District-union pact goes to trustees

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Michael Gardner on Thursday will submit to the Benicia Unified School District Board of Trustees a tentative agreement between the district and a major union representing district classified, or non-teaching, staff.

The agreement with California School Employees Association (CSEA), Chapter 1096, is the result of three negotiating sessions and covers the next two school years, Gardner wrote in a report to the board.

The agreement includes a 2.5-percent increase to the salaries of classified staff for the 2012-13 school year, retroactive to July 1, 2012, and another 2.5-percent increase for the 2013-14 school year.

“In accordance with AB 1200, the District has publicly disclosed the costs of the tentative agreement with the Association,” Gardner wrote.

In addition to the salary increases, according to the terms of the agreement classified staff working more than 35 hours per week would see a $50 increase in monthly insurance coverage, from a maximum of $451 to a maximum of $501.

Gardner also wrote that he will ask the board to consider and approve an early retirement notification bonus.

Because of declining enrollment — a subject that also will be discussed by trustees — there is the possibility of layoffs in the spring, he wrote. To mitigate that possibility the district wants to offer a one-time $1,500 bonus to employees who submit a letter of intent to retire at the end of the current school year.

To qualify for the bonus, employees must submit their letter by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22, Gardner wrote, adding that “upon submission to the District, employee letters of retirement will be irrevocable.”

Also Thursday, Gardner will ask the board for approval on the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school year calendars.

The calendars were drafted by a committee of representatives from the district management team, the Benicia Teachers Association, and the CSEA, Chapter 1096.

“Parents and staff were surveyed regarding the 2012-2013 calendar and what they would like in the subsequent calendars,” Gardner wrote, “(and) the response was very positive and was used to draft the 2013-2014 and the 2014-2015 calendars.”

In other matters Thursday, Superintendent Janice Adams will ask the board to approve a letter of support to Congressman Mike Thompson, who is chair of a U.S. House of Representatives task force on gun violence and school safety.

“Congressman Mike Thompson has been appointed chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force,” Adams wrote in a report to the board. “He is particularly interested in hearing from those responsible for student safety.”

Part of the letter that is up for consideration reads: “Your experience as a hunter, former co-chair of the congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, and your service in Vietnam will give you the proper perspective to develop a comprehensive approach to reduce gun violence and strengthen our nation’s gun laws while protecting law abiding citizens’ rights to own legitimate firearms for legitimate purposes.”

If You Go
The BUSD Board of Trustees will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. for a closed session, and at 7 p.m. for its regular session, in the BUSD board room, 350 East K St.

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