Board approves auditors’ reports, many course outlines and personnel job descriptions; votes at a glance

At its Jan. 16 meeting, the Benicia Unified School District board approved the district independent financial audit and the Measure S and Measure C bond financial and performance audits, and took action on multiple administrative items including course outlines, job‑description updates and architectural contracts.

Audits: Spencer Blanda, the independent auditor, presented an unmodified opinion on the district financial statements as of June 30, 2024, and noted no material misstatements; the auditor flagged one internal control finding involving journal‑entry segregation of duties and recommended a primary entry/secondary reviewer process. The board voted to file the independent audit report and to accept the Measure S and Measure C bond financial and performance audits. The bond performance audit testing found no issues and concluded bond funds were expended in accordance with ballot language.

Course outlines and curriculum approvals: The board approved multiple high‑school course outlines and electives that will be offered pending syllabus development and sufficient student enrollment, including Advanced PE (athletic performance), Career and College Planning (abridged Get Focused curriculum), Integrated Math 2A and 2B (split‑year math 2 sequence), and other electives. Venetia High School ethnic studies was approved after debate; trustees requested additional specificity in syllabi and lesson materials (see separate article).

Personnel changes: The board approved two revised job descriptions to split work previously combined in a single special‑education support position. The change separates the program specialist role and a behaviorist role, replacing contracted behaviorist services with an in‑district classification, district staff said.

Procedural and administrative actions: The board approved a permanent easement to the City for a bridge/walkway on district property (resolution 24‑25‑21) and authorized filing of state allocation board applications for state facility matching funds (resolution 24‑25‑22). Several architectural contract awards for construction‑document work on Joe Henderson Elementary, Venetia High School fields and Venetia Middle School fields were also approved; staff stressed that schematic materials will be refined with users and returned as construction documents and bids proceed.

Votes at a glance (selected items from the Jan. 16 meeting): - Independent Auditors report (district fiscal year ended June 30, 2024): approved (voice vote; transcript records ayes). - Measure S and Measure C financial and performance audits: approved (clean/unmodified opinions; no findings on performance testing). - Resolution 24‑25‑21 (permanent easement to City): approved by roll call (President Grubbs, Trustees Hirsch, Musselli and Manasseh recorded as "yes"). - Resolution 24‑25‑22 (state allocation board application authorization): approved by roll call (same roll‑call pattern recorded). - Architectural contract awards: Joe Henderson (architect, contract not to exceed $669,750): approved; Venetia High fields (California Design West, $891,899): approved; Venetia Middle School fields (California Design West, $446,182): approved. - Course approvals: Advanced PE (approved); Career and College Planning (approved); Integrated Math 2A and 2B (approved); Venetia High ethnic studies (approved, recorded voice vote with one dissent). - Personnel/job descriptions: Program Specialist — Special Education (approved); Behaviorist job description (approved).

The board also approved routine agenda and consent calendar items earlier in the meeting. Staff will return with additional detail, schedules and contract documents as projects move into construction‑document development and bidding.