(Editor’s note: Regarding the contract negotiations, the district and Benicia Teachers’ Association reached a tentative agreement for the 2016-2017 school year at 5:12 p.m. Friday. The parties will be taking the terms of the agreement to their respective constituents for ratification. Sunday’s paper had been finished before then, so this information was not ready for the print edition but the Herald will have further coverage next week.)

The weightiest topic discussed at Thursday’s school board meeting was not one of the agenda items but rather something discussed during the public comment portion. As with the Dec. 15 meeting, it concerned contract negotiations and teacher shortages.

Back in November, the Benicia Teachers’ Association declared an impasse with the Benicia Unified School District over salary negotiations. A discussion with a mediator was held on Feb. 23, but a settlement was not reached.

Another related topic that was brought up was a shortage of teachers in the district, which educators have said has created some problems. Among the issues most frequently brought up: at least 14 teachers at Benicia High School teaching above their contract, vacancies being filled by non-credentialed teachers, teachers covering an extra class during their prep periods and Spanish teachers monitoring the use of Rosetta Stone.

The first to present was Lisa Delorifice, a fifth-grade teacher at Mary Farmar Elementary School, who brought in a flow chart on poster board.

“Having taken college classes in statistics, accounting and data analysis, I know that data can be skewed to look many different ways,” she said. “The administration informing me there was no money received great increases between 2012 and 2015, according to Transparent California. The chief business official received an increase of just under 22 percent, and the deputy director of HR received an increase of 25 percent. Due to an increase in health insurance, I only received an increase of 1.7 percent, which was below the cost of living.”

She also noted that the district’s positive reputation was largely due to the teachers.

“The test scores and growth of our students is due to our education,” she said. “If you don’t keep the good teachers you have, you will be left with teachers you don’t necessarily want.”

“You have the money,” she added. “You are choosing to put it elsewhere. Professional development and technology are your prime concerns, but without teachers to implement these programs, they will not happen.”

The next to speak was Carleen Maselli, the president of the BTA and a math teacher at Benicia High. She had mentioned being under the impression that the board believed the district was fully staffed.

‘We’re not when 14 teachers at the high school are taking 120 percent on one of them,” she said.

She also noted that an open position in the math department was posted in the spring that was not filled.

“The reason we take those classes is not because we want all the extra work,” she said. “We need our prep periods, but we look at that as children who don’t have a teacher. One of them was mine.”

“We keep covering for these inadequacies because of these kids,” she said.

Additionally, Maselli noted that five teachers at the elementary level are covering for a teacher who went on leave and there was a shortage of substitutes.

“We never break the district,” she said. “We have a history of coming together and helping the district when we’re in need. I think it’s time to start recognizing that we’re the ones that make this district move, and we’re the ones that make this district sing.”

Educators were not the only ones who addressed the board. Students and parents also took to the lectern as well. Angie Erickson, the parent of a student at Joe Henderson Elementary, said she moved to Benicia because of the schools and expressed concern over the issues being presented.

“We celebrate Gold Ribbon schools and all the great things you’re talking about to us here,” she said. “The reason we get those awards is because of the teachers. I know you guys care about the teachers. I believe that, and we need to show them that we believe.”

“If we’re not going to do that now, then what is the plan for the future?” she asked. “The teacher shortage and attacks on public education are not going away.”

At a certain point, board President Gary Wing limited the amount of public speakers to five to 10, much to the dismay of the audience. A number of students addressed the board in this later period, including Waseem Vydarakath, a junior at Benicia High who started a petition on change.org encouraging the district to raise wages for teachers. He stressed the amount of work that the high school educators put in and how that was interfering with their time to assist students.

“Teachers that would write letters of recommendations to the top colleges we want to attend are now bombarded with loads and loads of extra work,” he said. “This affects the students presently, and now the future of our education.”

Leah Wilson, who taught at Benicia Middle School from 2005 to 2008, encouraged the district to invest in its teachers.

“I believe you care,” she said. “If there’s money, it should go toward teachers.”

“If you want to remain No. 1, you have to retain the best teachers,” Donnie McCluskey, the parent of students at Mary Farmar Elementary, said. “Remember who’s protecting our kids.”

Wing expressed understanding and noted that he had gotten several emails and phone calls a day about the topic but felt the anger at the board was misdirected.

“”The board is not the person to be beaten up on over salaries,” he said. “I hope that you’re taking that same energy and writing the governor, Senate and Assembly. I do care, we all care and we have gone through our budget trying to find ways to make it work.”

At the end of the public comment session, Trustee Peter Morgan addressed the audience and thanked them for their participation.

“It saddens me that you don’t feel appreciated because every one of us has our children or grandchildren in the district,” he said. “We care because of you. I think we’re all trying to achieve the same things about how we get there. We need to agree on the facts, put the rhetoric aside and say ‘What can be done?’ and I hope you will work with the district to do that.”

“It’s a travesty that teachers are not valued at what they’re worth,” he added. “It’s a travesty that this community has not passed a parcel tax. It’s a travesty that the Education Foundation is not supported in this community the way it’s supported in other districts.”

Morgan called on the community to participate “not just today but every day.”

“We don’t, as a community, value the teachers and give them what they deserve,” he said. “Parents are not stepping up and participating.”

“We love you, we value you and we want to do the right thing, and I do appreciate your participation and hearing from you,” he added. “Please keep it up.”

Many teachers and parents left after the public comment portion, although the issue could be addressed again in the public comment portion at the next meeting on March 16.