Trustees may get back dental, life coverage

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Chief Business Official Tim Rahill will ask the Benicia Unified School District Board of Trustees this week to approve a report on facility needs in the district for the next five years, including lab modernization, infrastructure, support facilities and technology upgrades, which would cost $52 million if all needs were funded.

Rahill and Superintendent Janice Adams will lead a discussion Thursday on funding possibilities related to the Facilities Assessment Plan, which was conducted with the assistance of Concord-based consultant RGM and Associates.

“BUSD determined that the district has a number of classroom, facilities, technology and educational needs to provide local students with a quality education,” Rahill wrote in his report to the board.

Among the specific needs, the report said, the district needs upgrades to student support facilities — which include music, athletics and the arts — portable classrooms, energy efficiency and health, safety and security.

The report lists items in three categories: deferred maintenance, major repair and replacement, estimated to cost $14,731,417; deferred maintenance adjusted for capital improvements — a higher level of deferred maintenance — estimated to cost $34,909,407; and deferred maintenance adjusted for capital improvements and new construction, or facility needs that would be new to the district.

“Total projected costs over the five-year period for deferred maintenance adjusted for capital improvements and new construction is $52 million,” Rahill wrote.

He noted that the district “utilizes limited facility funding to address only some of the items listed in the report.” For the 2013-14 school year, the district has budgeted $190,000 toward the listed items, plus an additional $234,000 for the more annual routine maintenance items.

The board also will discuss the feasibility of accessing state and local funding through a school improvement bond for school-related facilities for the district, and a representative from the district’s financial adviser, Isom Advisors of Walnut Creek, will discuss different funding sources to help pay for the needed improvements.

These sources “may include state Proposition 39 funding, limited local developer fees, state matching funds and a local bond,” Rahill wrote.

Adams will also ask the board to consider reinstatement of dental and life insurance for board members.

Before 2010 the district paid for medical and dental benefits for the board members, but the benefits were cut as revenues fell amid the recession.

Renewed dental coverage would amount to $1,657.68 per year. The annual cost times five would be $8,288.40. No amount was given in the board agenda for life insurance coverage for the five board members.

Adams is recommending the district reinstate the benefits.

If You Go
The BUSD Board of Trustees will meet Thursday at 6:30 p.m. for closed session and 7 p.m. for open session in the BUSD District board room, 350 East K St.

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