By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Solano County Superintendent of Schools Jay Speck picked up In Lieu of Filing Fee forms last Thursday from the Solano County Registrar of Voters, then formally announced his intention to seek a second term.

The election will take place June 3.

The Solano County Office of Education, which Speck heads, provides fiscal oversight of the county’s six school districts, including Benicia’s, as well as professional development for teachers and administrators, special education services, services to at-risk youth, the educational program at the Juvenile Detention Facility and services enhancing career-technical education across the county.

Speck, who received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California-Davis in 1974, began work in public education in 1976 while continuing his education at California State University-Sacramento.

Speck’s first teaching job was at SCOE’s T.C. McDaniel Center in Fairfield. In 1979, he and his students moved to Armijo High School.

He spent much of his career in education participating in the special education integration movement in Solano County.

Speck was elected Solano County superintendent of schools in 2010.

“I had never intended to run for office but when I saw the needs of our children and our schools and the importance of caring and competent leadership, I decided the fate of education in our county was too important to leave in less experienced hands,” he said on his website.

“A successful public education system is important to all of us that have children or grandchildren and it is important to all of us who care about our country.

“I have fulfilled the commitments I made in 2010 to always put kids first, to build partnerships, and to be fiscally responsible,” he said. “We have come through the deepest fiscal crisis ever faced by our schools and we are now moving into the future with new challenges and opportunities.”

Speck said that while significant progress has been made, there is still much to be done. “Student achievement and graduation rates continue to improve, the strength of the teaching force improves daily, opportunities for students to prepare for a career have never been more available, and for the first time in 10 years all districts in Solano County have a positive budget certification,” he said.

With the Common Core Standards and Local Control Funding Formula, he said, it is a time of change for public education “and as a result our students will be expected to meet rigorous new standards in preparation of both careers and college, our teachers will need to enhance their skills, and our schools will have new accountability and funding requirements,” he said.

Speck said he hopes to continue leading county schools through this “exciting” time of transition.

“I believe I have demonstrated through my leadership that voters in 2010 made the right choice. I fully recommit to the belief that we need to work together to always put our kids first.”

More information about Speck and his bid for reelection can be found at www.electjayspeck.com.

The candidate will speak at a Valentine Theme Social at the Vacaville Elks Club, 302 Parker St., on Feb. 11. The event is from 5-7 p.m.