Following a public hearing at the May 31 school board meeting, a discussion on the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) is up for the trustees’ approval for the last meeting of the 2017-18 school year Wednesday— a day earlier than when school board meetings are usually held.

The LCAP is a tool for all school districts in California to receive funds through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). According to a report by Dr. Leslie Beatson, the assistant superintendent of educational services, the LCAP has three main goals: supporting academic and social-emotional success for all students, modernizing and improving infrastructure to promote 21st-century learning, and increasing parental and community partnerships so that all students graduate college and career ready. Beatson highlighted a number of programs that contributed to academic and social-emotional success, including Odyssey of the Mind, Visual and Performing Arts programs and Outdoor Education.

In terms of updating technology and infrastructure, Beatson noted continuing use of databases such as Destiny and PowerSchool and Measure S bond projects such as fire alarm upgrades at all the schools and the modernization of the Benicia Middle School campus.

Regarding parent partnerships and community engagement, Beatson wrote that a lot of opportunities were provided, including communication through newsletters and surveys, parent participation in Odyssey of the Mind and hosting workshops for parents.

Additionally, Beatson’s presentation provided a list of new and discontinued actions and services provided by the Benicia Unified School District for the 2018-19 school year. New services included a Leadership Academy, a social-emotional learning curriculum and support for outdoor education. Discontinued programs include the AVID program at the high school, sections for independent study and the Teen Talk program.

Beatson wrote that there were more than $1.5 million in one-time funds which would be used to fund services like intervention support for students who struggle in reading or math, support for books and collections at Mary Farmar and Robert Semple Elementary’s libraries and the Sources of Strength suicide prevention program at the secondary schools.

If adopted by the board, the LCAP would go to the Solano County Office of Education for approval in July and the state after that.

In other matters, Beatson will also be asking the board to approve a federal addendum for the LCAP, which is intended to meet the provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act. The board will also be voting to adopt new psychology textbooks— standard and Advanced Placement— at Benicia High and consider ratifying a tentative agreement between the district and the Classified School Employees Association.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 13 in the Benicia Unified School District Board Room at the district building on 350 East K St. There will be an earlier closed session at 6 p.m.

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