The following is the Sept. 20 edition of the Abridged by PBS KVIE Homeroom email newsletter, by reporter Savannah Kuchar. Want it se.nt directly to your inbox? Sign up here.
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A weekly email with news and insights into Sacramento area schools and how it impacts your students.
Welcome back to Homeroom!
Did you know last week marked one year of Abridged by PBS KVIE?
You may have seen the milestone shared in our other newsletters or on social media. It’s been noted that in our first trip around the sun, Abridged put out more than 1,000 stories.
About 200 were pieces related to schools or parenting in the Sacramento region.
From budget explanations to youth sports culture checks to firsthand accounts of artificial intelligence in schools to data on the local teaching corps, I hope our team has brought you education news you can use and stories that help your family feel closer to your community.
Let me know what you want to see in year two!
READY FOR THE WEEK AHEAD?
Education, parenting and other relevant stories from the Sacramento region you may have missed this week.
🏫 Schools in Davis, Woodland and Sacramento are ditching the name Cesar Chavez, after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced against the famous labor leader. Read more about the status of each campus renaming process.
🎓 At one Sacramento high school, all students go to college. Administrators say they’re expanding access to higher education. Read more about the different approach.
📂 Despite a state law requiring school districts to disclose inventory of military-grade weapons, a handful of agencies in California are not routinely reporting — including Twin Rivers Unified in North Sacramento. CalMatters has the investigation.
What else is in today’s newsletter?
If you’ll recall from last week’s newsletter, enrollment is a big deal to school districts. We’ll check in on the latest numbers in Davis.
Plus, you’re not imagining it — the mosquito situation is worse this year. More on that below.
HOMEROOM HIGHLIGHT
Davis enrollment continues to drop. School leaders see few ways to stop the decline
State projections show Davis losing more than 1,600 students in the next 10 years.
BY SAVANNAH KUCHAR | skuchar@kvie.org
In short: The student population at Davis Joint Unified has been steadily shrinking for more than a decade and the problem is expected to worsen in coming years. Davis school officials reviewed the dropping numbers Thursday and discussed difficult options for how to handle the decline, including potential staff cuts.
A bit more: Enrollment numbers in Davis were temporarily buoyed by the addition of transitional kindergarten and transfers from neighboring areas.
It’s a routine question on the car ride home or sitting around the dinner table. I want to hear more than “fine” from students across the region: How was school? What did you learn? Did something interesting happen?
Harvey Uyeyama, a senior at Davis Senior High School, reached out to highlight his specialty coffee start-up.
Abbie Preciado, freshman at Sacramento New Technology Early College High School, talks about what it’s like to be a ninth grader who’s also enrolled at Sacramento City College.
| “It’s interesting, knowing that I’m a college student and I’m only 14 … I just feel more prepared and more ready and not as nervous or scared as before, knowing all the opportunities that I have.”
Parents, feel free to share any tidbits from your student about their day by sending me a message at skuchar@kvie.org.
FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
Things to do with (or without!) the kids this week.
🧵 Teens can learn sewing machine basics with the Sacramento Library 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. All materials are provided and the event is free, but registration is required. More information is available here.
🎶 Grindstone Wines in Esparto is hosting their monthly Music in the Park Friday, Sept. 25. The VinylTones will bring rock hits from across the decades, and slices from the Compas Pizza food truck will be available for purchase. More on that here.
💉 Find a plethora of health and wellness services for the family at the Sacramento Area Lions District 4-C5 Community Health Fair Saturday, Sept. 26. The free event runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Oak Ridge Elementary School and includes services such as eye exams and free diabetes and blood pressure screenings. Find additional information here.
😄 Catch some family-friendly comedy in Roseville with On the Spot Improv. Their western-themed show is 7-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and tickets are $10. More details here.
Want an event to be featured in our next newsletter? Submit it to our community events calendar here.
A STORY TO SHARE
News isn’t just for the adults — each week, I’ll highlight a piece from myself or one of my colleagues that you can share with the student in your life. Hopefully they can find interest or insight in the hyperlocal, community-focused stories. To fuel conversation, check the discussion prompt below.
West Nile cases are up across the state and there’s been one reported death in Sacramento County. Reporting intern Annie Biebl talked to officials about how residents can help prevent the spread.
📝 Discussion prompt: How do you and your family typically keep safe from mosquitoes? What did you make of the official recommendations, including the fact that some experts disagreed on things like using chemical repellent?
Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated. Reach out anytime.
