers to show their. Out on the playground, third-grader Oliver Albizo and his friends are enjoying activities together.

“It’s fun here,” he says when asked what he likes best about the after-school enrichment program he’s part of at the school. “Everyone listens and we get to play a lot of fun games.”

Source: Beyond the bell at Vacaville schools – The Vacaville Reporter

Senior manager contract extensions on VUSD agenda – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

Contract extensions for three senior managers, approval of a contract for the school district’s Central Kitchen Project, and a pair of contract proposals to build portables at two elementary schools are on the agenda when Vacaville Unified leaders meet Thursday evening.

Agenda documents show that trustees will consider approving a three-year contract extension for Kelly Burks, associate superintendent of business and administrative services.

While the contract agreement, which will be in effect from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, does not indicate the dollar amount of her current base salary, a district official told The Reporter that Burks is on Step 3 of the salary schedule, which means her annual salary is $211,176.

Source: Senior manager contract extensions on VUSD agenda – The Vacaville Reporter

Buckingham recognized among best high schools | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

The Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy (BCCA) has been named the No. 1 high school in Vacaville and ranked No. 3 in the Vallejo Metropolitan Area, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best High Schools rankingsThe rankings are based on multiple measures of student success, including college readiness, state assessment performance, achievement among underserved student populations, breadth of college curriculum and graduation rates.

Source: Buckingham recognized among best high schools | News | dailyrepublic.com

Urban could have been singing about Vacaville High | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

By Todd R. Hansen

They are not exactly the same halls that Mable Turner walked in 1944 when she graduated from Vacaville High School.

Or for that matter, the same hallways Robin Wood walked when he graduated in 1968, two years before his sweetheart and future wife, Mona Moore, walked in 1970; nor the halls that Michelle (Wood) Neitz walked her graduating year of 1990.

There were even changes so that the halls Camille Neitz walked before her graduation in 2012 are different from those of her mother’s Vacaville High.

Source: Urban could have been singing about Vacaville High | News | dailyrepublic.com

Public hearing about course additions at Buckingham on VUSD agenda – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

A public hearing about additions to Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy course offerings and approval of provisional internship premits for several instructors are on the agenda when Vacaville Unified leaders meet Thursday evening.

The govening board will hear Buckingham Principal Samantha Working present a material revisions to consider, adding choices for students to meet graduation requirements, as well as the creation of an Early College Program. A vote on the item will be taken during the trustees’ Sept. 11 meeting.

Source: Public hearing about course additions at Buckingham on VUSD agenda – The Vacaville Reporter

Solano County high schools make the grade – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Robin Miller

Local public high schools posted strong rankings in areas such as college readiness, state assessment testing and graduation rates, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best High Schools rankings released this week.

The rankings include data from more than 24,000 public high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Nearly 18,000 schools earned rankings based on six factors, including their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college.

Source: Solano County high schools make the grade – The Vacaville Reporter

Vacaville schools back in session – The Vacaville Reporter

Posted on by

By Richard Bammer

Markham Elementary Principal Sara Johnson smiled, high-fived and encouraged hundreds of students as they entered the Markham Avenue campus Thursday morning, the first day of school in Vacaville Unified.

“Hey, you guys,” she said, spotting students she knew from last year, adding, “Have a great day,” an arched cluster of teal, white and black balloons behind her led to the school’s asphalt playground under a jewel-like blue sky and temperatures in the high 60s.

Source: Vacaville schools back in session – The Vacaville Reporter

Most Vacaville school zones drop to 15 mph speed limit as kids return to class – CBS Sacramento

Posted on by

The back-to-school season is in full swing, and in Vacaville, officials are reminding people to slow down.

Students within the Vacaville Unified School District went back to class on Thursday. Parents and anyone driving through school zones should be aware that the speed limits have changed for most schools across the city.

“The goal of this is to reduce the likelihood and severity of any motor vehicle collisions in our school zones,” said Lt. Chris Lechuga with the Vacaville Police Department.

Source: Most Vacaville school zones drop to 15 mph speed limit as kids return to class – CBS Sacramento

Lower speeds for some Vacaville schools when children are present | dailyrepublic.com

Posted on by

Some Vacaville schools will see 15 mph speed limits when they open Thursday.

That limit will only apply when children are present.

Signs will be posted.Drivers are reminded to be alert for crossing guards, school buses and pedestrian crossings, and to yield always to pedestrians in crosswalks and follow the directions of school personnel.

Source: Lower speeds for some Vacaville schools when children are present | News | dailyrepublic.com