Benicia Unified board approves staff reductions to close budget gap, keeps full-time occupational therapist after public pushback

The Benicia Unified School District Board of Trustees voted to reduce staff and programs to address projected deficit spending, approving a certificated reduction resolution (24‑25‑25) and a classified reduction resolution (24‑25‑26) with an amendment to retain the district—s full‑time occupational therapist.

Superintendent Dr. Wright presented a revised proposal that would use $715,000 of one‑time funds and reduce roughly $2,500,000 from the district—s general fund to address ongoing deficit spending. Wright told the board the district projects a roughly $3.0 million deficit this year and about $2.0 million next year and that the proposed package would yield about $2.5 million in combined savings. He said the proposed cuts include steps intended to minimize personnel impacts where possible, but that, given that about 92% of the unrestricted budget is personnel, reductions would affect staff. (Dr. Adrian Wright, superintendent.)

The proposal identified roughly 3.2 certificated FTE reductions across Benicia Middle School and Benicia High School, reductions tied to declining enrollment and some unfilled positions, and adjustments to certain certificated management and specialized positions. Wright listed programs funded by one‑time COVID grants that could not be sustained without new funding (examples: wellness center…