Benicia High School could see a shift in its graduation requirements starting with the class of 2022. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)
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 offered a 3.5 percent increase for the 2016-17 school year.
Deputy Superintendent Michael Gardner noted that the agreement had already been ratified by the BTA, and he brought it to the board for approval.
“It’s very important, the process that we go through,” he said. “It’s always been very respectful from each side, and I think it’s gotten better as the years have gone by since I’ve been here as far as listening to the other side and coming to some agreements. We came to a lot of agreements very quickly, and then some took us a little bit longer.”
Barbara Jones, a Benicia Middle School math teacher and member of the bargaining team, read a letter on behalf of BTA President Carleen Maselli, who was unable to attend due to a previous obligation. In the letter, Maselli thanked the board for reaching the settlement. However, she noted that it was not an easy vote for BTA.
“The agreement passed by a slim margin of 52.3 percent to 47.7 percent,” Maselli wrote. “71.9 percent of our members voted, and while this may seem low, it is the highest percentage of voters BTA has had for any contract ratification since I have been bargaining.”
Maselli noted that the vote reflects the association’s frustration and dissatisfaction with the overall bargaining process.
She also noted that a goal for the association is to change the culture around bargaining.
“Beginning this next bargaining session, a respectable salary and benefit proposal from the district would send a strong message that attracting and retaining quality teachers is a top priority for the BUSD board,” Maselli wrote.
The board voted 4-0— Trustee Peter Morgan was absent— to approve the tentative agreement, which is scheduled to go into effect on April 1. The full agreement can be viewed at http://mybta.org/files/16-17-tentative-contract.pdf.
The board also brought forth proposed new graduation requirements that would more closely resemble the A-G system at UCs. Dr. Leslie Beatson, the assistant superintendent of educational services, said the goals would be to create a focus on college and career readiness for all students and make sure students have the preparation to go to a four-year college if they want to.
“Many districts around California are in that process right now of looking at what UC requirements are, what is the eligibility to be ready to go to a UC and looking at their current graduation requirements,” Beatson said.
Currently, Benicia High students must complete 220 units to graduate. Five units are granted for each semester passed. Trustee Stacy Holguin sought clarification on whether or not the number of credits would increase or whether they would just be redistributed. Beatson noted that the overall number of completed units will remain the same, but there will be changes in requirements for various subjects.
For example, Benicia High currently requires two years of math with a minimum requirement of Integrated Math I. Under the new requirements, students would be required to take three years of math with a minimum requirement of Integrated Math II.
Benicia High also requires two years of science, consisting of a physical and biological science, one of which must have a lab. Under the new requirements, students would have to take three years of science, two of which must have a lab.
Additionally, at present, students are required to fulfill a year of either a world language or a visual or performing art. Under the new requirements, students would have to take two years of the same world language and one year of a visual or performing art, although it can be substituted for a Career Technical Education course. Also, instead of a semester of health, freshmen would be required to take a year of a new course titled “Get Focused, Stay Focused.” There will be no change in the trajectory for English, social science or physical education courses, which will still require four, three and two years respectively.
Students will also be required to fulfill 35 elective credits rather than the previous 75. Principal Brianna Kleinschmidt noted that when students take additional math or science courses beyond the requirements, they are counted as electives.
“It really depends on how we distribute the classes depending on what students are signing up for,” she said.
Trustee Celeste Monnette asked what kind of extra support would be needed.
“(Kleinschmidt) did map out a student’s potential schedule, so while every student will have the space for 35 electives, if students take six periods a day for all four years, they will probably have more opportunities for more electives,” Beatson said.
Trustee Diane Ferrucci asked Kleinschmidt if she was communicating with the middle school.
“What happens at the middle school is gonna greatly impact the success at the high school,” Ferrucci said.
Kleinschmidt said she has been discussing the process with Benicia Middle School’s administrative team as well as Liberty High School’s administrative team.
Monnette asked if the change would lead to a significant change in staffing. Kleinschmidt said there could be an increase in the world language, math and science departments.
The policy will likely be brought back in a later meeting for a vote. If approved, it would be implemented in the 2018-19 school year, although the requirements would only be applicable to the class of 2022 onwards and not the classes of 2019, 2020 or 2021.
In other business, the board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing Benicia High’s athletic teams to move to the North Coast Section league, where they would be facing off against more teams in the Walnut Creek and Concord area.
The board will next meet on April 6.
Sharing is caring!
Hallelujah.
Now maybe the board can do something about this.
I taught at a “public school” in your district where a teacher prayed aloud in the lunchroom before eating, the principal warned a second grader who said f..k that Jesus would not be happy with him, the school was decorated for Christmas like it was a Christian school, an upper grade teacher hung a not-so-small cross on the wall next to his desk (illegal in California public schools), and, once it was learned I was Jewish, behavior of the staff made it clear that I wasn’t a member of the Christian club.
This form of disrespect towards my heritage was just as harmful and hurtful as that suffered by people of color in the school district.
“When it comes down to it, intention is irrelevant.
If we only focus on intention, we continue to center and prioritize the perpetrator. And let’s face it: The perpetrator is always a more privileged person who is used to getting their opinions and feelings validated.
We are trained to believe people with social power.
But if ever we hope to truly put an end to racism (or any other injustice for that matter), we, as people who encounter so much marginalization, must also validate our own feelings and opinions. We re-center our attention to our needs and experiences by focusing on impact, not intent.”
http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/02/ways-racial-microaggressions-sneak-in/
“Don’t fight hate with hate” is an example of subtle gas lighting, where our legitimate hurt and anger at the injustices we suffer are being equated to the bigotry and abuse of our oppressors.
Being angry doesn’t mean you are being hateful; it means you love yourself enough to get upset at your own mistreatment.”
LOL — Here we go again,
Perhaps the district will ban teaching social justice or climate change.
Those are forms of religion as well, for some, and could be offensive.
Geez.
I’ve never heard of social justice being described as a a religion. How so?
Sarcasm intended. Can’t mention or display religious symbol but can display or mention hypotheticals. One symbol offensive while another accepted. Political correctness breeds hypocrisy.
Bizzare statement. The entirety of the scientific method is based on hypothetical, the only reason it holds significant value is that scientific theory is open to change and adjustment. Also, as far as I am aware, a significant chunk of Middle school World History is devoted to religion, so what’s the problem?
Dear BB, Matter, T.Peterson and DDL,
I knew I could count on your gang to illustrate my experience in your town.
Actually, you present a perfect illustration here.
Thank you.
Sorry Jane. I, for one, am not part of any gang. Also, it is “Petersen”, not “Peterson”.
Now we know everyone can make a miss spelling or wrong understanding of the spelling. of some ones name. You should know Petersen you did it.
Thanks for your input. Although, not really sure to what it is you a referring. Cheers!
When you told the Editor the spelling of the name in the article was wrong. You were corrected. You were wrong.
Oh, yes. You are correct. However, I believe I admitted that I was wrong. No harm, no foul. I will continue to correct folks when they misspell my name. I hope you are okay with that.
To paraphrase Groucho Marx: “I refuse to join any gang that would have me as a member”
I don’t understand what you’re trying to say. The people you listed are not at all mutually in agreement with each other.