001Good evening everybody. I'm going to call this meeting to order. It is six o'clock on the dot. Um we have nothing to report from our close session. Um, this meeting is recorded for live streaming and archiving on the district YouTube channel at youtube.com/benicia unified school district. It's really very easy to find. Um, and number so number six um Sophia Sophia are you here? and you're gonna um you're going to lead the pledge and then our um vision will be by um Isaac Santos and our mission statement, Charlotte and Christy and Jack Truck. So, if all of you could come to the podium. Thank you. And then we'll have our um pledge of allegiance first. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one
002nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. B USD vision. We are an inclusive community that cultivates an equitable and responsive environment, empowering all students to develop strong character and academic excellence to become well-rounded and engaged global citizens. B USD mission in partnership with students, family, staff, and community. We are committed to an inclusive community, respecting diversity and nurturing a safe and equitable environment environment, empowering students, being responsive to students needs and voices while fostering the passion for learning, collaboration, and individual expression needed to reach their future ambitions. Strong character promoting social emotional learning, integrity, mental and physical wellness, and values aligned actions. Academic excellence supporting and retaining a car a caring and well-trained staff who promote critical thinking, cultural and technological literacy by ensuring rigorous and innovative programs well-rounded and global citizens
003offering relevant learning opportunities to help build a sustainable future. >> Well done everyone. Thank you. So, we come to um item number seven, approval of the agenda. Um do I have a motion? >> I move that we approve the agenda as written. >> I'll second. >> Excuse me. There's supposed to be an amendment to the agenda. I'm being told >> um we we are pulling 13A Oh, 13 A and 13B. So, under action items 13A, um, So 13 Excuse me. We have a little movement going on here. So um okay we are going to move 13A and 13B up in our agenda um because there are families here and we want to make sure that everybody gets home and so we're just gonna we're just going to move them up. So >> to um to
00412 to 12 uh before 12 or 12A presentations before is that okay? >> We are pulling anou and that is Um, >> you want to chime in here? >> Um, yes. It's 13J. >> 13J. >> It'll come back in in May. Thank you. >> My mistake. That's that is not correct. It is 13K the consideration and approval of memorandum of understanding with the classified school employees association regarding layoff procedures. We're awaiting CSEA's approval. So that one needs to >> Okay. Thank you everybody for your patience. Thank you Georgina for your patience. Um, so we are at >> we got a >> the approval of the agenda. >> Do we have a motion? Tennessee as amended. >> I move that we approve the agenda with the uh amendments that we discussed. >> I'll second. >> All
005those in favor? >> I come to our highlight. Um Principal Balante, you can you come to the podium, please? And of course, >> Good evening, board. We have four fabulous students from Joe Henderson Elementary, and they're going to tell you all about the different programs that we have at Joe Henderson. So, I'm going to let them take it away. Okay, they've written their own paragraphs and they're excited to share this with you. Next slide, please. Hi, my name is Sophia Arendia and I'm going to be talking about the Henderson harmonizers ran by Mr. Stamps. Grades 2 through 5th practice every Thursday and have lots of fun. We perform at a lot of performances like the opening day for softball. What I love about this program is how I get to hear everybody everybody's beautiful singing
006voices and meet new people. I'm so grateful to be part of this great singing group. Thank you for listening. And next slide, please. Uh hello, my name is Charlie Christie. Today I'll speak about JH Student Council run by Mrs. Anderson. This program gives us a chance to lead the school spirit. It also lets us recognize good behavior. I love this. Oh, and kids following the the younger kids following the 3Bs. I love this program because it gives me a sense of pride to lead announcements and be part of something meaningful. Next slide, please. I'd also like to tell you about JH's talent show. The talent show is a fun activity that JH has brought back this year. This gives students time to shine. Many of the kids at school have talents, but the upper grades
007will perform at the show. This fun experience gives tryyous, rehearsals, and more. We're really part of the show business. As a participant myself, this speech gives me much joy. Thank you for your time. Next slide. >> Hello, I'm Isaac Santos and I'm going to talk about Joe Henderson's Nature Bowl team. Nature Bowl is an activity run by Mr. Mertz. In it, you do natural based nature-based challenges, skits, and learn about our natural world. It is a 12-week process on days during after school on Wednesdays leading up to the competition day. It is a it is important because it teaches students about nature and how to work together. I love that we do a skit in it and we have to make the props. Yesterday we went to the competition and had a lot of fun
008competing as a team. Next slide, please. I'm also going to talk about Joe Henderson. Sorry squad. Sorry squad is run by our librarian, Miss Sari. Sorry squad is where fifth graders help in the library doing stuff like making the aspy tank, putting up posters, doing puppet shows, and helping cleaning up. It is important because we get to help Miss Sari in the library so it is always ready. I love that we are allowed to help in the library and help the school. It is a truly fun program. Next slide, please. >> Hi, my name is Jack Tro and I'm going to talk about the yearbook squad. The yearbook squad is a group of kids led by Miss Hubes to help put the yearbook together. Shout out to Miss Hughes for putting half of the yearbook
009together. The yearbook squad gets together at recess usually. And what we and what I love is that we get to help recap the the year and help put together the yearbook. Next slide, please. I would also like to tell to tell you about our spelling bee at our upper grade students all had a chance to participate in Hudson and Beckett represented our school at the Solano Cal Solano County Spelling Bee in March. We are so proud of them. Shout out to Mr. Stamps for coordinating this experience. Thank you for Thank you for allowing us to share about our extracurricular programs. Thank you for listening. Go House. And now we come to our student reports. Um, remind me Brascita >> Braza >> Braa. Thank you. Sorry. >> Good evening, President Grub, Superintendent Calibi, fellow trustees and
010cabinet members. We want to welcome everybody back from spring break. We hope everyone had some relaxing time and enjoyed time off. We are in the middle of CASP testing. We hope to be finished by the end of the week. Yesterday, we had the Salono County DA office and local law enforcement give us a presentation on dangers of fentanyl and driving impaired. We heard firsthand stories from community members and first responders and how we can make positive and safe decisions. We are preparing for the second half of career days. We have been working on our resumes, cover letters, and we are learning how our skills can transfer into potential jobs. Each student is preparing a partic in participating in either a mock or reverse interview. A huge thank you to the Rotary for their generous donations.
011Next week, Mr. Pound is taking several students to go see the cat play Hamnit. We are reading Shakespeare in class and we hope this we hope this play depicts how events in Shakespeare's life influences writing. Finally, we want to give a shout out to BHS for putting on such a wonderful prom in spite of the cold weather. Several Liberty students have attended and it we had all a great time and the decorations were beautiful and the venue was great. Oh, excellent. >> Good evening, President Grub, Superintendent Calibesi, fellow trustees, and cabinet members. In the past weeks, students at BHS came back from spring break on April 7th. That Friday, many seniors received their caps and gowns during lunch as they were passed out. Then, on April 11th, we had our junior and senior prom at
012the Shabbo Space Center in Oakland. There were multiple dance areas, food and drinks right when you walk in, and exhibits from space on every floor. This week, we have state testing. Also, yesterday on the 15th, we had our annual seniors versus staff basketball game. It was pretty close, but the seniors ended up winning rightfully. Today, today the BHS Wind Ensemble is hosting a performance in the auditorium. And this Friday, our improv team is coming back to the stage at 7:00 p.m. On Sunday, Benicia will see the annual classic car show once again from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. and we have a lot of us volunteering there. Um, in the upcoming weeks, BHS will host an Earth Day event in the quad on the 22nd. Also on the 22nd at lunchtime is the BHS Debate
013Society's first ever Panthers Speak event where we participants will gather in the auditorium and speak for a few moments on the prompt overcoming barriers to youth mental health. On Friday the 24th we'll have a short day on behalf of Benishia High School. Thank you. If you ladies would like to head on for the rest of your evening, you're certainly welcome to do so. And now we come to um our uh superintendent report. Superintendent Colisei, I'm sorry I missed the basketball game yesterday. Um that we the staff lost by two. I just want to point that out. And no one was seriously injured. Um, but we all felt like asthmatics apparently. So, running up and down that court. I am so challenged with this. Here you go, Leslie. Help me out. Oh, yes. Awesome. So, uh,
014yesterday we got to go to, um, Rotary, and I can't thank Rotary enough for all that they do for us. Um, and I'm going to be talking to them a lot in this report, but yesterday we got to celebrate. Uh, here we are. Joe Henderson, uh, Rebecca Sher as an ISP teacher. just an amazing job. And so, um, I shouldn't totally give myself away. Later on, you're going to see pictures of me being at Joe Henderson and getting to getting to teach. And, uh, uh, Rebecca came out and supported me. Um, she knows my skill sets and and, uh, praised me, asked me how it was going and then said, "Do are you looking for your students?" I said, "I am." And she said, "They're in the cafeteria, Mr. Calibers." Like, I so appreciate you.
015She totally came to me like just like any special ed teacher would. She she sandwiched it. She was really kind at first. redirected me and then and then praised me again as I went off. So, it was fantastic. Um, Benicia Rotary and Chamber teamed up for the Benicia run. 890 people signed up for the run. It was a huge downpour if you were here on Sunday. Um, it dumped. I mean, just buckets of water and um, 800 people participated in that run, right? The best part though, I have to say, is that bottom right hand corner there. Um, I don't know whose idea it was to have five, six, six, five, and four year olds run independently in a in a like 200 feet race, but it was the best thing to watch ever. And
016these kids out there in rain boots and rain jackets running to the finish line. It was so great to watch. And so I can't thank them enough what they did there. Uh, yesterday, Matthew Turner Elementary School Wax Museum, packed house of parents and dignitaries. And uh as our students presented um and we were all talking about it, how students had memorized uh what it is that they had studied and and were sharing and so I was incredibly impressed with our students and their poise and and how they presented the uh their knowledge and and fully had memorized it. And so it was great. Uh this is uh my classroom for the day. As some of you know, I raffled off and that's my selfie, my eyeball selfie like that, Karen. And so, um, uh, back
017in January at the PD day, I raffled off, uh, uh, substituting for a day and I was lucky enough to chose this amazing classroom, Mr. Whitty's classroom. And, um, these students were just absolutely inspiring. And so, uh, the picture on the left there is Carmelo and Ben and James, and they are working on they're reading about the Declaration of Independence. And so, as a former history teacher, I was sucked right in. They were pretty done with me after about 15 minutes talking about the Declaration of Independence. And so they dug into the work and were summarizing it. And um I I pulled out all my stops pulling popsicle sticks, waiting till I had 10 hands raised, calling on students that didn't raise their hand, trying to get the engagement. And um I learned a lot.
018I it was a I would challenge anyone to do this. Uh whether district office admin or site principles to take the opportunity to do that. It was a great reminder of what happens in the classroom. I don't know. CeCe asked me if Mr. Woody pranked me or not. And and if he did, I didn't notice it. So, but I did not have access to technology and I was completely old school and I was using my books and and so I wondered what this because the students kept reminding me, well, normally he projects it, Mr. Calibi. I'm like, I'm sorry, you're right. Um and uh but we worked through it. Um, I will say that I was relieved that no one came and evaluated me during my math lesson because I definitely had to retach it
019and we skipped uh silent reading so we could retach about triangles. I didn't want did not want them to be behind the uh when they when Mr. uh Witty came back. So, it was a great day. Got to enjoy the um um nature bowl assembly. Um got to go to the library with Miss Ser and she was presenting uh poems and so it was it was a wonderful wonderful day. I can't thank these students enough for what they taught me that day. Uh was it was great to be engaged like that. A festas primma vera and so that was held just a few weekends ago and great event, great turnout, wonderful weather. Um it was nice to walk around and see the various booths and the artwork uh to see the ballet fork lord and
020dancers and and I got to give a quick speech and and speak to my parents and grandparents immigrant experience. Um but the people that stole the show beside the organizers were our scholarship winners and they got up there and gave speeches and um not a dry eye in the house and it was it was really powerful really really moving and so u it was a great great event and I'm I'm grateful for them for hosting this. Um this is our softball and baseball field complex and so we had a groundbreaking and I can't the our contractor boy they just played right into me. I'm like a kid with Tonka toys, you know, and and um I I don't know if you guys know this, but I operated back to put myself through college. I was
021supposed to become an operating engineer and um thank goodness my I went to summer camp and became a teacher instead. But um it was a great day and and to see this uh um this event. And so here we are breaking ground uh with the excavators in the background and we uh the entire city council was there. Um our police chief was there and his lieutenants. And so it was a wonderful event and one of many that we'll be hosting. You're getting crazy there with the >> Georgina. Oh, there we go. So, um, anyways, one of many groundbreaking that we're going to have in this district. And I just want to remind folks because often I get asked, why are you spending so much money on fields of our measure dollars and not classrooms? And
022and this really is the work that we're doing here is really so that we can it's title N issue and so we can have equitability in our softball and baseball uh fields to remove the field off of Mary Farmer Elementary School so then we can begin work at Mary Farmer as we have work to do there. I've often said it from right here about walking through Mary Farmer and I I get flashbacks of the third grade. I can smell the paste and the and the play-doh. And so, um, we have work to do in our schools to to improve them. And and I believe we have a a district that's second to none. And I think we need to have facilities that are second to none also. And so, this was a great day as
023a beginning of of the work that we're doing. Okay, next slide. Thank you, Georgina. Um, I just stumbled upon this. I know Tanya sent me uh the the link and the dates that our um farmers market was coming out. And so, our food and nutrition program is hosting these farmers markets going out to our our sites. And so our students are learning about fresh fruit and vegetables. And so I don't remember the farmer's name, but he was talking to them about the various fruits and vegetables that he grows or has or has access to. And and students were able to purchase them. They were each given a few dollars. And uh it's it's farmers market money. It's fake. And so um and they were able to uh go purchase one fruit and one vegetable. And
024I have to say my little buddy from Mr. um Christian Witty's class wanted to buy me an orange. I thought that was very sweet of him. So instead of an apple for the teacher, he got me an orange. Uh and so that was really cool. Okay, next slide. Uh this is the National Honor Society. Um and and they had an induction meeting and um the officers that the the officers in the National Honor Society completely run this. So these are students running this this event and um I was honored to be a speaker there and um just so well attended, so well done. Um Cameron invited me, one of our students, and she's the president and and our co-president, and they just did a fantastic job. I I was in awe of them. I was
025tearyeyed as I listened to them about their their commitment to their academic and their academic success, and the the theater was filled. And so it was just a really inspiring day. uh out at Matthew Turner Elementary School. Uh later board, you're going to be uh voting on our two uh newest members of the Benishia school district, our new assistant superintendent. And one of the things that I do is I walked um our candidates across campuses. And so I had taken the candidate out to Matthew Turner and just happened to stumble upon um our basically our electives program. And so we had an art teacher who comes in and teaches an art class. He's an artist. And so get to see them do their work there. and then our music program and had this giant rain
026stick that I've never seen in my life. It was huge and uh the students uh were doing a little battle here uh musically and it was fantastic supporting innovative practices. So, I'm going to call Stephanie Rice up here and we we won and um so Miss Rice, I have the coin right here if you want to speak to it. >> Oh, and Steve. All right. Thank you, Mr. >> Good evening. So myself, director of education services, Steve Phillips, director of special education and Aaron Bieber coordinator um in special education attended the SIP supporting innovative practices symposium which is part of the requirements for the grant that we're partnering with. And to give you some background again, we started a partnership last year with SIP. We uh sought them out to really focus on the work
027of including all students with an emphasis on students in special education and we were chosen by them. Some districts across California are um told by the state that they have to partner with them um due to not ma making certain marks um but we reached out to be proactive because this work is at the heart of what we do in our LCAP goals. And so we re we attended this symposium. Um it's from across the state of California being able to partner with districts and they were doing awards and by our pleasant surprise um we were honored uh with the recognition of receiving the challenge token of innovation. And as they were talking about us, Steve and I start looking at each other like this can't be us, right? This is our first year, >>
028right? And um and it was us. So, go B USD. Um they had so many wonderful things to say about the partnership. Some of the highlights they shared and we wanted to bring back to you all was being a first year partner and stepping up to the challenge, hence challenge token of systemwide inclusion work so all students can succeed by having an intentional focus on our students with disabilities. um showing um significant impactful commitment and some of the things they highlighted was being first year and having u many lenses at the table. We have an equity and inclusion team that encompasses our classified staff, our teachers, our administrators from uh prek up through 12th grade as well as after school um and having them at the table through this uh beginning work. We have done
029learning walks led by Mr. Phillips here where we did the continuum of services from preschool through high school all sites and also um emphasized our inclusion work that we're doing now so we could see where we are and where we need to go. And then they also highlighted our integrated services team which encompasses ed services, special education, student services, and our early learning side of the house led by Dr. Leslie Beatson. And we meet bi-weekly to um review our LCAP goals, our five-year professional learning plan, as well as put the needs of our students at the center. So, we have all lenses at the table. And it was an honor to hear that that work was noticed um and was enough for us to be awarded this honor as B USD being the challenge token
030receivers. So, thank you for letting us share. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Say I I don't want to over talk it. It's hard to follow that, but I was just going to say that it was thrilling to be among 300 different people who shared a lot of the same passion we did when we were down in Riverside. And so it's very contagious. And we also found out very quickly that the work we already are establishing under Dr. Beatsen when you think about our five-year plan and such align so tightly with the inclusion work that we're moving forward on. So there was a lot of moments of oh yes, yes, we're working on that. Yes, that's the next step. So that was very uh rewarding, too. Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you. >> Congratulations. >>
031That's fabulous. >> So, I just thought it was super important to accent that and I could not have delivered that as well as they could. So, and that concludes my superintendent report. >> Thank you. So, we come to our board reports. Um, I have a couple of things to say. Um, I had the honor of going into um Mr. Silva's history class at uh Benicia Middle School and I was one of their uh Shark Tank panelists and those it was their history and they were um it was the history class and they were looking at at inventions from ancient China and seeing how they could apply it make it better in present day. So it was really interesting. And it was really fun. The kids did a great job. Um, also I I had the
032honor of um being on u at the uh groundbreaking for Benia High uh baseball and softball fields. It was great. There were all these huge machines and it was um 95 degrees out that day and so and we're out there. Um but that was really great. Um as Superintendent Calibri said, the city was there, the police department were there, and a lot of um city council members. It was really a great event, and we look forward to having some new baseball fields. Also, um to yesterday, I went to um Matthew Turner and the fifth grade team's uh wax museum. And this is a really interesting um event that they have. Um so the kids took an invention that that they researched um and and spoke to they most of the kids memorized everything. Um, and
033it was so interesting to see there were um, uh, people one person was talking about skateboards and he was clearly a skateboarder and and it was so meaningful. There were a couple of ballerinas. Um, there was a guitarist and he could play something. I can't remember the name of the song that he's working on, but whenever someone was when he wasn't um uh vocalizing his his uh presentation, he was down here practicing. I mean, very committed, very meaningful to the kids. So, a big shout out to the fifth grade um uh and their wax museum. It was fantastic. And I'm really looking forward to going to the farmers market. Yes. And that's it for me. Anyone else? >> Yes. I I have an update. We can go in order maybe down the line. Um so
034I was also able to attend the wax museum with trustee grubs and I think that my favorite one of my favorite there were many favorites. One of my favorite presentations was on braces. I just got Invisalign so it was especially interesting to me. Um I'm going to focus my comments on a couple of events uh this last month. Um the first is I was able to attend a meeting with uh Superintendent Calibra, city manager Mario Giuliani, and Mayor Young. Um this was just um a meeting to touch base between the city and the school district. Uh it's it was the first of many I hope that we'll have to try to um discuss current issues and identify opportunities where we can partner. So, thank you to Mario Go, class of 96, and Mayor Julian, uh,
035Mayor Young. Um, it was a very positive meeting. Uh, I also attended the Valero CAP meeting, that's the community advisory panel, and I wanted to bring back some information that I learned at this meeting. Um, it was probably the final CAP meeting. Uh, we discussed, uh, an update on Valero operations and future plans. The first bit of news I want to share is about that release that happened a few weeks ago, the black substance that came out. Um, we learned that the smell was very bad. I mean, we probably all smelled it, but fortunately, it was tested. It was non-hazardous. It was mostly smoke, uh, water, steam, and iron, which was some of the corrosive parts of the pipe that just came out, but it was determined to be non-hazardous. Um, Valero is idling the
036plant. You'll see that the flares have stopped. They've stopped flaring. Um, operations are winding down. However, or I should say refinery refining activity has stopped, but uh, the state has asked Valero not to cease or dismantle operations quite yet. Um, Valero is going to operate as a fuels terminal for a temporary period. And what that means is they will be storing gasoline in tanks. Um this is something that they have done continuously through operating anyway. There is far less product on site than in the past. Um we also talked about safety concerns and I think that's going to be a continuing discussion. The main concern being a tank fire. Um we learned that tank fires are very rare. Unfortunately, I think we remember the tank fire that happened in Martinez recently. >> So, there was
037a lot of concern. Um, Valero sent two people out from San Antonio to speak with us, which I found very commendable and they were able to answer a lot of our questions. Valero is working closely with the fire chief to develop a multi- a multi-tered plan for response. The plant will only have about 20 employees by the time operations are winding down. They do have some contractors there, but um they they're not going to have a fire brigade as they've had in the past. So um safety huge concern um but being uh being planned, you know. Um as for the f So Valero is going to operate as a as a fuels terminal for a temporary period. We don't know exactly how long. It could be one years. It could be two years. We don't
038we don't know quite yet. They are also assessing future uses of the site, especially the buffer zone. Um, they've hired Signature to do some possible uh some research into possible uses of the land. They're doing environmental studies. The buffer zone used to be part of the arsenal and so there may be ordinance out there. Um, Valero doesn't use that part because it is a buffer zone. Um, so they're going and there probably is uh, you know, there have been grenades found out there. So they have to go in and see how how much uh, material is there and that will kind of determine next steps. So my big takeaway is this is going to be a process. Um, the there's no dismantling of the refinery at this time. Um, so it will it will remain
039there. Um the vi the VP and general manager Lauren Bird is retiring in the next few weeks. His kids went to Benicia schools I believe. He's done a tremendous job with the cap and I want to wish him very well on his retirement. So that's that's my report. I also want to give a quick shout out to the BMS drum line for winning first place in their division at Champs. Um they uh the kids got together and did some calculations and figured that they are seven in the nation. >> Oh wow. >> So yeah, >> I won't be that long. I promise. >> You did a lot. No, you did a lot of stuff and I really I appreciate everything that all of us do. Um I also attended the Fiestas Primma Vera. Um, I
040volunteered at the kids table where they were doing arts and crafts and it just made me so happy. They were so excited. They were talking and sharing stories and talking to each other, talking to me, asking me questions, and they their artwork was phenomenal. I mean, they just did such a good job. I really enjoyed that. And thanks again to the people that put this on. Um we've had it for the last few years I believe and um every year it's just gets better and better. So yes. Um and the next and last thing is that I attended the final show of Guys and Dolls. It was I thought so good. I thought the music, we had our our our director of music. Um, she was with the jazz band, I believe, and we had
041all the actors and we had the people that were working behind the scenes and we had the the the um set decorations and just singing and it was just I scrumptious. I ate it up. I loved it. So, um, if ever you have an opportunity to see our kids perform, I would highly recommend it. That is the end of my report. I have two things. Um, it was a busy month like for all of us. Um, so I had the opportunity to attend literacy nights at both Joe Henderson and Mary Farmer. Um, and I got to read um, a story to Mary Farmer students, which was pretty fun. I attended Joe Henderson um international art night and I attended both um performances, one at the high school for Guys and Dolls and then the one
042at the middle school of Alice at Wonderland. Both were spectacular. Really, really great um job to our staff and particularly our students. They did really really good. Um I got to experience the Henderson harmonizers at opening ceremonies for both softball and baseball. Um, and that was really cool to see and really cool to participate and you know what a really great just community building for our students. Um, but also seeing all of their friends in baseball and softball that was cool. Um, I attended the PTG of um, PTG auction auction for Joe Henderson at Luca. Um, that was really fun. just give a, you know, shout out to Luca for their continued support for all of the um just support that they give the parents and the the volunteers and the organizations. Um I attended
043the Joe Henderson PTG meeting as well as the Benanishia Middle School PTO meeting and um that concluded my um attendance of every school's parents, teacher volunteer groups except Liberty. I haven't gone to the Liberty Rotary one. Um so I might need to to join one of those. Um but I just really want to acknowledge all of the work that our parents and community members do. Um you know, especially as we think about um our budget and especially as we think about things that we're we're doing with our budget, these groups are imperative to us. Um, and I just want to make sure that we are supporting them and that we are really doing all that we can to ensure that they feel supported. Um, and that we um, encourage them to continue all of the
044really great work that they do to to build our students. Um, and one piece of business that I just wanted to bring up is on August, no, April 28th, there is a BUSD facilities steering committee meeting and CC and I both sit on that. I am not able to attend that meeting. Um it's at 10:00 a.m. If anyone um another board member is able to attend in my absence, I would greatly appreciate it. You can just um help me up after after. Great. Okay, that's all I have. >> Thank you. It has been a busy month. So now we come to uh comments from members of the public and we have um uh just one comment and that's from Ann Bruner. >> Oh wait, I'm sorry. >> You could say that >> background information on
045these items is per um is No, that I'm sorry. No, excuse me. I'm so sorry. >> Uh, good evening, president, board members, superintendent. Thank you for your time tonight. U, my name is Anne Bruner. I'm a lifelong resident of Benicia with two children enrolled in district schools. I'm here to speak about school avoidance and the need for training in this area within our district. Across California, chronic absenteeism remains a significant issue. Recent statewide data shows that roughly one in four students, about 24% are chronically absent, meaning they miss 10% or more of the school year. As you know, attendance is directly tied to school funding in California in both impacting both students outcomes and school resources. Even with recent improvements, this still represents a large number of students struggling to consistently access school. The question
046is why? For many students, this isn't about defiance. School avoidance is often rooted in anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and other underlying challenges along with school related factors. These students want to succeed, but they are struggling to access sorry access school. Um, but these students who want to succeed but are struggling to tolerate the school environment. Sorry. When root causes aren't recognized, the system often defaults to compliance-based responses like SARB. This can escalate stress, leaving families feeling blamed and students more disconnected. I want to briefly share my experience. My son has struggled with school avoidance for much of his school career, most intensely over the past two years. He is bright, capable, and wants to do well, but attending school consistently is not something he can simply push through. We've worked hard to find support, but
047what we've experienced is a lack of resources and shared understanding. I've been told to be loving yet firm and just get him to school. But this is a can't, not a won't. This is about individual isn't about individuals. Staff are doing their best with the tools that they have. This is a systems gap. Ahead of this meeting, I sent the board a proposal from the school avoidance alliance outlining training options, and I appreciate that it was received. What stood out to me is that it includes both education training and parent courses. Support that would have made a meaningful difference to my family early on. Without training, even well-intentioned responses misinterpret what's happening, delay the right support, and make re-engagement harder. Training can help staff recognize early signs, understand the mental health and school related drivers,
048respond in ways that reduce anxiety, and partner more effectively with families. This is about student wellness. If we continue to treat attendance as a compliance issue, students will continue to struggle. But if we address the root causes and equip staff and families with the right tools, we can change outcomes. I'm asking the district to consider investing in training and school avoidance so we can move from a reactive approach to one that is proactive and supportive because these students aren't choosing to disengage. They're telling us in the only way they can that something deeper needs attention and with the right tools we can meet them there. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And now we come to item number 11. Uh background information on these items is provided to the board prior to the meeting. A
049common motion takes takes action without discussion on roll call votes unless discussion of items is requested by the board members. So do I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion or I'll move that uh we approve the consent calendar as written. >> I'll second. >> This is a roll call vote. President Grebs, >> yes. >> Trusty Hirs, >> yes. >> Trusty Seda, >> yes. >> Trusty Miselli, >> yes. >> And Trusty Manassi, >> yes. >> Thank you. >> And before we go on, I I want to thank uh Valero for their very generous um uh donation, sorry, to Benia High School. Um, it was an inind donation for goods and services for lab and auto shop supplies with an estimated amount of $1,678. So, thank you very much, Valero. We do appreciate everything you've
050done for our schools. Um, we have two resolutions that require >> So, now we come to item 11F. >> President Grebs. Yes, we have two resolutions that require a roll call vote. So, can we do those first? It's under the same motions. So, it's going to be item I under the consent calendar. >> So, approval of resolution number 25-26-39, declaration of obsolete library media materials disposal request for Benicia Middle School. >> President Grebs, >> yes. >> Trusty Hirs, >> yes. Trusty Seda, >> yes. >> Trusty Miselli and Trusty Manos. >> Yes. Thank you. And then we come to 13J. Approval of resolution number 25-26-40. Declaration of obsolete property for the Benicia from for Benicia High School. >> President Gres. >> Yes. >> Hirsh. >> Yes. >> Trusty Seda. >> Yes. >> Trusty Miselli. >> Yes.
051>> And trusty Manoski. >> Yes. >> And this is where we're going to um uh deviate from our from our printed agenda. And um we're going to go to 13A before we go through 12. And that is consideration and approval of the appointment of and contract agreement of the assistant superintendent of educational services. And that would be uh superintendent calib. >> Oh, but that's not till 13. No, I'm just moving 13A and 13B. >> Okay. Okay. So, Sue Wing, good evening everyone. I want to preface that I do love this district and I think we have a great board. Thank you very much. And there is um absolutely no personal issues with our candidates, but I do want to make my voice known. Um my name is Sue Wing, by the way. I work at
052Venicia Middle School. Um it is disheartening to see on the board packet the 34 classified who have had their jobs eliminated um hours reduced compared to the two certificated. And notice the department that was completely eliminated was student services. the department that works directly with the school sites who work directly with the students. The department that we can count on to have our backs. This department only had one director and a 4hour day 4hour a day classified. It's also disheartening to see that the new assistant superintendent are starting at step 12, which is the highest paid step on their pay scale. when our libraries are losing hours. Front office staff is being cut from some sites. SSAs are being cut from 4 hours to two hours. Again, student safety is at risk with less people
053on the playgrounds. We're losing intervention specialists and the support we get from student services won't be there for us next year. I've seen some of the comments and questions that have come from our school board. I've heard it asked at least twice if there were any cuts happening at the district level and last month you were told an entire department has been eliminated. Student services, one director and a 4-hour a day classified. I saw the emotions you displayed with the decision last month to cut cut positions from our ours district, but now you will be approving two assistant superintendent positions at the top of the pay scale. This is actually a $40,000 difference between the between step one and step 12* two. Thank you very much. I appreciate your time. So um Superintendent Calib. >>
054Yeah, good evening everybody. So uh tonight uh is exciting as you know I want to accent the point that uh um it is difficult to to fill Dr. Leslie Bsonon's shoes, right? And so I don't want the the night to go away as as you heard Stephanie and and Steve talk about the leadership and the work that she's provided. And I will miss our evening chats in her office without a doubt. Um and and we do now have a um new uh retreat center in Vermont that the BD staff will be visiting as Leslie opens up her home to us. So um so I want to thank her and we're going to be celebrating her in the in the coming months. it with that I want to move into um our interview process and and
055what we've done here is we bring our candidate forward and so want you know that for ed services we had 56 applicants and so in that we did a three panel or three rounds of interviews so first round and then narrowed it down and then did some reference checking did a second round of interview and then the third round is with me and we go for a walk together and so um I really want to speak to that because um I'm so confident in our schools and our school district that I took our candidate to the middle school and um you know you got to be pretty bold superintendent to take a candidate to the middle school and we spent about 45 minutes to an hour together walking around the campus and having a conversation
056and got to know Katherine Aosta Vera oh my gosh I've been practicing all day and I still biff that verasus and so um Katherine um has a uh nine years as a site principal she was a specialed teacher um she's got a background in student services in supporting principles and being a coach and a leader um and a deep deep background when it comes to ed services uh at the high school level, continuation schools at the middle school and at elementary school. And so tonight bring before you Katherine Aosta for for Parasus. There we go. Uh for your approval and vote. >> So So am I supposed to read this >> before required by government code section 54 953. Prior to taking final action, the legislative body shall orally report a summary of a recommendation
057for a final action on a salary salary. Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm just having a great night. um required by government code section 54953. Prior to taking final action, the legislative body shall orally report a summary of a recommendation for a final action of the salaries, salary schedules or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits. A local agency executive during the opening the open meeting in which the final action is taken. Assistant Superintendent of Ed Services, Katherine Aostto Verprocus. >> Verascus. >> Verrascus. Based on the district's uh certificate administrative salary schedule, the contract for the assistant superintendent of educational services will be for a base salary of $26,999 based on a 219day work year. Health and Welfare will be in the amount of $17,420 totaling $224,419. The contract term will be from July 1,
0582026 to June 30th, 2029. So >> So now you take your vote and um and then if it if you pass then we'll have Catherine come up and say a few words. >> Is there any discussion? >> No. Um I can I just want to say one thing and I think it just uh talks with the you know the three changes that we are making in the pay grade that you know I am excited for the new leadership and I'm excited for you know what's to come. Not to say I'm going to miss, you know, Pat and Leslie, but um you know, I I think that there is uh the base of just ensuring that we that we are really supporting our community like baseline is students, of course, our staff, but we really are
059ensuring that we are responsive and and um supporting our community as well. And with that, you know, comes responsibility with the salary like that. >> Okay. Is there a motion? I'll move that we approve the appointment and contract agreement for the assistant superintendent educational services as it's recommended. >> I will second. >> All those in favor? >> I pass. So, with that, I'd like to bring Katherine up to the podium and and she can say a few words and um and then also introduce her family and guests that are here to support her. >> Yes. Thank you. And good evening, President Grubs, um our clerk Hersh, our members of the board, Superintendent Calabraci, and Benisha community. Um what an honor and thank you for the trust of confidence. Um, I have been getting to know
060the community and what stands out to me is the strong sense of community. Um, I grew up in a small town where the schools were the heart of the community and that's what reminds me when I come and visit and the middle school was amazing um, when I come to visit this community. And so I'm deeply excited to be able to partner with the amazing staff, with the amazing board, for the new members that I'll be working with. I think we have all heard him. And so I am deeply excited to get to introduce my family. Um my cute boys. I've got Jackson who's 10, William, who's seven, and Andrew who is four and loud and proud about his mom and clearly playing with cars and videos. and my amazing supporting partner Eric Aosta Verrascus.
061He is the one I get to thank for that beautiful long last name. Um I also am very honored that a dear colleague of mine, Dr. Camille Johnson is here supporting me. Good people find good people and we were really excited to find out that we have a common friend from Aniac Lindsay who's going to be joining the team. So thank you again. I'm honored and I do accept the responsibility. I'm very excited to be able to work with this team to make our schools the best schools. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Let's do a picture. >> Yes. Bring the kids up. They're all looking a little shy. Show your face. Congratulations. >> One more. >> There we go. >> Congratulations. And thank you boys for enduring that. I know that's tough a
062board meeting. So >> yes, and if I >> Yeah, absolutely. >> If if you would like to take those sweet boys home, you are welcome to do so. >> Dr. Johnson, thank you for being here tonight. It's very sweet. Yeah. Yeah. So, looking forward to uh sharing more about Katherine. I'll be sending out tonight to staff um her bio and uh letting folks know um our who our new assistant superintendent of head services is. So, thank you so much. Um next is being >> Yes, go ahead. >> All right, so we'll jump right into it. So, uh next for uh human uh resources, I want to uh again the process here was similar 26 applicants. You know, it's disappointing to see that it was half for human resources from ed services. Apparently folks are not
063as entertained by human resources as Ed services. I don't know why since I did human resources I loved it. And so um we had 26 candidates. We had interviewed eight people. I want you to know that uh Dr. Wisley it was the only candidate that interviewed for um that we brought forward for both roles. And so and then we had a discussion about where we saw her as where we needed her and where was a the right place for her to go. And so um we did those two rounds. She was our number one candidate and um and then we went for a walk together and as much as I want to walk her across an elementary school and see her comfortability with Littles. Um it was on a Friday afternoon and we didn't have
064anyone here and so we walked the high school together and just and talked and get to know her. Um and so what I I saw from from Lindsay is this determination um this caring about about students and about family and about supporting staff. And so I think uh together um this makes a an incredible team. And so with that I want to bring up Lindsay Wisley to or wait a minute we have to do a vote first. I'm sorry. Yeah, >> they did this to me. I gave a speech and then they voted and so apparently I gave a good enough of a speech. So we'll wait. So, as required by government code section 54953, prior to taking final action, the legislative body shall orally report a summary of a recommendation for a final action
065on the salaries, salary schedules, or compensation paid in the form of fringe benefits of a local agency executive during the open meeting to which the final action is taken. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Lindseay Wy Wisely, excuse me. Based on the district certification administrator salary schedule, the contract for assistant superintendent of human resources will be for a base salary of 26,999 based on a 219 day work year. Health and welfare will be in the amount of $17,420 totaling $224,419. This contract term will be from July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2029. So, do we have any discussion or a motion? I just want to reiterate my comment from before that, you know, with this with a salary like this, I just want to make sure that, you know, it's known that there is responsibility and
066that we are being, you know, um engaged and um working with our community student baseline. So, I just want to make sure that's said again. >> Do we have a motion? I'll move that we that uh I'll move for the approval of appointment and contract agreement for the assistant superintendent human resources as recommended. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor? >> I passes. >> All right. With that, I'd like to bring Dr. Wisley up to the podium, say a few words, and introduce her family. Thank you, President uh Grubs, board trustees, superintendent Calibrazy. It's an honor to be here, an honor to be selected and to work in this school district. Uh like Katherine, I grew up in the school district I've been working in for the last 22 years. I believe in community.
067Um I started as a teacher of vice principal, principal, and onto a director. Um and I'm just honored to be able to come into this wonderful community. I was able to drive around with my mom earlier and um it's a beautiful place and so I just want to also recognize um Dr. Beatson and Dr. uh Pat Jennings. I look forward to working with them in the coming months to learn as much as I can. Uh thank you for your dedication and time uh all these years working for the school district. Um I just want you to know I look forward to this and uh my background in restorative practices. as I mentioned how strongly I feel about community and that's what I know you value here in Benicia. So with that I really want to
068recognize my family. If you guys can come up behind me uh I have my husband Nick. He is a teacher. Um he works in Brentwood in the Liberty Union District and he's a coach and a teacher. So I value educators. Every night I go home to a teacher. Um I have my eldest here, Kylie. She runs uh cross country and track at St. Mary's. She's a great student athlete. Uh I have my youngest Ryan. He is in the eighth grade and he is also a three sport athlete. They're both great students. And then I really think human resources is about integrity and a strong moral compass and that's a big part of the the job and I couldn't do that without u the love and the support of my parents. So, I want to recognize
069my my parents, Haime and Marian. My mom's with me tonight. And you got to meet Dr. Johnson. She is a great HR uh associate superintendent in the community I'm from. So, I've learned from great people and I look forward to bringing that here to Benicia. And I just thank you very much for uh having the confidence in me and selecting me for this position. So, thank you so much. All right, >> let's do a picture. There you go. So, now we're going to head back to item 12. Um, and so we're gonna um, and if if you would like to take your sweet family home, you may certainly do so, or you can stay, whatever you prefer. >> So, we're back at um, item number 12, presentations and communication. Um so uh 12A is the
070introduction and first reading of the recommended California school board uh board policy 4113. Superintendent Calibracy. >> Yeah, this is establishing board policy for committee on assignment ensures that elective course teaching assignment are made in in they're consistent, transparent and legally compliant manner. This is something that comes through the board every year about this time. And so as uh we um have sometimes have teachers who are in the process of getting a credential or we need to bring to the board because they don't have a credential in that area as it pertains to electives. And so that's what's before you tonight. You want to add to that? >> Yes. I would like to just add a little bit. This uh creates the committee on assignments, one teacher, one site administrator that will um um who will
071be identified, you know, in May. And uh it does allow for us, this is only for elective courses and it allows for that committee to uh evaluate whether or not someone has the qualifications to teach an elective course. And this only applies to elective courses where there is not an identified single subject credential required like art or music. It's for those blended courses such as the ones that have technology and engineering and and those courses at the middle school. So that's specifically what this is for. Oh, so these courses are specific for the middle school. >> No, this uh policy allows for the creation of the committee on assignments for th to to um determine whether a teacher has uh the experience um or the qualifications to teach those courses. So there's sometimes where courses
072come up where we might have on our staff not someone who has a specific credential that might allow them to teach it. This committee on assignments would be able to determine based on oh they've always taught X Y and Z. this is course is very similar. Even though they don't hold a whatever credential, they are qualified to teach this course. Especially for the wheelworks classes that are kind of blended where there's not a clear credential, we have to identify um someone who has those qualifications. >> Thank you. Any discussion? >> Is there a No. Oh, this is the presentation. Okay. I'm having a great night. Um 12B budget uh reinstatement priorities. Superintendent Calibra. >> Yeah. Board, you asked me as we went through the the budget reduction process to come back to you and and
073talk about reinstatements and what are our priorities. And this is going to be one of several presentations that I'll be giving to you over the couple months. I don't want you to think that this is this is a final say. What I want to do tonight is really just talk about process, right? Because we don't know how those monies will come back and we don't know if those monies will come back. And so I kind of want to define that for us tonight, right? And talk about the process here in the priorities. So just a reminder, the governor proposed uh governor's proposed budget took 5.6 billion uh promised to schools under Prop 98, which was passed in 198 no 1996, I think it was right 1996. And so um he calls it the settle up.
074We don't know what this settle up means. We don't know when it's going to happen. We don't know what what that's going to look like. In addition, we are projecting a a loss of 189 students in 25, excuse me, in 26 27 school year um because of Valo and their practice of approving no more than 1% of their inner district transfers. And so we'll know more um as we are beginning to get those numbers in the coming weeks and and we also know that that the um appeal process will be happening at the county for those denials also. Right. Um the closing of Valero also impacts us. low birth rates and then increased costs. Right? Just to review those items. Thank you, Georgina. As we move forward, our priorities will remain grounded in what is
075best for students. And this is something I put in the newsletter and I've talked to you before about prioritizing student needs, ensuring safe, supportive environments for both students and staff, protecting core instruction, maintaining strong classroom learning experiences, supporting the social emotional well-being of our students, and balancing immediate needs with those long-term stability. Go to the next slide. So the the different areas here and I know the slide looks brief but there's new ongoing money if new ongoing money would come in and remember the the changes that we made to the budget were structural changes right we we have a $68 million budget when we're spending more than the $68 million right and so we have to keep those pieces in mind and so this would be if there was an increase in the in the
076general fund um due to monies coming in from the state of California and I don't want to get too onto my soap box as I often done when it comes to the the budget. Um, I got a call from a reporter yesterday. Poor guy got 30 minutes of an earful about me to, you know, talking about the budget in the state of California. So, he was so lost by the time I was done talking to him. I feel bad for Zach. Um, but right now, what we're hearing from the governor's office is um the that the you know, part of the problem is that the the budget was based um on projections of taxes and not remember that the governor delayed the taxes for the burn, right, the fires down in Southern California. And so
077those monies came in and the budget wasn't built on that, right? And so now they're going back and looking at that. But the state of California had a $15 billion shortfall, right? And and AI is keeping us afloat right now, AI companies, right? And so there was an additional five billion that came in. And so there's this back and forth that's going on. And one of the things I said to the reporter and why I bring it up is that what's so unfortunate about this and what what how schools pay for it is that we have this March 15th deadline. And so we have to bring to to you for a vote to make these budget reductions because in most cases it's people and people that are affected, right? And so in that but had
078that date been June 15th and and state budgets have been have been worked through, it would be less of an impact, right? And so that that's part of the problem here. The other piece is new enrollment. Last year you saw that uh we had an influx of ninth graders, right? and um nothing that we could have predicted, right? And part of that we believe is because the cost of private schools and I also believe it's because of the programs that we have at our high school, right? Folks come back to us because of our sports programs, because of our music program, because of drama, right? And so we also saw some students that left online programs and came back to us and so we saw influx and we hope that that will continue, but we
079don't know that and often cases they're enrolling the week before the week school starts, right? Um, and then there's the onetime dollars. We know that this cycle of onetime dollars is going to continue to happen the state of California. I don't foresee that changing after Governor Nuomo leaves office and a new new governor is elected. I think that will be the cycle that we're going to continue to see for a while. And so what happens is, you know, is those one-time dollars um you are now hiring people and then you're laying off March 15th, right? And what's really really difficult is certainly you can use those onetime dollars for professional development, right? Teacher instruction uh um depending if it's restricted or not, right? And so but the problem is is it is often restricted and
080then the other issue of it is that it if it goes for its mental health, which is wonderful, it's often people, right? That's what's going to make the biggest difference for kids when it comes to mental health. But then we're in that cycle again of the layoff notices, right? And so it's being really transparent. Um, but it's disheartening, right? It's disheartening as a community. It's disheartening to staff. It's disheartening to to parents as they um fall in love with a program and then we have to dismantle it. And one of the things I said to the reporter last night is we're in this cycle constantly in the state of California where we build up and then we dismantle and we never get to build back up to the point that we once were. We always
081are a little bit more behind each year and it keeps chipping away. And there was a time in this state where Prop $98 was the base and we built above that and now it is the ceiling and that is the problem with with our budget in the state of California. So I'm not running for governor. I'm the proud superintendent of Benisha school district but there's my soap box when it comes to dollars in the state. So I just wanted to kind of remind you where we're at in that perspective. So, as we go through this process and if we see an increase in enrollment, if we see an increase from uh the governor's budget and if when when we see we know we're going to see one-time dollars, but we just don't know how they're
082restricted. My process here is I've already talked to our principles and district leaders and got some feedback from them about the immediate cuts that we have just made and what the impact is going to be. And my next step would be to continue to get that feedback um uh probably in June as we see those changes, but also working with our our union leaders and getting their feedback about what our priorities are. And then I want to bring this back to the budget advisory committee that we've created and talk to them about what are our priorities as a district. Um and and and and that could go both ways, right? Um we're likely to see the onetime dollars, but what if there the declining enrollment is further than we expected, right? and what's going to
083happen with with uh with the numbers from the interd district transfers. And so being clear with everyone involved um of that process I think is incredibly important to me. And it's more than being transparent. It's about being authentic and having that dialogue and um and unfortunately I I don't know any other way of saying it. There's winners and losers in this because schools have lost in the state of California when it comes to this budget cycle, right? And um and I and I'm sorry to say that that I think it's going to continue to happen that way until there's a radical change. Um so next piece is that I've shared this with you before revenue generation and I appreciate what was said tonight about um chronic absenteeism. 1% increase in attendance for this district is
084$500,000. And I don't like putting price tags on kids. We're one of what eight states in the the United States that still fund schools based on ADA. And so um but that is how we get paid as a district is on attendance. The reduction of absenteeism, chronic absenteeism will be incredibly important. Addressing school avoidance is incredibly important. I totally agree. And then the other piece is looking at grant funding to offset the general fund expenditures. And so we are going out with the repair grant and we built into we have three projects on the repair grant. Uh that's the fine that was imposed upon Valero and being distributed by the uh Bayer Air Quality Management District. There's something called a catalyst grant that we are able to apply for that is due May 1st. We're
085currently having our grant reviewed by um by the Bay Area Quality Management District. They have a network environmental protection network that is reviewing our grant and one of the our projects is about healthy kids. Um we have over 400 students in our district that have asthma. That's significantly high. 10% of our preschoolers are diagnosed with asthma. We don't typically d we like I'm a doctor. um the students with asthma don't typically get diagnosed until they're 5 years old and above. Um but yet we have preschoolers, three and four year olds that are diagnosed with asthma in this community, right? So it's addressing that and part of that addressing it is is someone making a physical contact, calling a family and finding out why they're absent for two or more days, right? And making sure that
086they have the resources, not writing off is that they just got a bug, right? And really seeing if there's other issues at play here. But then also about that support um when that student comes back. That's a mental health piece. When you miss school a lot, it's hard to transition back. And so addressing those needs. So with our grant, we want to balance it between um new programs and new initiatives, but also offsetting the costs that we currently have. And so what we've done in in that project alone is we've put about a million dollars of um about 850,000 of it will be for um things that we know that we pay for already. So, our nurse, our office tech, and our nurse um supporting different programs that we already have, supporting some of the
087software that we use, right? Our area student database system is about $80,000 expenditure. We can use that because we need to track this data for the grant and so we've put some of those pieces in there. So, we're hopeful that we'll we'll see an approval there. The grant reviewers so far have been very positive. The other piece is our CTE program. was moving students away from the oil industry and into into environmental studies and into health. We have a great health program going on. Our students are learning uh at at the high school level. And so it's expanding that and then building relationships with local universities. And so that grant is about $2 million that we're that project I should say because it's a portfolio of grants. And then the other piece that we looked
088at was um landscaping and exponding expanding upon our bond. And so the work that we're already doing, how can we expand on that if we had more dollars that's going to improve the environment for our students and for this community, which is what the repair grant is about. And so, um, we've had some influx of folks that want to partner with us, um, around that. And so we're we're, um, we're talking to them. Um, and we also, pun intended, we have an opportunity to also apply for an opportunity grant. So there is a seed grant, opportunity grant, and a catalyst. We can apply for the catalyst grant which is up to $40 million. So is the city. So is uh the Benicia Community Foundation, right? Other organizations are and then the U but there's an
089opportunity also to apply for the opportunity grant which is about $5 million over a three-year period. And so we're looking at those opportunities as well. So I say that to all to you because one, it's a requirement of the grant to uh bring this to the board and talk to you about that and frontload you about what we're doing. And I want you to know that we've reached out to uh community and get to get feedback um and sought feedback from our staff as well as from parents. We have a team of 12 people working on the grant. Uh two are grant writers, college professor, English uh uh professor. So a group of of parents and staff members that are working on that grant together. Um so we're excited about that opportunity. Will it solve
090all of our problems? No. And so we're going to continue to look at what other sources we can until um we the state of California figures out this budget mess. Questions for me? >> Can you remind me who sits on the budget advisory committee? >> Um gosh offhand names just like Sure. Absolutely. So, two trustees, um, two sight administrators, um, teachers, uh, our union leaders, um, students, um, as well as cabinet members. Yeah. So, it's a Noah's art group. We got two of every kind. >> Y, >> um, I have a question and and maybe even an ask. Okay. >> So, I really really appreciate this overview and the continued conversation on budget. Absolutely. These are discussions that we need to continue to to have. I know I as a board member would really benefit
091from taking a step back and maybe putting together some priorities, big big picture budget priorities. I'll give you an example. I think in this district, at least from my perspective, we have really valued um uh recruiting and retaining our people. We've we've tried to um pay our people and prioritize that because our people are man that's those are the people in our classrooms. Those are the people at the lunch line. Th they they run our district for us. And I'm talking from um you know certificated uh classified management everybody. Um I think we've placed a priority on that. And so going forward as we have budget challenges, I know I would benefit from having a list of priorities. What are our priorities and as we get um you know budget issues as they as they
092arise um rather than taking them just one by one without the broader context then we can align the question that we have to deal with with a broader priority. I feel like we need a framework in a way and and I think that all of and it's just the state of things. The budget stuff happens quick. We haven't had that opportunity. But I'm thinking even like our strategic plan, how we put that together, like having a budget plan. What are our priorities? Where do we want to put what um you know, where do we want to focus our funds? Because we we have we have a budget, right? But as we have questions about where we need to make reductions, as we have questions about where to allocate funds, what are the priorities that we're
093basing those decisions on? And that's that's not an easy thing to do. Um, but I feel like we would all benefit from a framework and maybe we prepare one in a study session, maybe in conjunction, definitely in conjunction with the community, um, through budget committees, what what have you. But I'm talking let's take a step back. Let's identify what are our priorities as we look over the next five to even ten years because I think we're I don't want to be the downer, but I think that Benishia, we're going we're in a transition and it's not going to things won't be better overnight. We're going to have several years where we're going to have these budget discussions probably at every meeting. So, what are our overall um priorities? >> Yeah, I think it's an excellent
094idea. I think it lends itself to what I've just presented to you about priorities about what's a framework here. It also lends itself to our our budget advisory committee um the LCAP process, right? LCFF process. And so, yeah, I think a board study would be a great idea. Um and and unfortunately, it will have to go both ways, right, about if there's further cuts, what does that look like? And and um and then as as money's come in, right? Um I'm meeting with Signature Homes in two weeks. And so what an interesting discussion is they talk about uh the buffer zone and you just told me there's grenades out there. So now I'm a little bit nervous. Um but >> there are there have been >> and ask signature homes what happens if there's a
095lot of grenades out there. >> Who cleans that up? These >> these are all issues that >> absolutely >> big. So, one of the challenges, one of the things I'm going to ask of them is um when they get serious about that development is to pay for a demographer study, right? So, so what I'm getting at here is we have these two and I said this to you on August 13th for this district, we have some financial decisions to make and we have some burdens that are on us, right? and to get us three to five years from now in managing that because we could be faced with a situation where we've been planning for declining enrollment and adjusting due to declining enrollment for a number of years and then all of a sudden a
096development comes in and our schools are schools are full right and so it's such a contradiction but we have to plan for both and so I think it would be important to have a board study and to really talk that through >> and I know that in one of our budget committee sessions you did this where you put up on the screen. Um, all of these different categories of priorities and it was really hard to identify like which one should we prioritize, but just seeing those up on a screen is really helpful. Um, so maybe we can build on that. >> Yeah. Yeah. We also put up uh what's mandated of us, >> right? And we kept listing off all these things that are mandated from us, right, from the state of California. Um, and
097and and those all have costs, right? They don't get funded. And so, yeah, we can do that. Absolutely. Okay. So, now we're going to go back to 13 to action items. And this is a um interesting one. If we go to 13C, consideration and approval of the updated contract agreement of the chief business official. >> Yeah. So, we're just bringing uh um uh the Trudy Bington's uh contract before you tonight. I've given her the title of the and um she's a phenomenal CBO. We're updating it. This is to to it didn't come to you last year and so I'm bringing it to you this as a yearly thing that we need to do here and this is from June July 1st 2026 through June 30th 2029. There's no changes in her contract. There's no it's
098simply the the term and updating that. >> What's the term? >> The July 1st 2026 to June 30th 2029. >> Okay. That That's correct. Right Pat. >> Um Yes, that is correct. >> Um well, one the three year >> that adds a year. It's adding the year >> as soon as you creating people right and so especially this environment in the state of California where you're often seeing people get cut or move around and so it creates stability for someone right >> absolutely Absolutely. >> Well, I just want to say that you're creating a really strong and great cabinet and so I'm really happy to see that. >> Um >> Trudy's part of that part of that group. >> Yes. I really and I've said it so often, but I so appreciate your clarity, your
099transparency, and you're always willing to give us information. And so that's really appreciated. I've just never seen this come come back. Yeah. So, okay. So, let me read my my little spiel here. Required by government government code section 54953. Prior to taking final action, the legislative body shall orally report a summary of a recommendation for a final action on the salaries salary sca schedules um or compensation paid in the form of fringed benefits of a local agency executive during the open meeting in which the final action is to be taken. Um, based on the district's classified administrator salary scale, the contract for the business official will be for a base salary of 26,999 based on a 260day calendar with 219 work days. Health and welfare will be in the amount of 17,420 totaling $224,419. The
100only update to this contract term from July 1, 2025 to June 30th, to July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2029. >> Oh, okay. So, um, do we have a motion? >> I I move that we approve the, uh, contractual agreement for the chief business official as recommended. >> I will second. All those in favor? >> I passes. And now we come to uh 13D consideration approval of recommended revisions to January 2026, June 2026 and June 2026 to December 2027 regular board meeting calendars. Superintendent Calib. >> Yeah, you know, I've only been here seven months and this is only third change to the governing calendar. So I I want to promise you that I will not be making any more changes in the next 30 days. Okay. So, um, what we're doing here is, um, one
101is there was a conflict with the Benicia Middle School open house. And I and I want you to know that we worked with, uh, our principles this year to build next year's calendar and looked at the, um, uh, the board, the governance calendar and, um, and then established what our back to school nights are going to be in our open houses so this conflict doesn't continue to to happen to us. I also want you to know that I've told principles that if we are having holding an event on the night of a school board meeting that they need to call me and we need to discuss that and talk about why why would that be right because it impacts all of us. I want to go to events. You want to go to events. It's
102important to us to support our students and families and community and our staff. And so um so that the May 20 26 the cancelling of the meeting and and moving it to the well we're continuing to meet on the 21st um which was originally going to be a study session but turning that into a board meeting um and so that's the first part. The second part has to do with um uh back to school night and um for our high school and for our continuation school. And so the problem there was that if we didn't change this date, then they would be meeting at the end of September, beginning of October, and at that point, it no longer feels like back to school night. And so we wanted to be able to to to do
103that. So that's why we're bringing this forward to you tonight. >> I think it's great, Scott. I just want to say that I think it's also helpful to have our community members be active at board meetings as well. >> Absolutely. Um, just to clarify, um, with the May 7th date, is that change going to affect any decisions that we need to make? I just want to make sure because I know we're towards the end of the year. >> You know, I ran that by cabinet to ensure that we be able to work through any issues there and we believe we can. >> Okay. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the recommended revisions to the January 2026 to June 2026 and June 2026 to December 2027 regular board meeting calendars. >> Second.
104>> All those in favor? >> I. And now we come to 13E. Consideration and approval of the recommended California School Board Association board policies for the August 2025, November 2025, and um June 2025, and September 2025 packet updates. Superintendent Calib. >> Yes. Yes. So, we're bringing these board policies uh forward uh for your consideration as they've been reviewed by our members of two members of our board here and uh by cabinet and made the the the following recommendations that's attached. >> No, not yet. I was going to ask on those um changes to our policies that Wait, what are we doing? >> 13. >> I'm right. Right. Okay. Um it some of them are highlighted, some of them are in red, some of them are in uh bold. And I'm just wondering because we get
105them all the time, these policy changes. And is there a way to color code what this brings forward? Like sometimes you you don't know, you know, it would be nice to figure out a way >> like a red line. >> Yes. change. >> Yes. No, I Yes. Thank you. >> Or just or highlighting the change. >> Yes. Yeah. I would appreciate that anyway. >> Yeah. We can bring clarity to that process. I couldn't agree with you more, Sherry. Um and but part of it is me learning how to use our system here. And part of it, I think, is uh uh different players prefer different colors and so we can straighten that out. Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. And we come to 13F consideration vote on that one. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. >> Is there
106a motion? I move that we approve the recommended California School Board Association Board policies for the for August 2025, November 2025, and miscellaneous June 2025 and September 2025 update packets. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> Okay. 13 C >> F, sorry. Consideration and possible approval for the contract award for the Benia High School buildings MN O and Joe Henderson Elementary School Primary Building roofing of Grace and Roxanne Egan, you're already here. >> Good evening. Um, thank you. So I am pleased to bring to present to you our next bond facility improvement project for your consideration and possible approval. The scope of work consists of full roofing, gutter and downspout replacements at Benicia High School buildings MN and O and Joe Henderson primary building including the office AB and C wings.
107um roofing, the existing roofs are definitely past their lifetime and these improvements will improve our learning spaces that we have. Um the projects were also a priority in our facilities master plan. The project was publicly bid. Um the low bidder is Bobo Construction. Staff recommendation is to award the bid to the low bidder Bobo Construction in the amount of 2,812,667. >> Is this the same roofing company that did Robert Simple? >> It is. Um they have a different sub. They're also they also did the roofing at Matthew Turner a couple years ago. Yeah. >> So we're replacing, right? >> Yes. Okay. Well, let's make sure we stay on top of them. >> We don't have that trouble with the that we did before. >> Well, Robert Simple uh delayed um in their work. >> Yes,
108>> that was a metal roof which also comes with a little bit more complications, but there is a lot of roofing that we're adding in. So, I will we're definitely going to do everything we can, but there is a lot of work. Um, so and I'm I'm pleased that they have a different sub as well because the sub at Matthew Turner, they did get it all done in one summer. So, yeah. >> So, do we have is there a motion to to accept the Bobo construction? >> I'll move that we approve the contract award for the Benicia High School buildings MNO and Joe Henderson Elementary School primary building roofing upgrades project. In favor I >> and we are at um 13G consideration approval of the annual report of the school facility general obligation bond measure
109S and measure Citizens Bond Oversight Committee and Roxan and um Trudy are up >> great >> tag teaming. Um so in your packet you have the full documents that were shared with the facilities with the citizens bond oversight committee. Um that meeting that was held on February 3rd. The current projects in construction and upcoming were shared with the committee. There was a lot of excitement about the movement and the progress we're making in things in construction as well as planning. Um the expenditures report was received by the committee. Our next committee date is October 13th at 11:00 a.m. The recommended action is for the board to accept the 2425 annual report as submitted by the CBC. >> It was it was it was a great conversation and what we did provide to the um the
110committee was not just the required 2425 annual report that they then present back to you. We als I also presented them an update of where we're at currently in the 2526 year and we went we went through the active projects as well as the ones that have been completed. >> Thank you. >> Um I'm curious last time we talked about the committee you we like um put out another call for committee members. Did we get more committee members? >> I've been >> Yeah, we did. And so, um, as I came into the district that that process was just starting to happen. And so, um, I wanted to get my feet wet first and and and do a COC meeting first. And so, um, in looking at that, I have two candidates that I'll be moving
111forward and bringing the board shortly. Um, working to reach out to them and uh, so basically trying to bring balance to to our board and making sure that we have representation throughout the community and um, as well as um, businesses, right, was part of our issue, right? And then an at large position and so um so yes we'll be moving forward that shortly probably the next board meeting >> and did you appoint the chair and vice chair did I see that in the committee package >> yeah it's um the chair is Mark Hughes and vice chair is Diane >> thank you were both in those positions before we greatly appreciate Mark >> yes >> you know one I've I've advocated for this before so I just want to keep advocating that um these meetings are
112done on a workday in the middle of the day. Um and so, you know, thinking through community involvement and thinking about the committee and who can who can join, who can't join. I just want to encourage to think, you know, outside of those those those types of hours and days. So, want to just bring that up. >> Yeah, that's all I have. So, is there a motion? I will make a motion to approve the annual report of the school facility general obligation bond, measure S and measure C, citizens bond oversight committee. >> I'll second. >> There was a second. >> All those in favor? >> I carries. >> Thank you. Thank you Roxan. So we come to um 13H consideration and approval the initial sunshine of California school employee association bargaining agreement by CSEA chapter
113number uh 1096 and Benishia Unified School District proposal for the 2026 27 school year negotiations. Dr. Jennings. >> Good evening. President Grubs, board trustees, Superintendent Calibres, and the BUSD community. Prior to the start of negotiations, um each year the district is required to sunshine the collective bargaining agreement articles that will be open for negotiations. CSEA would like to open article 9, which is pay and allowances, article 10, health and welfare benefits, article 14, leaves, and article 22, layoff and remployment. The district would like to open article 9, same as a CSEA, and article 10, um, which are both pay and health and welfare benefits, as well as article 13, which is hours and overtime, articles 14, which is leaves, same as CSEA, and then article 23, which is discipline, and article 27, which is duration.
114Um, we ask that you approve these reopeners for negotiations. >> I ask you a question. Sure. >> Um, okay. So I had a question on the term. Uh we negotiate once a year. >> Yes. >> But then does the is that only certain portions of the contract and then the full contract is every three years? How does how does that work? >> That >> okay that's that's what I thought >> that that's the it's similar. Both the CSEA and our Nisha Teachers Association have similar collective bargaining agreements that they're three-year terms. Both of those three-year terms are ending at the end of this school year. So we are >> so we are opening up. So they'll say like oh the whole contract is open. So but even with that you still can select certain articles
115that you want to negotiate on and you have to let them know which articles you are opening up that you want to look at. In the um non when it's not the whole contract open then you're limited to the number of articles that you can open up. Typically it's the pay and like salary and benefits and then health and welfare. Right? So those are the two that are always going to be opened every single year and then typically you can pick one other that's mutually agreed upon. >> Okay, that's help >> or two others depending on what the contract language says >> that. Thank just for >> Yeah. >> Thanks. >> Okay. Is there any more discussion? >> Um is there a motion? >> I move that we approve the sunshine for CSEA and district
116for the for the 2627 school year negotiations. a second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> Okay. And it looks like Dr. Jennings, you're going to be up for a little bit. Um, we are at 13 I consideration and approval of resolution number 25-26-41, final classified layoff resolution due to lack of work or funds for the 2026 2027 school year. >> Um, good evening again. Um, the item before the board for approval is the final classified layoff resolution due to lack of work or funds for next school year. This one is different than the one that was sent before the board in March and that it lists the names of the people who are impacted either because of position elimination or a reduction in hours. And this is the combination of both the layoffs
117from January and the layoffs in March. The layoffs in January were due or December, sorry, were due to um the one-time funds and then the layoff in March were due to the structural deficit and and the lack of funds to address our budget deficit. Um I just wanted to note that there were two names that were inadvertently left off the original agenda um attachment that was posted last week. They were Brianna Schlottman and um Joanne um Fulquy. And those names have been added to the amended attachment that's on the the board agenda now. Thank you for that. Is there any discussion questions? >> I wasn't there was a conversation that we were talking about um like reinstatement or you know putting them in in terms of like if we had the budget we would bring
118these people back. >> Um how does that work with this and is there a reason why we didn't state that on the document? So part of what I presented tonight is discussion about that reinstatement, right? As to whether or not funds come back, right? But are you referring to the seniority list and and the order in which those people would be brought back? >> No. So you know part of that discussion was you know in like bringing back for example the hours for the librarians like you know and then bringing back you know XYZ. So we had talked about that when we were making the um the last vote in terms of >> yeah what what the possibilities was and how I can't think of the right words but like ranking that priority >> right
119and so that that's what I presented tonight was that reinstatement the beginning of that process right so this is >> the beginning of the process we haven't come up with the pro we haven't come up with a list yet right >> an orderly list what he was saying earlier was that these are the things we're going to look for but we haven't made that list yet >> and we really can't until we know where the money is and etc. So >> well and >> and I'd also want to add that you know we do have some statutory deadlines that we have to meet and we have to provide the final notification to our impacted employees before um May 14th. So without a board meeting on May 7th this list had to come today and prior
120prior to the development of of the priority list or how that would would sort of roll out. So, um, that's why it's before you today. >> So, if we did reinstate hours to librarians, how would that work? >> Does that have to do we have to do like is that okay? Can we do that or does that have to come through a whole like >> big thing? We'd have to agree to it here. >> Absolutely. There have to be a process, right? >> That's why I said this is one of a series of presentations to you, right? And so gathering feedback from our union leaders, gathering feedback from the our budget advisory committee and from our principles about what are the needs and and prioritizing. And so as I said to you, the the um
121looking at safety, looking at that core instruction, right, as being part of our guide. And so um as as we if we were to see a um general fund increase um then we would prioritize ba so we have that frame of priorities, right? And then based on that we would look at >> what's our frame of priorities. the frame of priorities is establishing um safety first, right? Is that or core instruction, right? So those types of principles. Um but since that we don't know what the onetime monies will look like one of the just to give a a quick easy example is um right now uh our ELLL uh coordinator, right? That's a that that's a um compliance issue with the state of California, right? We have to be able to do those types of
122things, right? Um and so but we've eliminated our our TOSAs, right? And so, um, if there was onetime monies that came back that could bring back an ELLL coordinator, that would be something that we would look at as a compliance issue, um, and determine whether or not that's that's a priority here, right? And so, that would be something that first I want to take to our our leaders and then bring to you as a board as to to establish that, right? And so, uh, the problem and I don't mean I'm not trying to be vague here, but the problem is I don't know what those one times are going to look like and what they what they will target and what they will not, right? Because once we do that, then we can make if
123there was an increase in the general fund money, then we can make a determination where those monies would go, right? >> Who determines I know you said you you would talk to people, uh, teachers, staff, you know, about this. Who determines what's first? And if there's a compliance issue regarding the, um, ELL, um, are we not in compliance then? No, we're we're in compliance >> right now. We are, but it's not >> renewed for next year. >> No, what I'm getting at is that we have someone that oversees that that program right now, and without a TOSA, that work falls to the director of of ED services and the assistant superintendent of ed services. Okay. Right. >> Okay. And so I think what Yanni was saying was that and and I'm just uh reiterating is
124that you're saying that that line of potential people that are going to come back and without listing them here, but there's nothing in there that states that at all. you know, dependent upon uh the if we get money and um there's a possibility that some of our employees that were pink pink slipped, right? >> Um will hopefully be able to get their job back. Am I misunderstanding something? >> No, I think Oh, go ahead. I'm sorry. >> No, go ahead. >> You're right. But I think what we need to talk about is doing this like not putting it off. I mean the ideal by June 10th we'll know what the budget looks like. So that's one piece >> but we need to have those things in order like you said like you want to have
125a list of things if the budget comes out. You want to have a list of things if the restricted funding because the restricted funding you're going to have to direct it where it goes >> right >> but people we don't have that we need to create that list and we need to I'd like to see it done before we leave in June because we'll know the budget. you're not going to know enrollment until the fall. So people, you know, but to have that have something to look at to say, okay, if the budget comes out better, this is the first thing we're going to add back. This is the second thing. If we get restricted onetime funding, these are the things and to be able to differentiate those because you want to be able to
126differentiate what would fall under that >> and then in the fall if enrollment, you know, to be able to put those back. But I think you guys are looking for a list that doesn't exist yet. All what was said tonight is we're going to talk to all the groups that are involved to make the list, you know, and come up with it. But we don't have anything yet. >> I wasn't asking about the list, though. I was asking about a line in here so our employees know the ones that have been pink slipped. There's an opportunity if the monies come in and they're not earmarked for one area. I think that's >> I think that's been stated. But and the other thing is is then um it it it we we can't really do that
127until we know what's going on. It has been stated um I think by all of us that we want to bring our employees back, >> but like Chris said there there are laws and there are compliance issues. >> Sure, I understand that. So I think what you're asking for is uh is to is to state um in the document that given the fin given financial um uh increases that we will uh bring people back. I I think that's a problem >> that we could not not will >> we have stated that >> and but we have stated that but I I think putting that in a document >> I don't know could be >> I think we have two >> sorry I didn't mean to have my mic off right the the other piece of
128it was was looking at what I was presenting to you was really about establishing what the priorities are not not of position and people but of of what are the needs right and getting feedback from from all from all constituents here right about that um and as I was saying what I'm getting at is that the is that the onetime monies since they are restricted we have to make those determinations first because if we determine that if we were saying now we're going to bring back this group or this position right and then a onetime monies won't fill that then then that's part of struggle, right? So, that that's what I was >> also I do want to add that in the um in the resolution >> it says employees listed in attachment A shall
129have remployment rights pursuant to the California Education Code. >> Okay, >> I'm good. I just I just want to reiterate that when we talked about this last time and we made cuts particularly to certain areas, the conversation was that we wanted to prioritize them to come back and I don't feel like that's reflected in what you're proposing. I understand that, but I think that there I I mean maybe not, but I think that there's ways that we can put in there that like there's conversations or that we are going to be doing that. That was what we voted on. That's what we talked about. I I I do think they're two separate things. Okay. So, the priority list was part of our direction and our motion. I mean, the priority list has to happen. This
130this is not a prior No, no, no. Okay. What we did last meeting? >> What we did last time was we added on the instruction to the district to please create a priority list for um if the additional money becomes available h and that priority list has to be negotiated. >> How those we would prioritize bringing people back >> so that we know >> so that has to happen there that has to happen. This is separate and it does reiterate that the employees have reemployment rights because when you do what we this um layoff and you do bring back those positions, employees who have been laid off have rights under the ed code to come back into their positions. >> So they're two separate things. This is the finalization of the layoff decision separately and
131this this will have to happen I think as Chris mentioned once we get more clarification on where this additional money is coming from. We need to have a list that's that's been you know agreed upon that this is how we're going to spend that additional money if it in fact comes in. >> Um >> and Mark is is right. We need to have that ahead of time, >> right? >> So that we're ready to roll. But we can't do it too soon because as Chris said, there are compliance issues there. >> Um so we can't jump ahead and then have to pull back, >> right? And so this is just about the layoffs that um that we have that list. And this is this is the existing list for the layoffs >> to um to
132uh reinstate people. That's a whole another process. >> Separate. >> Yes. And the priority list will help govern that process. Yes. so that we have some agreements about um how that money is spent and where it goes so that we can prioritize folks who have been subject to these layoffs. >> Got it. >> Okay. >> All right. The last piece I want to add to that is that um we know we'll get the one-time monies. We don't know enrollment will increase or go down. We don't know if there'll be an increase to the general fund in in the state because of that 5.4 5.6 being pushed out in the settle up, right? We may not see that for another year, right? There's nothing holding the the state legislature to to issue out that money in
133a school year, right? And so the reality may be that I'm coming back to you with more cuts if the onetime monies doesn't fund um things that you know that that depending where what the onetime monies will fund, right? So I I do want to be clear about that that that the the these two other variables here as it pertains to enrollment and the general fund. >> Do we know that that um it's going to be one-time monies? >> As far as as far as the settle is concerned, we don't know. We don't know what that's going to look like. We don't know what we're going to get. We don't know when we're going to get it. And we don't know what restrictions, if any, that will be on it. But in the past, we
134all we've seen is restrictions on it. Right. And I don't want to labor this more, but you know, like ELOP is a great example, right? Our our extended learning opportunities program, right? That has money in it, right? The governor is going to continue to fund that, but it's an afterchool program, right? It doesn't fund what we're doing in the middle of our school day, right? So, it's frustrating. >> Yes, understood. I >> I was just going to move that we approve resolution 25-26-41, final classified layoff resolution due to lack of work and or funds for the 2627 school year. >> I'll second that. >> This is a roll call vote. President Gross. Um, yes. Trusty Hirs. >> Yes. Trusty Seda. >> Yes. >> Miselli. >> Yes. >> Trusty Manasi. >> No. >> Okay. And now
135we come to uh 13J, consideration of approval of resolution number 25-26-42 final certificated layoff resolution due to a lack of work andor funds for the 2026 2027 school year. Dr. Jennings. >> Yes. Good evening again. Um the item before the board for approval is the final certificate of layoff resolution um for next school year due to lack of work or lack of funds. Um please note that one name was added that had been inadvertently left off the original attachment which is Veronica Alcarez who was a school psychologist. Um we asked so there are three names that are on this list the um two administrators and a school psychologist. Is there any discussion? A motion? >> I move that we approve resolution 25-26. >> I'll second Grubs. >> Yes. >> Trusty Hirs. >> Yes. >> Trustee.
136>> Yes. And so moving on, we have um pulled item 13K. So we'll go on to 13 um consideration approval of memorandum of understanding with classified school employees association for food service assistant manager position. Dr. Jennings. >> Good evening again. Um, food service director Tanya Courtourtney requested the addition of a food service services assistant manager position to replace the chef position that had been um that is being eliminated. The shift to more scratch cooked food has created the need for more central kitchen floor management staff. Um, funding has been verified out of the cafeteria fund to cover the expenses of this position. um in collaboration with CSEA we have agreed to the scope of this position and thisou outlines that agreement so we are asking for approval of thisou >> any discussion >> what happens
137when um these funds from the cafeteria fund run out does that go to the general fund >> no self supporting >> they can only spend spend it on food service >> so if those funds run out then that whole department gets you never know. >> I've never seen a >> there would have to be reductions brought and and Tanya is well aware that the program they have should universal meals end will have to be relooked at. These staff have gone through the chefan program. So she is growing the staff to uh do more scratch cooking unless any more discussion Okay. Is there a motion? >> I move that we approve the food services assistant. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor? >> I carries. >> Motion. Um, sorry. Item 13m, consideration approval of memorandum
138of understanding with classified school employees association for the wellness coach position. Dr. Jennings. >> Thank you again. Um this is a umou with CSEA for the wellness coach position. We received a grant um through the Slano County Office of Education to fund this position and the scope laid out in it is representative of of the requirements of the grant and this just sort of outlines that scope and they are CSA is in agreement to have this position. >> This is for a person. This is just for the position. >> This is for the wellness. Yeah, this is just the uh approval of the MOU with CSCA for the creation for the for this job description. And then later you'll see approval for the job description for uh the item for wellness coach and for the
139assistant the food service assistant manager position. >> And this is just one position. >> I believe the grant that we received actually will fund four. If I I don't know Dr. beats in one stat. >> Sure. Um, back in February, uh, February 5th board meeting, you approved theou, >> um, for, >> uh, up to four wellness coaches working 20 hours a week. >> It's 30 hours a week. >> 30 hours a week. Um, and so when for one year >> for one year >> is the grant for one year. >> Grant is one year has to be spent next >> all in one. And so these will be temporary. These are for a one year. Yes. >> Um and and the grant is covering all of the this cost. Okay. Thank you. >> All the
140mandatories. Um and the hope is that this uh this wellness coaches will be able to through Kyibbe which is the California youth behavioral health initiative um bill for some of the services that they they do for um in the wellness space or or um providing support to students and possibly help fund part of their positions as we move forward. So >> this is just for the jobs. >> No, this is just the MLOU. I'll move that we approve the memorandum of understanding with the classified school employees association for wellness coach position. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor >> sorry 13N consideration approval of wellness coach job description. Um the attached job description outlines aligns with the roles and responsibilities that are outlined in the grant and so we are asking for board approval
141of the wellness coach job description. >> So I have just have some general feedback about the the um the job descriptions. Um, and I think while I understand keeping them vague is is helpful, I also think that we need to sort of narrow them down and really be specific about, you know, what we're we're asking them to do. Um, you know, we're so we're going to have four wellness coaches. Um, and I just feel like I'm I'm not quite sure we're being intentional about what we're specifically asking them. For example, it says you're reporting to ED services. It's also reporting to the school psychologist. Um, you know, is this a coach? Is this like districtwide? Are we just distributing them everywhere? Are we putting them in specific sites? Um, are all four of them going
142to be a community liaison? I'd like to hear more about how we're really going to be putting these wellness coaches out there. >> Yeah, I think Leslie can speak to part of that, but I do want to be clear that we wouldn't put where we're putting someone on on a job description, right? We wouldn't put designate what site they were going to be at, right? Because they >> Well, I think you could put elementary. I think you could put secondary. I don't think you need to put specific schools, but I think it would help just in terms of understanding what the scope of their work is. >> I understand that, but then it limits us with what we can do with staffing, right? And as we come into budget cuts then and you need to
143move staff around. >> Well, we're getting a grant for these, right? >> Correct. So essentially we have four people that were paying with a grant on a contract that doesn't matter if their budget gets cut because they will they're only here for the year. >> No, it does matter because the Ky would produce funding because of the work that they're doing that we would wind up building the uh health insurance agencies and so as a result of the Ky we could get we will get funding back that could then potentially fund this for the following year. And I have to say I think the um the duties are are listed. They're they're pretty specific. Um under examples of duties. I'm not sure. Um and I I just to add on to that, I wonder if
144these duties may have been pulled from the grant. Um, and a second point I just want to make is um, you know, you you send out it's a general job description, but then when the person is hired, they would get a a contract or an offer letter or something that would say where they work, what their hours are, so on and so forth at that point. Right. I think the intent I think to trustee Manassi's point the intent is to have these positions um be assigned to specific sites and then have the flexibility that if they're assigned to the high school but something occurs or funding changes that they would also be able to do sim the same work at an elementary site so that it's not specific to secondary or elementary. it really is
145the work that you're doing is for a specific for the it's the specific role. So from my perspective, I think that with the budget conversations that we are going to continue to that we're having and that we're going to continue to have, we need to be very clear about bringing people on and off and on and off. And to to like to keep these job descriptions vague leaves a lot of insecurity for employees and also even for us as board members to come up here and then terminate their contract or you know whatever the cases may be and >> right but then the the reasoning is like well they could they could stay if we get more funding. Um, and I just I feel like I need to see more specifics. Um, I need to
146see when we have a grant for four people that I am reading more about what this funding is going to be executed. I mean, I kind of want to read it like a grant proposal, I guess, in terms of what's going to be done with the funds. This is for me. This is too vague. >> And I think if you take a look at theou that went before the board in February, it would list out sort of the expectations, the requirements of the grant. And this particular job description, the what's on here is pulled almost verbatim from the requirements of the grant. So for us to receive the funds that people have to do this specific work and this is as specific as we have from the from the grant. There are there's a possibility
147that they could do you know other duty. There's always that other duties as assigned or other related duties. So it could be a little bit broader but this uh gives an example of what people would be doing. It's not necessarily as you know specific to this is exactly what you will be doing every day at an elementary site or a secondary site. >> I I from my perspective I think we should be um doing that more. So that's it. >> I don't I don't know if I mean obviously anybody else from my perspective I don't need to do that from my perspective of moving forward. But I really want to see more specifics. Yeah. >> Um, is there a motion? >> I'll move that we approve the wellness coach job description. >> I'll second. >>
148All those in favor? >> I. >> Did you say I? >> I. >> Motion carries. So we come to consideration and approval of food services assistant manager job. Dr. Jennings. Thank you, President Grubs. Uh this job description before you is um describes what the food services assistant manager will be doing in the central kitchen and we are asking for the board approval for this job description. >> Any discussion? I just this one I think was much more specific. I appreciated that. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the food services assistant manager job description. I will second. >> All those in favor? >> I carries. >> Okay. 13P consideration and approval of the district athletics program manager job description. Um Dr. Thank you again. So, this is a new position. You know,
149we are um constantly working to to find ways to better support the oversight and supervision of our athletics program in addition to the other responsibilities specifically at the secondary sites. So, we are recommending the creation of a district district athletics program manager position um so that it would provide centralized leadership and coordination of our intercolastic athletics across our secondary school sites. So both the middle school and the high school. Um this position will con ensure consistent oversight of athletics including compliance with league league rules, title 9 requirements, eligibility standards, and student safety protocols. Uh it will also support site administrators by reducing administrative burdens related to scheduling, supervision, facilities, and program logistics. We're asking for the board approval of this district athletics program manager job description. One of the things you'll note is that it
150is a classified management position as opposed to a certificated management position. There are a couple of reasons why we chose to put it that way. One is we're hoping that it has like a broader pool of applicants because it doesn't require an administrative um credential although would be very helpful. It's written down as preferred not required. And um also this position because they don't uh provide they don't evaluate certificated staff then it can be a classified manager position. So >> why does it have to be a management position? I'm just curious >> this uh position um like all of our um athletic directors in in the sense in the past they hire they are eval I mean they are evaluating coaches they they're supervising it really needs to be a manager because they're also directing
151the work of others >> but they before they weren't admin none of them had admin they were just teachers >> that is correct >> the problem >> well >> I mean and I think and I think it in terms of being a manager and being responsible responsible for the totality of the of the work and we're putting people and or in the past have put people in the position of hiring doing the hiring recommendations for hiring for for coaches and supervising staff. I mean I think that that's it really needs uh someone who's going to manage it. Um so that's that was the thinking >> and that job description was very clear. Um, I was surprised that it was a classified. >> Yeah, I know position. I think that that, you know, you have certain
152people that might look at doing it, you know, that are in teaching, you know, >> that might not want to do it because it's classified >> and um >> and it's well and um if classified management positions can be filled by certificated staff, they can still contribute to STRS. they don't aren't required to to switch to PERS and they maintain their um permanent status in their original bargaining like in the original class that they were hired in. So if they're a certificated teacher and they apply for this position, they would remain they would maintain their seniority like let's say they do this and like this is not working out, they would still maintain their right to a teaching position. >> What's the uh work year for this job? >> This is a 209. So the
153209 work days and because it's classified management it also includes 14 paid holidays. So the total calendar would be 223 days. >> Calendar 223 days >> 209 of which are work >> are work days and >> what we discussed with you. >> Yes. >> Yeah. And it's with the way I I see it is that it's uh similar to a vice principal position who also work 209 days. >> Right. Um >> and they're they'd be paid on the classifi classified management >> salary schedule >> and you'll see in um in May on um it'll come before you uh an to have that once if the position's approved then we'll add that to the classified manager salary schedule. I'm curious the classified management salary schedule. Let's say someone like me, not that I'm, you know, obviously
154I'm on the board, but I'm at the end of the teacher salary schedule and if I was to take that job, my work year is 184 days >> going to 209 days with the step and column on the classified management schedule, would I be more or less staying at my daily rate or would I be making less with the extra days that I'm making now? I'm curious about that because that also depends on where on the salary schedule you fall. >> I think that uh individuals will have to do their own sort of calculations to see what their daily rate is currently as a whether they're a teacher or whatever position they hold and then figure out is this going to be an increase. I mean there are unfortunately many um uh people who shift
155from teaching to administration and we quickly realize that they're working longer days and they are working more days but their daily rate is not much more than it was when they were teaching. So >> um >> oh where if we hire somebody in this when we do would they go on to step one on the classified management or would that be negotiable? step they would start at >> all administrative uh placements on salary schedules are just based on experience what's like relevant experience and sort of where that would make sense to place them. It's a little bit of a negotiation sometimes. >> So there is a negotiation because when you talk about you know experience what does that look like, you know, who decides what's relevant and not relevant? So I'm just curious about that.
156I don't want to leave anybody out. I want to have everybody possible and so there is the possibility of negotiating where on that step. >> Yeah, I prefer not to call it a negotiation. Thank you for clarifying things happen at the table as you well know Mark right but you certainly look at uh and you have a discussion about what are their what are their um uh background what are their experiences right and then also you know we don't want to see someone take a cut in pay right and so you balance those things and you look at that and and weigh it all out um and then I I want Trudy to speak to the classified versus certificated because we have an an issue at hand that she can address >> so currently in
157the district we have an admin admin to teacher ratio um that we have to certify each year and as our enrollment declines and we have to ensure that the number of teachers we have that ratio stays where it's at. Uh currently we are um over administrators but not in a penalty phase. So by having it as classified it won't count towards that. So it's a it it does allow you to have somebody in the position that's certificated and paying into stirs, but it's listed as a classified position. So the elimination of our student services director um in no way impacted that ratio because that was already one that is set aside and not part of that admintoteer ratio because of the type of work that was done. >> So this assists us. What >> are
158those more at the sites then? Well, it has to do with what is considered pupil services. Um, so it our student >> No. Um, some but like our our principles um our psychologist, our um vice principles. >> Yeah, our vice principles. I'm trying to think about who else is certificated. Um our assistant superintendents are directors. Um except for if you're specifically pupil services, you're in that admin ratio. So this by it's one less vice principal that goes into that ratio and it becomes a classified um program manager. And so classified is not part of that ratio. It's not just the DO, it's anybody who's not bargaining unit certificated. >> I've never heard of this ratio before. It's kind of interesting. Maybe we can add that to our study session. It's a form that um I'm
159required to fill out and sign that the auditors then check and um if the auditors certify that the ratio is accurate, we they keep it on file that way. If the ratio gets out of whack, which you do have in some districts intentionally allow for it and budget the penalties, you have to pay to the state. >> No sense. >> It's the state. >> No, why would a district do that? the type of work sometimes or that that's when you see a district that will have a lot of TOSAs and not vice principles. >> It's not necessarily the best for the students, but it's it's this in the law how the ratio >> very interesting. I have a couple more comments just in relation to my my previous points just in terms of being um
160a little bit more specific. Um and I think in terms of you know like performs other related duties as assigned by the principles you know my my advocacy would be you know in relation to athletics the athletic program um you know what does um you know I think even calling out a little bit more that this is overseeing BMS um I I know that it's mentioned in there but it doesn't seem like it's really clear um that it's also BMS. MS um you know I'm assuming that um like CLA o overall supervision of athletics events does that mean that they need to attend every I mean I know you physically can't attend every athletic event but you know is in coordination with coaches I think there just needs to be a lot more of that
161supervisory um explanation in there that it's you know you're really coordinating you're really supervising you're really working with coaches administrators etc., etc. Um, and then my other question was, um, I also brought up like arranges transportation in coordination with coaches, like really. So, they're they're not it's not it it reads that it does everything by itself by this sole person, which I know that's not the case. >> That's not the case, but this person would oversee that. So, in terms of transportation, there's been some new laws that have passed. One is SB88 that passed um that went into effect last July. There are certain requirements that if someone is like driving over more than 40 miles in one year that they're uh they need to be have a you know physical uh physical exam that
162they have to be random drug t I mean there are certain requirements. So this person would be expected to manage and oversee transportation not in the sense of let's schedule the rides but more in like who is doing that? I need to see who's doing that. I need to make sure that they're cleared, make sure that they have sub like we that they are clear to drive. >> Yeah, >> that so we we need someone to hold that and so that's why that's on there. >> Totally get it. I guess and I'm trying to see that um you know maybe the word should see oversee transportation instead of arranges. Um, so once again, I think really empowering this role and really making sure that this is at that higher level of supervision overseeing. Um, and
163does this role would this role like get mileage reimbursement and things like that with all the traveling that they do? >> Yes. I mean I mean >> they're taking their own. >> Yeah, >> I would think it would be according to law reimbursement according to law. I I also want to add that and this is not legal advice. My legal advice is to have legal review it, but um sometimes there are legal reasons for drafting job descriptions in a certain way. I don't know if you've run this by legal, but that's always a consideration. I think if there's any questions, I would say run it by legal. >> It's new. >> Yeah. I also on the primary function have a question about serves as a manager assisting the principles with general managerial duties as assigned.
164What is that? That's I'm curious about that. That almost sounds like admin type thing. You know, general managerial duties is assigned. >> So long as it I mean I agree that was um it should be in accordance with their athletic department duties, not just assisting the principal in um whatever the principal needs. >> That's my thought. I mean, I think that's what the assumption was when it was written, but >> that kind of leaves it, you know, words matter and assisting the principles of general managerial duties as assigned could mean a lot of different things. >> And I do believe the intent was to leave it vague because we can't imagine all the things that might come up that need some kind of managerial responsibility. So, you know, that that's why that's in there. we
165just don't know what they might be asked to do and we don't want to so narrowly define the job description so that that becomes sort of prescriptive and it's like well that's not in my job description I can't do that when you're a manager you're a manager you work and you your boss says you need to do this you you do that it's just it's how it is as a manager so I think there was some intent in that that yes if there's something that needs to get done that requires managerial expertise that they would be um able to to do that >> even if it's outside of the realm of athletics. >> Well, and if you will read the job description, it's athletics facil like a some in terms of athletic like facilities oversight.
166I mean, there's some expectation that it's not the like a whole district job on just athletics. It's also the logistics, the scheduling, the facilities. >> They all Yeah, exactly. It's it's all interwine a bit. We go ahead Sherry. >> Oh, go ahead. >> We know what the structure is now. I think that for for me the perspective is is just making sure that as new principles come, as new athletic directors come, that there is that that sort of umbrella and that keeping it vague of, you know, you're going to do XYZ, that might not fit in athletics. While it could work for the next couple years, in five years it could not work very well. Um my question was if this person is going to be responsible to hire coaches, right? Are those coaches and
167this is a question I've I don't know. Are the coaches required to go through because they're not on our payroll, right? Or they are on our payroll. >> So are they required to go through they're not volunteers but they have to get a background check still? All of those things. Okay, I'm good. Thank >> that's on here. You know, fingerprint background check. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. They actually go through like all of our co just all of our coaches have to have a clearance from CTC. >> Okay. >> That they have to go through. So they're and they're all fingerprinted and even if they are just volunteer walk-on coaches that we're not paying, they have to be cleared. >> Okay. >> So they're fingerprinted. They, you know, we make sure because we want to
168make sure our students are safe. Thank you. Okay. Um, is there a motion? >> Um, I can make a a motion or I move that we approve the district athletics program manager job description. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I need to say no. >> Two. Okay. Now we come to 13Q consideration and approval of memorandum of understanding with Benicia teachers association for speech and language pathologist hiring and referral incentive. Dr. Jennings. >> Yes. My last my last item. So um we are recommending the implementation of a hiring and referral bonus program for speech and language pathologists to address ongoing recruitment and retention challenges. Uh we currently have three SLP positions that have been unfilled all year long with district employees. We do have contractors that are providing the service, but they cost
169quite a bit more. And so this hiring um and referral incentive doesn't even come close to what the cost of a contracted employee contractor um is in terms of speech and language pathology. So, we are hopeful that by offering a hiring bonus of $10,000 for the uh if someone comes and we hire them or if there's a current staff member who knows someone that can recruit, they will also get they'll get a referral bonus if we end up hiring. >> Yeah. If we end up hiring someone that they refer um the difference between, like I said, a speech pathologist that is a district employee and a contractor is probably between like $80,000 difference. And so it's pretty substantial. So we really hoping that this will help to incentivize uh uh the people to apply to
170our district. >> That referral idea is really good. It's out of the box thinking. I've never seen that. Obviously, you always see the uh signing bonus, referral bonus, I think, is a great idea because yeah, it's a huge amount of money extra that you're paying some company to supply you with somebody. You know, you cut out the middleman. It's better for them. they get, you know, pay and benefits more than what they would get from the company and you get a, you know, person that's more, >> you know, I'm so conflicted about this one. Um, it's a lot of money and so there are there are three positions opened. So that's $30,000 >> if you could find the people >> and then plus, you know, plus the $5,000 for the referral. Now, we've just laid
171off a bunch of people and I I agree that it's a, you know, out of the box thinking. I don't know, you know, if it's 80 thou thou, you said $80,000 difference >> more paying a >> per per speech and language, but per contract >> per contractors and you have to have them anyway. You can't not hire. You have so you have to go if you can't >> It's a compliance issue. >> Yeah. You have to go to the contractors if you can't find them. So if we can find what has been done, >> what has been done to to find um SLPs? >> So there's been several several um with universities that have come uh to you, one from San Jose State, another one from Cal State East Bay for uh speech and language
172pathologist interns so that we can host them at our site. So we have worked with our current speech and language pathologists who are serving as um you know support for those universities to see if we can get some students placed in our district. So hopefully if they come and they start and they get trained here they'll sign up to they'll apply. But this entire year, the three positions that we've had posted, we've had zero applicants. >> And we've post I mean we post on the speech like there's uh uh industry boards that we posted on that we've reached out to universities. They get snatched up pretty quickly and um >> so so is it because we don't pay enough? >> There's a lot of factors that I'm going to get on my speech soap box
173now. So I've dealt with this for about four years. my past life. So there's several players. So first off, let me just say there's a shortage of speech teachers across the United States. Second, there's a shortage of schools that instruct speech teachers and they limit the number that can get in. Uh the association of speech pathologists purposely do that, right? And so what they've done is they forced the salaries up in the health care industry. So most SLPs go into health care and work for a hospital providing speech services or some sort of medical provider and then and less come into into teaching as a result. Um just like nursing, you can make more money as an SLP than you can as a professor of SLPs, right? So there's a shortage of instructors as well.
174And so um it's a smart move in the sense that not only do we have these in place with these two different universities. So now those interns are with us, but then our our folks that are working with them are now plugging our district to come work here. And so they're more likely to come here and stay here. And so it's a smart move to do this now for the future. The other piece of it, and I recognize what you're saying, CC, is is that and the cost to us, right, and the fact that we have just made our cuts, but the cost of an SLP agency, um, and it ranges, right? It can be $50,000 more. It could be $80,000 more. Um, it depends if that a what a you know, we start with
175the agencies that that are the lowest and oftentimes they don't have anybody and so then it winds up working itself up and then you wind up paying a lot more money. Um, it's incredibly challenging. The the other piece of this that I want to add because Mark said that they get benefits and that's the other lie is that the SLP agencies often don't give benefits and then they also scare the SLP u uh uh freelancer in a sense or their employee um that they can't get out of their contract and go to work for a school district. And that's not true in the state of California. You absolutely can. And so the main benefit for an SLP to come to work for a school district is the fact that now they're paying into retirement. now
176they have uh health benefits and so um it's it's a it's a constant struggle out there. >> No, they're not getting any of that. >> Middle you have to go to somebody you have to have but they take a not >> and and I understand all that. I I really do. Mh. >> But given given our financial um situation here, you know, does it just I it just seems to be so um I think the I wish I had more time to think about this. Um number one. Number two, I think the optics are bad. Number three, how do you think the people that were laid off are going to feel? Is it? >> But I also did not know that it's, you know, there's an $80,000 >> Oh, yeah. >> difference. But I don't
177know that, Mark. I I I don't >> I knew, you know, um >> way more expensive. >> I I I wish that this had come as a presentation versus an action item. >> Okay. All right. and and we can show you how that is a cost savings, but I I recognize what you're saying about how how it would feel to those folks that were laid off. I totally recognize that. I have a question like if >> we hire somebody out of the box uh like we're talking about and they stay a year and we've already given the money to the person that recruited them to hopefully get hired etc. Then do we do the same thing the following year? Then then it's going to start eating into our our money. So it's a precedent setting.
178But but you still have to have those people. So if let's say they only stayed a year, but for that year you paid them on our salary schedule, even if with the $10,000 signing bonus and the 5,000 referral bonus, you're still paying less than the 80,000 extra or 50,000 extra that you'd be paying to the company that hired them. And you're even if you had to do that every year, you're still saving money compared to having to hire them. Because again, we can't act as though we could do this without high. We have to have those speech pathologists. >> And if we can't get them, this is a way better deal. And I'm not even saying this is, you know, we approve this. >> We're still crossing our fingers somebody shows up because, you know,
179it doesn't guarantee some, it's not like this is such a great deal people are going to flock to it. We'd hope they would because it's still a savings for us. And even if it's every year, it's still a savings for each person that we hire. in that manner over having to go with a company that we outsource to. It's it's to me it's, you know, easy. >> I have two questions. One is I spend $15,000. What am I saving? >> It depends on what the what which contractor they're replacing. So, some are as um for calibration see like $50,000 to $80,000. >> 50 to $80,000. >> So, if Okay. So with the bonus we spend 15,000 we could save a minimum of 50 maybe more depending on who >> which contractors replaced. Second question is
180um do we know if there's a way if if we're concerned about people leaving early >> can you condition >> the bonus on them staying a year otherwise they have to repay it or a prrated portion of it back or I don't know that's a legal question >> for your consideration. No, absolutely we can. Pat, you please, but I I don't see why not. I think that's a a great idea um to space it out that way. >> That's >> Yeah, I I've seen some districts do it slightly different. What's on the proposal is to do the like half of it when they first start and then the other half in January. >> So, I mean, that's one way to do it. Some districts will do like half in December and then the other half
181at the end of June, right? >> Or they'll spread it out like a larger amount. Some I mean I've seen uh SLP signing bonuses up to $20,000 and they'll do you know 5,000 one year, 5,000 year two. Like so then they spread it out over several years. So there's like multiple variations. You just don't know what's going to work. And so this is the sort of first initial sort of thought around one way we could approach it. a good idea, >> but theou we've already negotiated this with BTA um based on this language. >> Yes. And if you know if there's a need to to take it back and redo it or something like that, I um we're fortunate to have very >> The other part that I do want to say is that and
182I think you recognize this is that you're you get the cost savings as a result, right? So, and it's happening simultaneously. It's not like we're putting out that money um and that's an additional expenditure. We're we're saving we're we're cutting that contract and then as a result saving being able to re use that money that allocation right and then there's the the savings is then afforded right sorry I didn't say that very well >> and and I think for any person that we hire with the signing bonus at minimum you know $30,000 just because of the difference in and once you factor in the signing bonus from what you're paying for the for the contractor >> absolutely >> but I hear concern and I I think what uh President Grebs mentioned about optics when we're
183laying off people and you know having to cut one point I don't remember what the final total was million dollars but we're but we're but we're paying more now for our speech and language paths than we really need to pay if we can find someone who can we can hire as an employee. Oh >> here >> can I add a a positive programmatic change that would happen? Usually I'm the one that has to talk about the money, but for some of our contractors, they're online, which means we have to hire a speech and language assistant to be the person present on site, which is so now it's a combined cost. This, if we were able to hire someone as our employee, would be directly here in person with our students. And I can tell you
184how badly that works because we have that in Pittsburgh where they're online and you have to have an adult in the room with the kid while they're doing it online and it's not ideal at all. >> And it's speech. >> Yes. >> Right. And it's online and thank you Trudy. That was an excellent point. I really appreciate it. And that's why she's the Trudy Bington an exceptional CBO and why we want to extend her contract by an additional year. Right. So, the fact that she understands that instructional piece and then oftentimes what you get with these contracted I'm really loud tonight. I'm sorry. These contracted uh folks is um I don't know about you Mark, but I dealt with five uh um teleaotherapists that were all overseas >> language. So, we literally had a a
185Yes. So, we l literally had a person getting up in the middle of the night in Israel providing SLP services to our student. And so, so what's the quality of service that you're then getting as a result, right? It's not ideal. It's it's not ideal. >> Kids don't react well to being on a screen. >> But, you know, my my if you're not comfortable right now, I mean, talk that through. Um, we can come back and and and we can build a longer runway here and and present to you. Um, because I think another piece of this is how many SLPs total do we have in the district? How how Are are they three years out from retirement, five years out from retirement, right? Are they 20 years out from retirement? Right? What's the impact
186of this going to to be? Right? Because we're going to be in a cycle where we need to attract SLPs. Is that where we're at? Right. And and it's an issue across the state and and we do need to be uh flexible because um we're we're competing with other with other districts. Right. Clearly. I was just I was just going to say that ties into my prior point about having the priorities and what where are we going to put our money and from what I hearing I mean there's the saying you have to spend money to make money sometimes and I initially was concerned um definitely about optics will will our community understand I think it's really important that and we've had a great discussion tonight because >> all of this needs to get out
187into the public um but from what I'm hearing It sounds like this is one of those situations where we could actually save a substantial amount and provide a better service to our students. >> Yes. >> I would like to move that we approve theou between BTA the speech and the district speech and language. >> I'll second. >> All those in favor? >> I carries. Okay, so we come to the end of our meeting tonight. Our next uh board meeting is Thursday, May 21st. >> Thank you everybody. >> I want to acknowledge the Joe Henderson staff, my team. >> They supported me on Tuesday and here they stay throughout the entire board meeting. Appreciate you guys very, very much >> and Brienne.