Benicia Unified School District trustees will hear a request Thursday to approve a tentative agreement between the California School Employees Association and the district for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years.

According to a report by Deputy Superintendent Michael Gardner, the cost of the two-year contract with the school employees union is approximately $505,000.

The tentative agreement gives classified employees, or non-teaching staff, a 3.5-percent salary increase for this year (retroactive to July 1, 2014) and a 4-percent increase in 2015-16.

Under the contract, district employees also would get a retroactive $30 increase to their medical cap, and a $100 increase next year.

Among the items on the board’s consent calendar — comprised of items considered by the board to be routine, which are approved in one motion unless someone requests an item be pulled for discussion — is Board Policy 5141.52, on suicide prevention.

According to the policy, suicide is recognized as a major cause of death among youth, and in an effort to reduce suicidal behavior the superintendent is charged with developing preventive strategies and intervention procedures.

As part of that effort the superintendent (or designee) may involve school health professionals, counselors, administrators, staff, parents and guardians, students, local health agencies and professionals and community organizations in planning, implementing and evaluating the district’s strategies on suicide prevention.

Some suicide prevention strategies may include efforts to promote a positive school climate that “enhances student’s feelings of connectedness with the school and is characterized by caring staff and harmonious interrelationships among students,” the policy states.

Another strategy is to offer parents and guardians education or information that describes the severity of the youth suicide problem, the district’s suicide prevention program, risk factors and warning signs of suicide, basic steps for helping suicidal youth and school and community resources that can help in a crisis.

In other news, during the highlights district Employees of the Year will be acknowledged.

Administrator of the Year Leslie Beatson is the principal of Matthew Turner Elementary School; Certificated Employee of the Year Cathy Wright is the drama teacher at Benicia Middle School; and Classified Employee of the Year Christi Taylor is a library technician at Joe Henderson Elementary School.

Wright and Taylor also have each been nominated as Solano County Educators of the Year.

If You Go
BUSD trustees will meet April 2 at 6 p.m. in a closed session, then at 7 p.m. in open session in the BUSD board room, 350 East K St. For the complete agenda visit benicia.agendaonline.net/public.

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