The Berkeley Unified School District School Board met on Nov. 5, 2025. Much of the meeting concerned new Physical Education (PE) requirements for Berkeley High School students. BHS’ policy of allowing students to fulfill PE credits with physical activity outside of the school day was called into question in a state review of BUSD last spring.
To comply with California Department of Education’s PE standards, all BHS ninth graders will take a PE class starting in the fall of 2027. Additionally, starting this spring, all ninth grade students will complete the FitnessGram, a test measuring five components of health-related fitness.
The California Department of Education recommends that students participate in a wide range of physical activities. According to its Physical Education FAQs, club and school sports build distinct skills, but they miss a key component of PE: learning the physical and mental value of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
BHS Principal Juan Raygoza explained, “Our goal (in building a plan) was not just compliance, but strengthening the long-term integrity of our physical education program at BHS.”
Previously, students who participated in intramural sports or out-of-school fitness programs received PE exemptions to meet their graduation requirements. These exemptions offer students opportunities to take additional electives such as art, music, and other academic courses. However, research from the National Institutes of Health demonstrates that family resources affect the type of sports opportunities available to students, even within school settings.
Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Jill Hoogendyk spoke about the board’s plan for community engagement involving the master schedule, stating, “(We’ve been) thinking about what it would look like to consider PE and what a master schedule might look like to address some of the concerns that many of our community members surfaced,” she said. Community engagement sessions for families will be held in early 2026.
BHS Vice Principal Keldon Clegg commented on potential changes to the school’s bell schedule in order to accommodate a universal PE program. Clegg said he anticipates that roughly 570 additional students will take PE annually after the changes are implemented.
To address the upcoming need for increased PE facilities, Assistant Superintendent John Calise presented an update on BHS’ expansion proposal. He spoke about the Capacity & Expansion (C&E) project, a plan to build new facilities over what is now the BHS softball court and parking lot. Calise presented a diagram for a space that includes a gym, 28 new classrooms, a Career Technical Education lab, a robotics lab, and a potential parking lot.
Additionally, the facilities department plans to build more sports facilities at Moellering Field. The plan includes a new basketball court, five new tennis courts, and a softball field.
During public comments, Max Hesterman, a BHS junior and member of the boys tennis team, expressed support for building new tennis courts at Moellering Field. Without them, he said, “We’re worried about not having a consistent place to practice.”
Finally, Calise spoke about building a space for students requiring special education. This space, planned on the east side of Jacket stadium, is designed to include two classrooms, counseling offices, and an outdoor area.
Hoogendyk summarized, “We are prioritizing accuracy over speed, and we are taking the time … to understand all of the considerations in this complex issue.”