This meeting is recorded for livestreaming and archiving on the District YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/c/beniciaunifiedschooldistrict for your convenience.

PLEASE NOTE: BUSD has moved to in-person Board meetings, masks are strongly recommended, but not required.  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 on the entrance 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"  general comments (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 with the timer displayed on the monitors. 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.

There was one Williams Complaint for this time period.  The complaint was resolved.

The District, per Education Code, must publicly disclose negotiation proposals prior to commencing negotiations with the  Classified School Employees Association (CSEA) #1096 . The current collective bargaining agreement between Benicia Unified School District (BUSD) and CSEA #1096 requires specific articles to be opened before starting negotiations. Detailed information is listed on the attached document regarding the articles to be negotiated. 

Staff will provide an update on the Strategic Plan-LCAP process and grant funding.  The purpose of the presentation is to provide information on key highlights from the stakeholder engagement feedback, significant actions & services being proposed in the 2022-2023 Strategic Plan-LCAP and to show alignment regarding the grant funding for the proposed actions/services. 

PRESENTATION

The District Board previously approved a GO Refunding Bond (GORB Resolution in late 2021 in order to refund existing bonds and to provide taxpayer savings through lowering the debt service payments.  That opportunity to refund the bonds has become available through a private placement refunding.  Under a private placement, the District will lock in an interest rate with a specific bank who will buy new bonds to replace the existing bonds at a lower interest rate than what is currently scheduled to be paid.  Current savings estimates to taxpayers are in excess of $750,000, which is more than what was previously presented to the Board.  It is recommended that the Board approve the GO Refunding Bond (GORB) Resolution to save money for the local taxpayers.

Approval of the resolution providing for the issuance and sale of 2022 general obligation refunding bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $8,000,000 to refund outstanding general obligation bonds and approving related documents and actions

Dr. Leslie Beatson, Assistant Superintendent of Education Services, will present a plan for a new A-G Improvement Grant.  The purpose of the grant is to increase the number of students who graduate A-G eligible, with a focus on students who are economically disadvantaged, English learners, and foster youth who graduate A-G eligible. 

PRESENTATION

Student Services and Special Education play vitally important roles in providing essential mental health and educational support services for all students, especially students with disabilities. Recently, the mental health and educational needs of students have intensified due to COVID and various other challenges that have presented themselves over the past two years.  

In order to effectively respond to these needs, staff is recommending the position of Director of Student Services, which is currently responsible for covering the needs of both departments, Special Education and Student Services, be separated into two distinct departments and positions, i.e., Director of Special Education and Director of Student Services.  Separating the two positions will allow staff to more effectively provide the much needed support services with undivided focus for our students.  

Attached are two detailed job descriptions for the two positions, Director of Special Education and Director of Student Services.  The staffing in the Student Services Department will not increase as the current position of Coordinator of Students Services will be included in the separation of the two departments.

Staff requests the Governing Board approval of the attached two job descriptions in order to be able to separate the two departments

The 2024-25 School Year Calendar presented for approval was drafted by the Calendar Committee composed of representatives from the District management team, the Benicia Teachers Association, and the California School Employees Association, Chapter #1096. These calendars have been ratified by the BTA Unit Members. 

Staff requests Board approval of the calendars so that they may be finalized and distributed to all District employees, parents, and members of the Benicia community.

Approval of the 2024-25 School Year Calendar as presented

As the Board is aware, the District employs a number of temporary employees each year to cover teachers on leave. This year the District also hired temporary certificated employees with one time COVID-19 funding. Each year the District must release said temporary employees where there is no longer a position for them to fill and if a position is offered with the use of one time funding.

The attached resolution confirms that the employees listed will be non-reemployed, or their positions are reduced, effective at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, and authorizes that the Superintendent and/or her designee give final notice of this action on behalf of the Board as required in Education Code.

Approval of Resolution No. 21-22-24, Release of Temporary Certificated Employees as presented on a roll call vote

As you are aware the governing board shall notify the employee, on or before March 15 of the employee’s second complete consecutive school year of employment by the district in a position or positions requiring certification qualifications, of the decision to reelect or not reelect the employee for the next succeeding school year to the position.

The attached resolution confirms that the employees listed will be non-reelected, effective at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, and authorizes that the Superintendent and/or her designee give final notice of this action on behalf of the Board as required in Education Code.