SCOE Awards Science and Engineering Fair Winners | Independent Voice

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Solano County Office of Education (SCOE) hosted the 2024 Solano County Science and Engineering Fair on March 14, 2024. The fair was an excellent opportunity for elementary, middle, and high school students to investigate challenges, gather and evaluate evidence, and develop knowledgeable conclusions.

“Science and engineering fairs provide invaluable opportunities for students to showcase their creativity, problem-solving skills, and ideas. These events not only foster a love for science and engineering but also encourage critical thinking and real-world problem solving in the next generation of innovators,” said Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson.

Source: Office of Education Awards Science and Engineering Fair Winners | Independent Voice

Two SCOE administrators honored for their work | dailyrepublic.com

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Two administrators from the Solano County Office of Education have been selected for the Administrator of the Year award.

Valerie Garrett and Lisa Eckhoff are the recipients of the honor presented by Region 4 of the Association of California School Administrators.

“These awards recognize outstanding educational leaders who have demonstrated exception dedication, innovation and commitment to serving students and communities,” a statement released by the county Office of Education states.

Source: Two SCOE administrators honored for their work | News | dailyrepublic.com

Personal Finance Education Summit Recap – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation. During the summit, which featured a panel of financial and education leaders, Thurmond also announced his recruitment efforts for a Personal Finance Task Force to inform implementation of personal finance education for K–12 students across the state, especially as a source of economic empowerment for those in marginalized communities.

“This effort is fundamentally about empowering our youth and uplifting our communities. Personal finance provides our young people with the tools to understand and improve their own economic situation, and by establishing personal finance as a requirement for California students through Assembly Bill 2927, we would ensure that this powerful opportunity is afforded to all,” said Thurmond. “If our children are equipped with the skills to understand and change their own financial situation, we can help shrink the gender wage gap and build generational wealth in our communities of color as our young people move forward and manage their money, grow their wealth, and understand value when making critical decisions for their own futures and their future families.”

Source: Personal Finance Education Summit Recap – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

FSUSD gets a favorable rating from Moody’s | dailyrepublic.com

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The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District was given a favorable rating of Aa2 for its upcoming sale of $50 million in bonds according to a press release.

This rating reflects the district’s strong financial management and stability. Additionally, Moody’s maintains an Aa3 rating for FSUSD overall, highlighting its solid financial position.

Moody’s is a renowned financial services company that evaluates the creditworthiness of organizations, including schools and governments. Their ratings provide valuable insight for investors considering bonds issued by the school district.

Source: FSUSD gets a favorable rating from Moody’s | Education | dailyrepublic.com

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

Vallejo school district, educator union reach pay agreement after impasse – Vallejo Sun

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By Zack Haber

Following about five months of bargaining and two days negotiating with the help of a state appointed mediator, Vallejo’s teachers union ratified an agreement with the city’s school district this week.

The agreement between the Vallejo Education Association (VEA) and the Vallejo City Unified School District gives 470 teachers and other certificated school staff like nurses and counselors a 5.5% salary increase, bonuses, and increased contributions to medical health plans and stipends for union members.

Source: Vallejo school district, educator union reach pay agreement after impasse

Vallejo Planning Commission approves controversial downtown charter school – Vallejo Sun

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The Vallejo Planning Commission approved a plan to open a charter school in a vacant downtown office building on Monday, despite complaints from some residents that the building is not big enough for the planned school and that a school is incompatible with the city’s plan for the neighborhood to be an arts and entertainment district.

The planning commission voted 6-1 to approve the proposal by Elite Public Schools to convert the 34,819-square-foot office building that spans a half-block of Georgia Street between Santa Clara and Sacramento streets into a 400-student high school.

Source: Vallejo Planning Commission approves controversial downtown charter school

Fiestas Primavera cultural festival comes to Benicia – Vallejo Sun

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Benicia will hold its first ever big celebration of Mexican and Hispanic culture this weekend, which will carry a message of tolerance and appreciation for people from all backgrounds, in part to counter the cultural impressions of the “La Migra” game popular with Benicia High School students.

The free, day-long, family friendly festival will take place at Benicia City Park this Saturday and have live music, dance, fine art, food and activities for children.

Source: Fiestas Primavera cultural festival comes to Benicia

Travis board hears input on moving 6th-graders to Golden West | dailyrepublic.com

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By Susan Hiland

The Travis Board of Trustees heard feedback from surveys regarding Grade Level Reconfiguration for sixth-graders in Golden West Middle School from other schools.

The location and structure of sixth grade have been discussed many times over the years, and given the new Strategic Plan, LCAP and Facilities Master Plan, formal consideration of this topic makes sense at this time in order to maximize resource use and institutional coherence, according to the staff report.

The survey included 4,525 students, staff and parents. They had nine focus groups encompassing 527 students. They held 15 parent meetings and 12 staff meetings.

Source: Travis board hears input on moving 6th-graders to Golden West | Education | dailyrepublic.com

Travis Board looks for public interest in Goldridge property | dailyrepublic.com

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By Susan Hiland

The Travis Unified School District board voted to approve a resolution for accepting offers to lease or purchase the district’s Goldridge property at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Back on the Nov. 14 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: Travis Board looks for public interest in Goldridge property | Education | dailyrepublic.com

TUSD Board eyes May for possible new superintendent to be hired | dailyrepublic.com

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By Susan Hiland

McPherson & Jacobson, a firm that is conducting a national search for Superintendent Pam Conklin’s replacement has at least seven possible candidates so far, according to Travis Unified School District Board President Board President Matt Bidou.

Superintendent Pam Conklin announced her retirement on Feb. 7.

The board decided to go with a third-party search firm to find her replacement at last month’s meeting.

Source: Travis School Board eyes May for possible new superintendent to be hired | Education | dailyrepublic.com

VUSD board agenda: Initial contract proposals for support staff – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Vacaville Unified School District officials and the president of the district’s classified employees union will lay out initial collective bargaining proposals for the fiscal years 2024-26 during a regular governing board meeting Thursday night.

The district’s director of human resources, Lynn Benevides, will release pay and contract language for the classified, or school-support, employees. They include bus drivers, food service workers, custodians, nurses, and clerks.

The district wants to negotiate language in nine contract articles, among them union rights, hours and overtime, health and welfare benefits, leaves and vacancies.

Source: On VUSD board agenda: Initial contract proposals for support staff – The Vacaville Reporter

New superintendent contract on DUSD trustees’ agenda – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

A three-year employment contract for the newly named Dixon Unified School District superintendent is on the agenda when district trustees meet Thursday in Dixon.

The governing board will consider approving a $250,000 annual salary for Brett Barley, currently the superintendent of the California Montessori Project in the Sacramento area.

Barley, who earned a law degree from the University of San Diego and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, has been selected to lead the 3,000-student district, replacing Brian Dolan, who is retiring.

Source: New superintendent contract on DUSD trustees’ agenda – The Vacaville Reporter

New Superintendent Hire to be Announced Soon | Independent Voice

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By Angela Underwood

Dixon Unified School District (DUSD) leadership is soon changing guards with a new superintendent hire.

Shawntel McCammon, Dixon Unified School District spokesperson, told the Independent Voice after the March 14 school board meeting that officials “are working on finalizing contract negotiations and hope to have an announcement within/at the next few board meetings.”

Superintendent Brian Dolan is stepping down since taking up the post in 2012 and serving decades with the district after starting as a Vacaville High School history teacher in 1988. The process to find the future leader began in October 2023, when school board members approved a contract with Education Support Services to hold a national superintendent search.

Source: New Superintendent Hire to be Announced Soon | Independent Voice

Green Valley middle schooler, Benicia High student take Science Fair honors | dailyrepublic.com

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A Green Valley Middle School student won the overall junior division, and a Benicia High student won the senior division at the 2024 Science and Engineering Fair.

Andrea Davenport, from Green Valley Middle School, and Maya Chakraverty from Benicia High, are eligible to compete in the California Science and Engineering Fair on April 16.

Davenport earned her spot with a project titled, “Exploring Aerodynamics with Vehicle Shapes and Airflow.” Chakraverty’s project was called, “Effects of Ultrasonic Animal Repellers on Brassica Rapa Peroxidase.

Source: Green Valley middle schooler, Benicia High student take Science Fair honors | News | dailyrepublic.com

High schoolers show off STEM skills at Spark Challenge | dailyrepublic.com

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More than 48 students from Northern California high schools this past weekend participated in the Travis AFB Phoenix Spark Challenge.

The problem-solving challenge theme was “Glider Design Project.” It took place during the Wings Over Solano air show and open house on March 15.

“Participants were tasked with researching, designing and prototyping an unpowered foam board glider aircraft, with the goal of achieving flights of (50-plus) feet when launched by hand from an 8-foot platform,” the Solano County Office of Education, which partners with the base on the challenge, said in a statement released on Tuesday.

Source: High schoolers show off STEM skills at Spark Challenge | Psychology | dailyrepublic.com

2024 Travis AFB Phoenix Spark challenges local high school students – DVIDS

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More than 48 students from four local high schools came out to participate in the 2024 Travis AFB Phoenix Spark Challenge during Travis AFB’s Wings Over Solano air show and open house March 15, 2024.

This year’s challenge was focused on the theme “Glider Design Project.” These students were challenged to research, design and prototype an unpowered foam board glider aircraft, and showcase them during the air show.

The Phoenix Spark cell at Travis AFB highlights in their mission statement “innovation of the warfighter, by the warfighter, of the warfighter.” According to Spark members, the goal of this event was to foster innovation and experimentation among young students to create a culture of change in the future of STEM career fields.

Source: DVIDS – News – 2024 Travis AFB Phoenix Spark challenges local high school students

On TUSD agenda: Initial contract hearings for teachers, support staff – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Hearings for initial contract proposals from the Travis Unified Teachers Association and the California School Employees Association are on the agenda when the Travis Unified School District board meets tonight in Fairfield.

Open to the public, the meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Travis Education Center, 2775 DeRonde Drive.

Teachers and trustees will be negotiating a successor collective bargaining agreement to replace and supersede the current contract, which is in effect through June 30.

Source: On TUSD agenda: Initial contract hearings for teachers, support staff – The Vacaville Reporter

Sacto-area Montessori superintendent tapped to lead Dixon Unified – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Brett Barley, superintendent of the California Montessori Project, has been selected to lead Dixon Unified School District, replacing Brian Dolan, who is retiring.

Barley, described as someone with a strong background in school district finance and budgeting came out on top after a series of candidate interviews. He will be formally appointed during Thursday’s trustee meeting at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers, 600 East A St., Dixon. He is expected to begin his new assignment on July 1, at the outset of the district’s fiscal year.

In a press statement, Shawntel McCammon, the district’s spokeswoman, said Barley emerged as the top candidate for his “strong acumen in district finance, budgeting, and business management,” coupled with strategic planning skills, community engagement, a track record of student achievement gains, and “equity-driven leadership.”

Source: Sacto-area Montessori superintendent tapped to lead Dixon Unified – The Vacaville Reporter

Retired Vacaville teacher gets a buzz out of bees | dailyrepublic.com

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By Todd R. Hansen

Students in Rick Moehrke’s third- and fourth-grade classes at Markham or Cooper elementary schools likely remember his in-class, silkworm demonstrations.

It was his way to give the students a peek into the natural world Moehrke has been lured to since he was a youngster.

So it should be no surprise that with a chance meeting with Clay Ford, operator of Clay’s Bees and owner of Pleasants Valley Honey Company, that Moehrke would be stung by another curiosity – bees.

Source: Retired Vacaville teacher gets a buzz out of bees | News | dailyrepublic.com