Following nearly a yearlong impasse over contract negotiations with the Benicia Teacher Association (BTA), the Governing Board of the Benicia Unified School District voted to ratify a tentative agreement with a 2.5 percent salary increase at Thursday’s meeting. Throughout the 2017-18 school year, the BTA and BUSD’s bargaining teams met for several negotiation sessions. In […]
Letter: Plenty of blame in unsettled contract
Plenty of blame in unsettled contract We attended the Benicia High graduation ceremony and were impressed with the accomplishments of the graduates. Student academic accomplishments were highlighted, a record number of scholarships were noted (top-rated colleges were the destination of many), athletic team championships were listed and plentiful, and a fantastic performing arts program involving […]
Teachers union votes down tentative agreement with district
The Benicia Teachers Association voted to reject the tentative agreement Wednesday that had been reached with the Benicia Unified School District, Governing Board President Diane Ferrucci announced as Thursday’s school board meeting. In January, BUSD had proposed a one-time bonus of 1 percent off the salary schedule for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years. BTA […]
BUSD budget among items on packed school board agenda
Thursday’s school board meeting will be the last of the 2017-18 year while school is in session— and if the agenda is any indication, it will be the busiest of the entire year by far. One of the biggest items is a public hearing on Benicia Unified School District’s proposed budget for the 2018-19 school […]
BUSD, BTA reach tentative agreement
Staff Report Following fact-finding proceedings that began Thursday evening and spilled into the early morning hours Friday, the Benicia Unified School District announced on its website that it had reached a mediated, tentative agreement with the Benicia Teachers Association. In early 2018, BUSD and BTA held a series of meetings to discuss salaries for the […]
As contract negotiations continue, community resumes pleas for equal teacher pay
As a result of ongoing labor negotiations between Benicia Unified School District and the Benicia Teachers Association, educators, parents and students once again took to the lectern during the public comment portion of Thursday’s school board meeting to request more fair salaries for teachers. On Jan. 24, BUSD and the BTA held a negotiations meeting […]
BUSD community urges equal pay for teachers at board meeting
Students, faculty and parents took to the lectern during the public comment portion of Thursday’s school board meeting to stress the importance of equitable pay for teachers. On Jan. 24, Benicia Unified School District and the Benicia Teachers Association (BTA) held a negotiations meeting following a budget workshop. BUSD proposed a one-time bonus of 1 […]
Throwback Thursday: Herald headlines for the week of March 25, 1943, 1968 and 1993
Compiled by Nick Sestanovich 75 years ago Benicia Population 10,000 (March 25, 1943) Basing the population on the 7650 registration for ration books, it is estimated that a conservative figure of the number of people living in Benicia is approximately 10,000. The figure is arrived at on a basis of the number of registrations at […]
Teachers rally for higher funding priorities
Several Benicia Unified School District teachers rallied outside City Park an hour before Thursday’s school board meeting to raise awareness of ongoing negotiations between the Benicia Teachers Association (BTA) and BUSD. On Jan. 24, BUSD and BTA held a negotiations meeting one day after a budget workshop which focused on providing information related to school […]
School board approves pay increases, discusses new graduation requirements at Thursday’s meeting
The Governing Board of the Benicia Unified School District unanimously voted to approve a tentative agreement between the district and the Benicia Teachers’ Association at Thursday’s meeting. In November, the BTA declared it was at an impasse with the district over contract negotiations regarding pay raises. On March 3, a tentative agreement was reached that […]