Benicia Unified weighs new facilities-fee structure and a "PLAY Benicia" credit-for-service pilot

Superintendent Calabresse presented a multi-part proposal to revise Benicia Unified's facility-use fee structure, saying the district must comply with the Civic Center Act while recovering ongoing costs for custodial and facility operations. He explained three options: keep the current PTG/nonprofit/commercial split; add a fourth category that distinguishes free use, direct cost recovery, fair rental value and commercial use; or adopt a credit-for-service model he labeled PLAY Benicia.

PLAY Benicia would let district-approved nonprofits earn facility credits by providing documented student programs (for example, teaching PE minutes to K'2 students, running lunchtime intramurals, offering special-education activities or donating equipment). The superintendent described verification and documentation processes, said custodial overtime cannot be replaced by volunteers under bargaining rules, and noted that implementation would require legal review and MOUs with partners. He warned that some capital items (for example, replacing stadium turf at an estimated $975,000) demonstrate the scale of facility costs.

Trustees asked who would set fees, how to maintain consistency across sites, and whether the district could retain discretion over partner selection; the superintendent replied that existing fee schedules would remain as a baseline, and staff would develop protocols with legal counsel, CSEA and site leaders if the board directed further development. Several trustees expressed support for a constructive partnership approach paired with clear, consistent rules and documentation.

No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; the board asked staff to continue developing implementation details and return with recommended language and legal guidance.