PLEASE NOTE: BUSD has moved to in-person Board meetings. We ask that members of the public, who wish to attend, including those who wish to address the board, wear a mask at all times.  All functions of the Board meeting, including public comments, will take place in person. Members of the public may address the Board at a regular meeting on any item within the Board's jurisdiction. Speaker cards are available at the back table. Please note the item you wish to speak to and submit a card to the Board Secretary. The Board President will call all the "open session" public comments not on the agenda (Gov. Code Section 54954.3) during the public comment item. Comments for items on the agenda will be called during the specific item. Comments are limited to no more than three minutes per speaker or the board may limit the total time to 20 minutes per item. By law, no action may be taken on any item raised during the public comment periods and matters may be referred to staff for placement on a future agenda of the Governing Board.  Please be reminded to keep your comments respectful as students may be watching the board meeting, thank you.

Leslie Beatson, Assistant Superintendent of Education Services, will provide an update on the implementation of the 2021-22 LCAP.  California’s 2021–22 Budget Act, the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and other state and federal relief acts have provided BUSD  with a significant increase in funding to support students, teachers, staff, and their communities in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and to address the impacts of distance learning on students. The Supplement to the LCAP Annual Update is a one-time mid-year report to the local governing board  related to engagement on, and these Acts.

PRESENTATION

In 2019, the District transitioned to a by-trustee area election system to ensure compliance with the California Voting Rights Act (“CVRA”).  However, following each federal census, the Board must approve adjustments of trustee area boundaries, if necessary, to make sure the population in each trustee area is as nearly as equal as practicable, amongst other considerations. (Education Code section 5019.5(a).)  In late September 2021, following a delay due to COVID-19, the 2020 Census data was approved and released by the California Department of Finance.

School districts with trustee area systems are required to review and, if necessary, adjust their trustee area map by March 1, 2022 to ensure population balance.  If the population is no longer balanced, and the Board fails to adjust the boundaries after the Census data is released but before March 1, 2022, the County Committee on School District Organization is required to do so by April 30, 2022.  In such cases where the County Committee must conduct this review and make changes on the District’s behalf, the District is required to “reimburse all reasonable costs incurred by a county committee in adjusting the boundaries.” (Education Code section 5019.5(b).)

Analysis:

After review of the current trustee areas, and based on the most recent census data, the District's demographer determined that the Trustee Area map is now no longer in compliance with California Education Code section 5019.5 since the population is no longer balanced.  The demographer has created adjusted map options for consideration to ensure approval, compliance, and submission to County well in advance of the February 28, 2022 deadline. 

Benicia USD Redistricting Scenarios (arcgis.com)

As you know, the District previously transitioned from an at-large election system to a by-trustee area election system.  However, after reviewing current trustee areas, and based on the most recent census data, the District’s demographer has determined that the Trustee Area map is not in compliance with California Education Code 5019.5.  The District has provided opportunity for the community to provide input on adjusted map options under consideration to ensure population balance is reinstated.

At today’s meeting, the Governing Board will consider and vote to adopt a resolution and select an adjusted trustee area plan.

The matter will now be put before the Governing Board to adopt the proposed resolution and to select an adjusted trustee area plan that provides the legally required population balance.

Members of the Board, we will now open the matter up for initial discussion and comments regarding the proposed trustee scenarios.