Benicia Unified School District

Happy New Year!  As we begin a new year we have an opportunity to reflect on last year and plan for the upcoming one.  Benicia Unified School District had a truly good year despite the obstacles and challenges that we faced.  We can collectively take pride in our ability to maintain and even strengthen student achievement throughout the district.  Despite the budget crisis we managed to keep most of our teachers employed in the district, maintain smaller class sizes than most other school districts, and preserve most student enrichment programs.  The most important factor in the success of students is the quality of the instruction they receive in their classroom.  Exciting things are happening throughout the district at every grade level and in every department.  More than ever teachers are working together to create lessons, identify students’ needs, and develop appropriate interventions to help every student succeed.   Innovation is alive and well as teachers think outside the box to find new ways to teach students. We have made significant progress in improving technology in our classrooms and as a tool for communication. Our excellent support staff continues to enhance the educational experience for all students.

We have had changes in district leadership this fall as we welcomed two new elementary principals to our district. We have a new part-time Director of Curriculum and Instruction and are in the process of replacing our Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. Benicia Unified School shined in 2010 and was recognized with numerous honors and awards.  Once again the Solano Teacher and Classified Employee of the Year are from BUSD.   We have simply the best band program anywhere. Our sports teams, drama productions, art programs, academic competitions, Virtual Enterprise and SAGE Program all excelled.We garnered community support during our Measure C Campaign.  Unfortunately we were just short of the 66% required votes for approval but we did generate interest and enthusiasm of many parents and community members.  The Benicia Education Foundation continues to work tirelessly to provide much needed financial support for our schools.Looking ahead to 2011 we will continue to strive to provide a high quality education for all students.  In September the Governing Board developed six board goals that will guide our district as we move forward.  No doubt we will face significant financial challenges in the coming year as the state grapples with a huge deficit.  The demand for academic and fiscal accountability has never been greater.  As resources diminish schools are being forced to make difficult decisions about what we value most.  There are not enough resources to provide all the programs and services we would like to provide. Instead we are going to need to identify what constitutes a core educational program and focus our diminished resources on our highest priorities.  No matter what, I am confident that our students will be served well. We are a district that has excellent teachers, a wonderful support staff, and a community that values quality education. It is this combination that assures a good year ahead.

Thank you for your support of our schools.  Have a healthy and happy 2011.