Women’s Day Roundtable Brings Together Diverse Perspectives
On Sunday, March 7, the Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi School of Islamic Sufism hosted a virtual roundtable discussion in honor of International Women’s Day.
News
Berkeley Elementary Schools Will Return to Five Days a Week of In-Person Instruction
After the recent decision for Berkeley teachers to return to in-person instruction once vaccinated, the Berkeley Unified School District and Berkeley Federation of Teachers have now shared a rough hybrid instructional plan for elementary schools. As previously agreed, transitional kindergarten through second grade students will return on March 29, with the rest of
Parent Teacher Student Association Holds Black History Month Celebration
On February 16, the Parent Teacher Student Association held a student-run Black History Month celebration and discussion in lieu of their monthly meeting. The Tuesday gathering featured speeches, songs, and presentations from members of the Berkeley Unified School District community.
ASB Votes to Pass Gun Violence Resolution
On February 8, 2021, Berkeley High School’s Associated Student Body voted to pass a resolution that will recognize National Gun Violence Survivors Week.
Berkeley Schools to Return to Hybrid Instruction This Academic Year
The Berkeley Federation of Teachers and Berkeley Unified School District have reached a tentative agreement for schools to return after teachers are vaccinated, and established a timeline to do so this school year. The agreement, which comes in the middle of ongoing negotiations, states that preschool, transitional kindergarten, and K-2 will return to
'A public education crisis;' BUSD Parents Rally to Open School
Berkeley Unified School District Parents held its third Open Schools rally on Saturday, February 6, across from Berkeley High School at MLK Jr. Civic Center Park.
Animal Rights Network Direct Action Everywhere Protests Against Animal Agriculture
On January 23, animal rights network Direct Action Everywhere held a protest lobbying for the City of Berkeley to stop spending city funds on animal products. “The vision that I have, when I’m on the streets fighting for liberation, is a world where there’s equity for everybody … including non human animals,” said Priya
Updated Reopening Requirements Presented at State of BUSD Meeting
On January 27, the annual Superintendent’s State of the District meeting was held from 6 PM to 8 PM through Zoom, and also broadcast live on YouTube.
PTSA Meeting Focuses on Well-Being of Students During Distance Learning
The first Parent Teacher Student Association meeting of the new year was held on January 19. Temporarily setting aside the academic boundaries presented by distance learning, the discussion was focused around a more personal issue; the mental health and emotional well-being of Berkeley High School students. Before the meeting, a survey was sent
Berkeley High Students Phonebank for Highly Consequential Georgia Senate Runoff
On January 5, 2021, the state of Georgia held two elections for the United States Senate. These consisted of the special runoff election between Raphael Warnock and Kelly Loeffler and the regular runoff election between Jon Ossoff and David Perdue. As a result of the election, the Democratic party
Berkeley Youth Commission Considers Trigger Warning Policy
On January 11, the Berkeley Youth Commission held its monthly meeting to discuss potential policy changes to sexual harm education and classroom trigger warnings within Berkeley Unified School District. The Berkeley Youth Commission is a panel of BUSD students — currently composed only of Berkeley High School students — that develop and present
Social Distancing Restrictions Lead to New PSAT Approach
Berkeley High School will be offering the Preliminary SAT to BHS juniors on Tuesday, January 26, for the first time since schools closed due to COVID-19 in March of 2020.
Superintendent Presents COVID-19 Update at January 6 Board Meeting
The Berkeley School Board’s January 6 meeting primarily focused on plans to return to in-person learning. Members also discussed the English learner master plan and approved an energy service contract with Schneider Electric for equipment replacement at the Berkeley High School pool. The first public comment period was mainly about COVID-19.
Jefferson Elementary Renamed After Ruth Acty, First Black Teacher in BUSD
On Thursday, December 10, the Berkeley Unified School District School Board voted to rename Jefferson Elementary School after Ruth Acty, the first Black teacher employed in the district.
Babitt and Vasudeo Sworn in as New BUSD School Board Directors
On Wednesday, December 16, Berkeley Unified School District held its annual school board organizational meeting to approve the 2021 agenda and swear in new members to the board. Replacing last year’s school board directors Judy Appel and Beatriz Leyva-Cutler, Ana Vasudeo and Laura Babitt were sworn in as the new directors. Babitt was sworn
More Than 300 Golden Gate Fields Workers Test Positive for COVID-19
A COVID-19 outbreak at Berkeley’s Golden Gate Fields infected over 300 workers and residents, according to a November 20 press release issued by Golden Gate Fields.
Hundreds of Students Attend Distance Learning Town Hall
On December 3, the Berkeley Unified School District held a town hall meeting to explain the administration’s plans for a possible phased reopening of Berkeley High School.
Berkeley Community Members Rally to Reopen Schools
On December 5, Berkeley parents and students gathered at MLK Civic Center Park to protest the continued closure of Berkeley Unified School District schools.