Supporting a pay raise for Benicia teachers

As I wrote in my letter to the editor on Oct. 12, 2016:
“Teachers shape our future and are the foundation of every profession we choose as adults. Whether you are a doctor, lawyer or marketing manager, like myself, we have all been influenced by a teacher. The value of good teachers is without measure.”
At the moment, the Benicia Unified School District is in the midst of contract negotiations with its teachers. I support a pay raise for Benicia teachers, and remain confident the parties involved will negotiate an agreement that is mutually beneficial. However, the compensation of teachers, in a sense, is a secondary question. Poll after poll tells us that K-12 education is the highest priority of voters. The primary question is where does the money for education go?
That question isn’t directed at school district officials or the Board of Trustees. That question is directed at Gov. Jerry Brown and our 40 State Senators and the Assembly of 80 members because Sacramento decides how much money Benicia gets for education.
In 1998, California voters passed Prop. 98, which requires spending 40 percent of the general fund on public schools. The economy of California is the largest in the United States, and ranks as the sixth largest economy in the world. That’s a lot of money for schools.
In addition, voters approved temporary income and sales taxes under Proposition 30 in 2012 to generate $8 billion per year for schools. That’s more money.
And for newer voters, California passed Proposition 37, The California State Lottery Act, in 1984, to also raise money for education.
The point is most Californians know we already pay enough state and local taxes to fund core priorities, including teacher salaries. We must demand more long-term solutions to our financial problems in education. It is the responsibility of Gov. Brown and the Legislature to find funding for our students, teachers, and classrooms. The money is there.
The governor and Legislature can easily pay for teacher salary increases (and classroom needs) by (1) shifting resources away from inefficient or nonessential areas of state government; (2) eliminating wasteful spending being directed at failing programs; (3) examining the interlocking bureaucracies at the federal, state, county and local levels of education; and (4) by directing more state lottery revenue to public education by lowering lottery operational costs.
Finally, if teachers don’t get paid more, neither should our elected officials in Sacramento. California state lawmakers, including Gov. Brown, have received 4 percent pay raises four years in a row. Choosing to fund their salaries and not teacher salaries is incomprehensible. How about we tie teacher pay to pay of legislators through a ballot measure in 2020? That would definitely get their attention.
It is time for parents and concerned citizens to step forward and demand an environment of fiscal discipline in Sacramento, holding state elected officials accountable to their constitutional obligations.

Lionel Largaespada,
father with two daughters and nine nephews and nieces at Benicia Unified School District

Delicious and swinging night for music in our schools

Many of us have read of the significant educational, social, cognitive, and emotional benefits students experience through studying music. Every action we take to help keep music and its performance in our schools has a positive impact on the very lives and futures of our young students. By giving our time, money, and/or voice to the support of music education we help it survive and flourish. Two Saturdays ago, a record number of citizens gathered to do just that.
On Feb. 11, the 9th Annual Jazz & Crab Feed held at Benicia’s historic Clock Tower was a sold out event. Setting a new attendance record, almost 400 citizens gathered to feast on succulent crab and support Mr. Glenn Walp’s Benicia Middle School Viking Jazz Band and Mr. Patrick Martin’s Benicia High School Panther Jazz Band. Stellar performances by the ensembles illustrated brilliantly why the Benicia Unified School District’s dedication to music education in its schools is held in such high regard regionally.
The evening also featured Silent Auction packages and prizes donated by generous local and regional companies, shops, service providers, and individual music lovers. The evening was a great success made possible by the Sponsors, Donors, countless (amazing) Volunteers, Guests, Band Directors, Performers, Parents, and tireless Booster Club Members.
As co-chairs for the 2017 Jazz & Crab Feed and on behalf of the entire BMS and BHS Band Booster families, we would like to convey our heartfelt THANKS to you all. Thank you! Thank you!!
Please help us thank the businesses listed below for their support by patronizing their shops, using their services, and enjoying their products. Thank them for supporting these young musicians – our kids- on their journey into adulthood:

* ACT Theatre
* Anouk Dorrance, Certified Massage Therapist
* Aurora Cabinets & Countertops, Inc.
* Benicia Kiwanis Club
* Blue Rock Springs Golf Club
* Chabot Space and Science Center
* Eagle Vines Golf Club
* First Street Cafe
* Fox + Fawn Bakehouse
* Gloria Ferrer Vineyards
* Golden Reef Face & Body Spa
* GV Cellars
* Lagunitas Brewing
* Leto Wines
* Lily of Gold Day Spa
* Lindsay Art Glass
* Livermore Wine Trolley
* Mondavi Center
* Oakland Zoo
* Peju Winery
* Pepsi
* Pet Food Express
* Pizza Pirate
* Raymond Wines
* Round Table Pizza, Southampton
* Safeway
* San Francisco Zoo
* Shelby Matson Scents
* Silverado Cooking School
* Sterling Vineyards
* Tres Sabores Winery
* Walt Disney Family Museum
* Yari Photography
* Zachary’s Chicago Pizza
* The Campbell/Ruxton family
* The Franz-Castellano family
* The Haywood family
* The Lichty family
* The Ojendyk family
* The Rigler family
* The Rotarianni family
* The Slottler family

With grateful hearts,

Jennifer Franz-Castellano, Co-Chair
Brian Haywood, Co-Chair
BMS/BHS Jazz & Crab Feed 2017

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