[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6345808,"mediaKeyId","2248524-86a87746706208924eb9b8da124f14d8","parentId",2248524,"title","Board approves routine business and safety plan, authorizes release notices; votes listed","audioSeconds",9640,"startMs",237000,"endMs",9877000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2248524-86a87746706208924eb9b8da124f14d8&start=237&end=9877","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2248524-86a87746706208924eb9b8da124f14d8/thumbnail_237000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345808/California/Board-approves-routine-business-and-safety-plan-authorizes-release-notices-votes-listed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345808-aa79521e82815c3805ec4061f10859fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984150&Signature=Q0R6LBkzGZYP-Y~oxKko06RDpu3-umF2bktoigLSWxog-lH7NEG1Kbk0C7ggxSgbbXhDdA10HmNxf20PN857at8hRlK5slBcFrLGv-o8OWtx~7FLkAqiIB7RXnMZbuBpRjzScyku2EjIeA6FBCZ1jHAj5TFvCLOEEmdN9-34qqEhWTnYKGhwbxQyDxTom-tZp2FqYwseKAsI5GB12pquWXvFO7OTeztQXg8nPailb-hkkF8ve6OTIHgyYjdEfcxUvqs5XMy9X6Nu-5zXH7YrnQICu4i0CJUVhcqT8jpLGwgDXVU87ZPw3TzKHzThpOEMoEtmLJA2KyXkrnocjMmdYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-07T18:02:21Z","article","The Benicia Unified School District Board of Trustees recorded several roll‑call votes and formal actions at its Feb. 6 regular meeting:

Votes at a glance

- Approval of agenda as written: motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded as \"Aye\"; outcome: approved.
- Approval of consent calendar: motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded as \"Aye\"; outcome: approved.
- Motion to extend meeting past 9:00 p.m. if necessary: motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded as \"Aye\"; outcome: approved.
- Approval of comprehensive site and district safety plans: motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded as \"Aye\"; outcome: approved. (The plans include the newly required instructional continuity language to provide two‑way communication within five days and access to in‑person or remote instruction within 10 instructional days.)
- Approval of Resolution No. 204‑2025‑23: release of temporary certificated employees at the end of the school year: motion moved and seconded; voice vote recorded as \"Aye\"; outcome: approved. (District staff said these temporary contracts backfilled leaves and assignment changes and that annual notice is required before March 15.)

The board took no procurement or budget reduction votes Thursday; administration outlined a budget timetable and preliminary reduction options and said staff would return with details for further board action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BUSD Board Meeting 2/06/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the Feb. 6 meeting trustees approved the agenda and consent calendar, extended the meeting, approved the comprehensive site and district safety plans, and adopted a resolution to release temporary certificated employees. The board did not take final action on proposed budget reductions.","taxTitle","Benicia Unified, School Districts, California","taxId",60739,"location","California","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6345814,"Benicia Unified reports mixed NWEA/CAASPP projections; math growth stronger than ELA so far",621,2773000,3394000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2248524-86a87746706208924eb9b8da124f14d8&start=2773&end=3394","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2248524-86a87746706208924eb9b8da124f14d8/thumbnail_2773000.jpg","/articles/6345814/California/Benicia-Unified-reports-mixed-NWEACAASPP-projections-math-growth-stronger-than-ELA-so-far","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345814-ab821659b6d2130d39af9d0be8bf85df/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984150&Signature=gAq2toe6dUF6htNw3wmVd6oinSc0xG2Q5~DRqCZD~zObQHyh~Cl~ZVtrSYgGOWZkIRR7S71~gGzAMKzwtFRDmI3W~izv40SpKhju~L6w1mE4xIxd23kqTwc95uUrGe525j2HLaXqZQfJOQosK-ol688SasPhWkRNaTCKvHJe3LJqVIk09LyG8VzLnAl48EbtlHcimRUC2fu~ieAJybjyvsG1w~rc7OIe53vl5sx3qLcQwFhWs6pZRPnjjLJRfmv8nMWjrzl11LUuuh0zTXzED0YzyH7Y1y9Ga17zikzKJFmtHl2ikctYaeKu~Z0NlFlBAcA9EGCFmu~P0tKxQU3ZKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Benicia Unified presented its LCAP mid‑year update Thursday, including interim assessment data from NWEA and a review of progress on LCAP actions and services.

Assistant superintendent (presenter name in transcript not specified) reviewed district monitoring tools and said the LCAP team tracks both “big rock” summative metrics (CAASPP, suspensions, chronic absenteeism) and micro‑data to measure implementation of specific actions. The presentation supplied NWEA‑based projections for expected CAASPP performance in ELA and math and compared last year’s fall‑to‑spring results with current‑year trends.

The district reported that, in most grade levels, NWEA growth targets in ELA and math have been met for the fall‑to‑winter window. District staff said the math results show stronger gains overall—district growth in math reached about the 60th percentile in recent reporting—while ELA achievement remains closer to the 50th percentile. Staff noted that NWEA is an adaptive assessment and is used as a predictor for CAASPP results as well as a tool for micro‑data monitoring that feeds site‑level interventions.

Presenters identified several LCAP actions requiring additional work, including some parent engagement series and full implementation of data‑driven instruction at all levels. Staff also said the college‑and‑career counselor position had been intermittently filled and that grading‑for‑equity and restorative practices work at secondary sites were being piloted but not yet scaled. The district indicated it will bring a draft LCAP for public hearing in June and asked trustees if they wanted deeper data dives for particular actions.

Trustees asked about the frequency and interpretation of NWEA (fall, winter, spring) and how the adaptive scoring maps to grade‑level expectations; district assessment staff explained the adaptive nature of the test and how scale scores are used for growth targets and CAASPP predictions.

No board action was taken; the LCAP mid‑year report is for monitoring and planning.","District presented mid‑year Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) monitoring and NWEA interim assessment results, showing grade‑level growth targets met in many grades and stronger relative performance in math than in English/language arts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6345819,"Benicia Unified superintendent reaffirms district policies to protect students; public speakers urge clearer immigrant‑safe language",889,1160000,2049000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2248524-86a87746706208924eb9b8da124f14d8&start=1160&end=2049","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2248524-86a87746706208924eb9b8da124f14d8/thumbnail_1160000.jpg","/articles/6345819/California/Benicia-Unified-superintendent-reaffirms-district-policies-to-protect-students-public-speakers-urge-clearer-immigrantsafe-language","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345819-9e5322aef1d3033474e97e9c99a4d2c2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984150&Signature=P9mAjyCnpE1vOnQZthQLjeVxU0A0uIYyFNLOWwRhRGdyJG260AB1X03mPj2Vya973hJ8Z8HJBs4p4J4VkUDXPc27PUfw14knGi7Gymd4Dd2qNuOs5TSJbMEVWJKEir9FzFlF7krC9K33xzh8Too6GuxwkeR~kiaiEME6vmVtLcDNo4r4IMztGM-qGEO81Ziim4Q649oEzqK31R5eq0AxbUCoYu6bpo8Whz82hsuq7AslcniCqQCuCb5eWuCvTn~a~IngD0QCQXIRVX76j9wzOr-G5C7lFTWmsZtaliifBwq0gSqxRKxzIwmYlreF1RDLH-J5~13TN0k-GYYHp3CIvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Christopher Wright used his board report Thursday to reaffirm Benicia Unified School District’s stated commitment to inclusion and to outline how the district will respond to immigration‑related inquiries.

Wright cited the district’s adopted vision, mission and equity statement and said the district has policy and regulation in place that prohibit staff from requesting or collecting a student’s immigration status. “BUSD is an inclusive environment that welcomes and serves all,” Wright said. He said district staff are instructed to refer any immigration‑related inquiries or federal agents to the superintendent’s office, to consult the district’s legal counsel, and to work with local law enforcement to clarify jurisdiction. He referred to a section of district policy (identified in the meeting as policy 51 45.13) and told the public the district has not encountered federal campus entry requests to date.

Wright also said the California Department of Education and state leaders are challenging some recent federal actions in court and affirmed the district will seek to preserve federal funding streams such as Universal Meals, Title I and IDEA.

Several public speakers — including parents who identified themselves as immigrants and community advocates — thanked the superintendent and asked the board to refine the district’s FAQ and web material to make it more accessible and explicitly reassuring. One commenter who works with immigrant families said the FAQ’s language asking to “collaborate with law enforcement” could unintentionally alarm families and suggested that wording be reviewed by trusted community partners. Another speaker, who said English is her second language, praised the FAQ’s step‑by‑step scenarios but urged the district to present an even simpler, welcoming message (“All is for all. We will protect you”), and to ensure translations and outreach reach families who may not use email or whose participation could expose them to risk.

Wright said the district has posted resources and an FAQ on its website and will update materials as developments arise. He urged staff to minimize disruptions by following board policies and the LCAP focus on social‑emotional wellness and equity.","Superintendent Christopher Wright outlined district policies prohibiting staff from requesting immigration paperwork and described protocols if federal agents seek campus access. Public commenters — including local immigrant parents and advocates — thanked the superintendent and urged clearer, simpler messaging and assurances to families.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6345824,"Benicia Unified projects multi‑million-dollar shortfall; trustees weigh one‑time program trims and structural options",4533,5793000,10326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2248524-86a87746706208924eb9b8da124f14d8&start=5793&end=10326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2248524-86a87746706208924eb9b8da124f14d8/thumbnail_5793000.jpg","/articles/6345824/California/Benicia-Unified-projects-multimillion-dollar-shortfall-trustees-weigh-onetime-program-trims-and-structural-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345824-45fdb77cf27a213bcff7a8d2230a5ee4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984150&Signature=nGrHBe9tHlmjGKIJCKaHCgBj7qBvik2-zXEKnVgMgVDYlxFe8MExyt10qA8i1PNxVNX6kvmRFyAhSyfmJjEYICaAVGK3yMP9gcf7UNec206SojgEzvqDW6K3zu58t8lLA6NdSgNWpF76e4hz8K-h3HKcIrIOBYe7VrUxr0tcfPq-rGDXRL9K79o49vlaTXpqQyQpKZvmpJFi4tuEmjsASfH3B0W2SnsrEMxYZEP0smJX7plpESwJQlc4PDmrVkveK77zHVlq5W-VmEpM-A2Sqz4De6OLZoEeZSPYCRd1TRGz0g5iVCnmL0WOBMPlmj7fUFb7QalTG7jUNe5xRCjJ9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Benicia Unified School District officials told trustees Thursday the district faces multi‑million‑dollar deficits over the next three years unless the board adopts spending reductions or new local revenue sources.

Superintendent Dr. Christopher Wright and Chief Business Officer Michelle Barrington framed the shortfall around three drivers: expiring one‑time COVID-era state funding, a long-term decline in district enrollment, and rising special‑education costs that outpace federal IDEA funding. Barrington presented an updated enrollment projection showing continued small declines at the elementary grades and noted about 15% of students attend from outside district boundaries, a factor in annual funding volatility.

District figures presented at the meeting project roughly $3.0 million of deficit spending this year and multi‑year shortfalls thereafter under current assumptions. To delay deeper cuts, the administration proposed using about $715,000 of remaining one‑time funds to continue selected programs for the 2025–26 school year; those programs would sunset at the end of that year unless the board identifies sustainable funding.

Programs proposed for short‑term preservation include classroom coaches and teacher supports (math coach, teacher-on‑special‑assignment for new curriculum, new‑teacher coach), some site wellness services and extra supervision, library contracts, reduced combination classes and other LCAP‑linked services. The administration also identified a number of cost‑saving options that would reduce staffing expense if further cuts become necessary, including unfilled positions, a proposed reorganization of adult‑education oversight, reductions in some TOSA (teacher‑on‑special‑assignment) and substitute staffing models, and tight review of vendor contracts.

Superintendent Wright stressed the proposals were preliminary and that staff would seek to implement cuts as far from classrooms as feasible. He urged community engagement on revenue options such as a parcel tax and revived education foundation efforts, and outlined short‑term revenue steps including independent‑study contracts to recoup average‑daily‑attendance (ADA) and continued attendance outreach.

Trustees and staff also discussed a plan to bring some special‑education transportation in‑house using 9‑passenger vans as a potential way to reduce what the superintendent said is a roughly $400,000 annual outside contract; district staff said preliminary work is underway with Solano County on fleet pricing and maintenance.

The meeting drew extensive public comment from classroom librarians, teachers, parents and students concerned about proposed reductions in library hours, elementary library staffing and STEAM/arts programming. Multiple public speakers said school libraries provide essential literacy, SEL and safe‑space functions and urged the board to protect them.

No final reductions were adopted Thursday; the board will consider more formal notices and potential staffing actions under the district’s timeline for reductions if budget conditions do not improve. The administration said notices to affected employees are planned as part of a schedule that would allow confirmations or rescissions once enrollment and state budget details are clearer.","Superintendent and finance staff outlined a multi‑year shortfall driven by expiring one‑time funds, declining enrollment and rising special‑education costs. Proposal would use remaining one‑time funds to preserve programs for one year and identify staff and program reductions if revenue does not materialize.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6345828,"Benicia Unified reviews Linewize internet-safety platform; board seeks cost, privacy details",2129,2322000,4451000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2248524-86a87746706208924eb9b8da124f14d8&start=2322&end=4451","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2248524-86a87746706208924eb9b8da124f14d8/thumbnail_2322000.jpg","/articles/6345828/California/Benicia-Unified-reviews-Linewize-internet-safety-platform-board-seeks-cost-privacy-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345828-572e494dfcd686a92651c5f98170d7f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770984150&Signature=EGsKjudbWVHk7pG5Tb7ZGcac008WcDW-xCAbVaK0y0y6LfoGrWMsnWyFrTFso7UZ5tcvDodty4GvYJWssJ9PtEtlJPzwl7qnYScx2LekgCNwzD4bvnT0pQ57ShaJxzzsKUaTeyq8qsinfQPsNR6tWaVZfDmIsbRsKzwML9B-QgX5o6uLt6cEDntXLTq7pgs9aN5ILX90XC8pqJJ8~pgIhbKAY1djaD0~EfUjPqOFFCozXAwbM2jUd6XgXoTSJkdg57quw6JLebM8WlftuOKpr0BkpLK4Pk-gcT11oGKqGX1NMl2W11pIXdhu~V377QBNlQ4HPRLz9oTD3kkeivl7fA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Benicia Unified School District heard a presentation Thursday from Linewize on an internet-safety and classroom-management platform the company pitches to K–12 districts.

The presentation, introduced by the district’s IT director, described three Linewize product pillars: web filtering and classroom management for CIPA compliance and teacher control; an early-detection monitoring service that flags student safety risks; and parent/community engagement tools, including a free filtering license for one parent device per enrolled child. Linewize said it uses artificial intelligence to blur inappropriate images and can filter video content in real time if adult material is embedded in otherwise permitted video.

The vendor’s representative, Adam Lee of Linewize, said the company serves roughly 1.2 million students in California and holds multiple privacy certifications, including iKeepSafe verification and a California NDPA. “Every line of code that we create … is all about keeping that child at the center, digitally safe,” Lee said. He described a classroom-management feature that allows teachers to view student screens, temporarily unlock selected sites for teaching purposes and push a single “clean” YouTube video that blocks comments and thumbnails.

Trustees and staff focused on cost, privacy and teacher burden. A trustee asked whether the district could block social media and gaming; Lee answered that policies are set by the district and that Linewize ships a set of CIPA-compliant policies that can be adapted. On monitoring, Lee said the company moderates flagged content centrally to reduce false positives delivered to district contacts and noted that its monitoring detects activity occurring outside email—on gaming platforms, AI tools and other cloud services—where many incidents are now detected.

On device coverage, Linewize said district-issued devices carry an agent so they remain filtered anywhere; district network traffic also would be filtered by an on-site appliance. The firm said it cannot control personally owned phones connected to mobile carriers unless parents install the optional home app. Lee said the company provides a free premium license for one parent device per enrolled child and offers parent webinars and a co-branded community hub.

Trustees pressed about teacher workload, and Lee said the tool is intended to be an “efficiency multiplier,” not a dashboard into which teachers must constantly stare. He described brief training and suggested teachers can use a teacher display or a tablet to monitor and, when needed, spotlight a student screen for class-wide discussion.

Cost questions were frequent. Lee provided an estimate the company said would approximate $440,000 annually for a district the size discussed at the meeting and said onboarding and training were included in that price; the company offered a multi-product licensing model (filter, classroom management, monitoring) and said pricing included BYOD support and a cap on annual renewal increases. Board members asked the district to include the proposal in the formal budget review and to get staff feedback before any procurement.

The district did not take action Thursday. IT staff said they will bring comparative cost and contracting options to upcoming budget and procurement sessions for board review.","District IT introduced Linewize’s web-filtering, classroom management and student-monitoring products. Vendor said the system includes AI image blurring, parent apps and a free home license; trustees pressed the company on cost, privacy, teacher workload and BYOD coverage.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves routine business and safety plan, authorizes release notices; votes listed

Benicia Unified reports mixed NWEA/CAASPP projections; math growth stronger than ELA so far

Benicia Unified superintendent reaffirms district policies to protect students; public speakers urge clearer immigrant‑safe language

Benicia Unified projects multi‑million-dollar shortfall; trustees weigh one‑time program trims and structural options

Benicia Unified reviews Linewize internet-safety platform; board seeks cost, privacy details