By Nick Sestanovich

The Benicia Unified School District and the Benicia Teachers’ Association (BTA) reached a tentative agreement Friday over contract negotiations following a four-month impasse.In November, the BTA declared an impasse over salary negotiations and noted that not having a proper competitive compensation was contributing to a teacher shortage in the district. Among the issues frequently brought up were the difficulty in hiring and keeping teachers, vacancies being filled by non-credentialed teachers and teachers substituting for an extra class during their prep periods.

A mediation between the two parties was scheduled for Friday, Feb. 23, but a settlement was not reached. However, at the last mediation, an agreement was reached for the time being.Both Superintendent Charles Young and BTA President Carleen Maselli were pleased with the results.

“We both reached a settlement that we found favorable and both sides can live with,” Young said.

Source: BUSD, teachers union reach tentative agreement on contract negotiations