Benicia Unified School District

Sheri Zada

Sheri Zada

President

Area 1
Term Ends 2026

Cece Grubbs

Cece Grubbs

Clerk

Area 2
Term Ends 2024

Dr. Gethsemane Moss

Dr. Gethsemane Moss

Trustee

Area 3
Term Ends 2024

Mark Maselli

Mark Maselli

Trustee

Area 4
Term Ends 2026

Amy C. Hirsh

Amy C. Hirsh

Trustee

Area 5
Term ends 2026

Overview

The Governing Board is a five person policy-making body which operates within the laws of the State of California and Solano County. Each board member is elected for a four-year term. Terms of office are staggered, with elections held every two years. The Board is responsible for approving the District’s budget and adopting all policies and curriculum. The authority of the Board is as a whole and no Board member may act as an official of the District except when the board meets in a regular or a special session. The Governing Board is elected to represent all of the people of the school district. In making its decisions, the Board is guided by what is in the best interest of the entire district.

The Board President and Clerk are selected on a rotating basis during the organizational meeting held in December.

The Governing Board is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs, activities, and practices shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, bullying against an individual or group based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or related recovery, parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information; a perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

The board shall promote programs which ensure that discriminatory practices are eliminated in all district activities. The Governing Board started using electronic board packets in February of 2015. These archived packets and current packets can be found here after they are published. The list of board meetings will be on the right side.

Board Policy

The Governing Board has developed and implemented policies that serve as a road map for the school district. These policies can be accessed by clicking the Board Policy button below:

Meetings

The Benicia Unified School District Board of Education meetings are held on the first and third Thursday of each month unless otherwise noted. The public section of the meetings will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Boardroom, at the District Office, at 350 East K Street, unless otherwise noted on the agenda. Closed session shall be called as necessary, with start time posted on the agenda.

Regularly scheduled board meeting dates 2024

Governing Board Committees 2024
Trustee(s) Committee Name
Trustee Hirsh Solano County School Boards Association
President Zada/Trustee Grubbs District/City Liaison Committee
Trustee Moss Valero Community Advisory & Liberty Rotary Liaison
Trustee Maselli/Trustee Hirsh Board Policy Committee
Trustee Hirsh Equity Leadership Team
Trustee Grubbs/Trustee Maselli Facilities Steering Committee
Trustee Moss CSBA Delegate Assembly Nominee

 

Are the meetings held in public?

Yes, and the public is encouraged and welcomed to attend. Additionally, the meetings are live streamed and recorded on the district’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/beniciaunifiedschooldistrict for viewing.

Do members of the audience have an opportunity to speak?

All functions of the Board meeting, including public comments, will take place in person. Members of the public may address the Board at a regular meeting on any item within the Board’s jurisdiction. Speaker cards are available on the entrance table. Please note the item you wish to speak to and submit a card to the Board Secretary. The Board President will call all the “open session” general comments (Gov. Code Section 54954.3) during the public comment item. Comments for items on the agenda will be called during the specific item. Comments are limited to no more than three minutes per speaker or the board may limit the total time to 20 minutes per item with the timer displayed on the monitors. By law, no action may be taken on any item raised during the public comment periods and matters may be referred to staff for placement on a future agenda of the Governing Board. Please be reminded to keep your comments respectful as students may be watching the board meeting, thank you.

What is the procedure when called to speak?

When your name is called, come to the microphone at the speaker’s podium. State your name. Be brief and to the point. (There is a three-minute limit.) The Board will not dialogue with the speaker but may refer to an item for a future Board agenda. During our online meetings, public comments will be read into the record by either the board president or another trustee.

Disability Information

In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact Georgina Martinez at 707-747-8300, ext. 1211. Notification 48 prior to the meeting will enable the District to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II).

How to Run for a School Board Seat

Please click the below link for information from the Fair Political Practices Commission.

https://www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/campaign-rules/candidate-toolkit-getting-started.html

School Board Documents