School safety, mental health and district budgeting were among the topics addressed by prospective school board trustees at Wednesday’s candidate’s forum at the Benicia Public Library. As part of its efforts to ensure a more informed voting populace, Benicia’s League of Women Voters hosted a forum with the five candidates in the Dona Benicia […]
Liberty High rolling out new internship program
Liberty High School is in the process of implementing a new internship program for its students. New Principal Kimberly Lewis provided an update on the process at Thursday’s school board meeting. Lewis’ presentation was introduced by Dr. Leslie Beatson, assistant superintendent of educational services, who said the district has been exploring new opportunities for students […]
Incumbent school board president seeking another term
As the only incumbent in the school board race, Board President Diane Ferrucci is looking to continue her experience not only on the school board but also her extensive education background. “I am well-qualified to continue in my position as a board member, having served multiple facets of education,” she said. “I’ve been a teacher, […]
BUSD survey results presented to school board
Results from the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) and Relationships Effort Aspirations Cognition and Heart (REACH) Survey were presented at Thursday’s school board meeting. Dr. Carolyn Patton, Benicia Unified School District’s special services director, presented a quick overview of the two surveys’ results. The reports come out publicly in November, so Patton initiated a preliminary […]
School board approves tentative agreement with teachers union
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 […]
Arts & Culture Commissioner Gethsemane Moss running for school board
With more than 20 years of educational experience and a child about to graduate high school in the spring, Gethsemane Moss is ready to serve Benicia and its youth in another big way. She wants to be a school board trustee. Moss is running for a seat on the Governing Board of the Benicia Unified […]
Longtime educator wants to bring his experience to school board
Mark Maselli, a 25-year teaching veteran, wants more than to sit on the Governing Board of the Benicia Unified School District. He wants to bring a new attitude to the present school board. “I never thought I’d be motivated to do this, but just watching the way things were being handled in the leadership and […]
Real estate agent seeks school board seat
Adrean Hayashi became inspired to run for the Benicia school board in the midst of a yearlong dispute over teacher’s wages. The driving factor for the mother of six was seeing teachers rallying and holding signs outside Joe Henderson Elementary School as the Benicia Teachers Union and Benicia Unified School District were at an impasse […]
Local labor group announces council, school board endorsements
The Napa/Solano Central Labor Council (NSLC), a labor collective representing Napa and Solano counties, announced its endorsements in local races via a Facebook post. According to the post, the NSCLC held 53 interviews with candidates in races throughout Solano and Napa counties over several days with a panel of more than 30 affiliate leaders. The […]
School board receives Measure S update to start off academic year
With a new school year ready to commence, the Governing Board of the Benicia Unified School District heard an update on the Measure S bond projects at Thursday’s meeting. Measure S is an initiative that was approved by Benicia voters in 2014 to provide $49.6 million in bond funding for renovation and upgrades of school […]