Back to school in Berkeley
After three months of summer, the sidewalks of Berkeley are full again this morning of kids going to school. I’ll hear later whether the 51 bus arrived in time to get my son to his first day at Berkeley High — along with 3,200 others. They’ll arrive at a great school, but one that faces huge financial challenges, like all of the state’s schools.
Principal Jim Slemp reported to parents last month that cuts have meant that BHS lost two counselors, one administrator, two clerical positions, two custodians and three or four teachers. The PTA newsletter reported six teachers were cut. Additionally, supply and equipment budgets have been sliced — the textbooks my son picked up at registration last week were more than a bit dog-eared. The cuts have meant that the school is staffed to handle its lowest projected enrollment, even though in September and October it is expected to have a peak enrollment. Students and parents will learn in the coming weeks just what that means for class sizes.
Berkeley, however, is fortunate that city voters have consistently supported extra funds for schools. BSEP funds (Berkeley School Enrichment Program) add money to BHS as well as middle and elementary schools each year. Interestingly — and typically Berkeley — allocation of BSEP funds in each school is decided locally. BHS, for example, will have something like $600,000 to distribute. Elections to BHS’s BSEP committee are being held on September 17.
Photo from Flickr by Jeremy Franklin
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Our Berkeley Public School kindergarten has 4 classes this year instead of the 3 that our school was built to hold. We had 4 classes last year as well. Now the teachers’ lounge has become a classroom for the third grade. There are no available classroom spaces left, but I expect they’ll bring in 4 K classes next fall as well. Our teachers are mostly great – - but one outstanding new teacher was bounced this year in favor of returning veteran teachers, not all of whom are outstanding. The two adminstrators who dealt with parent outreach and discipline issues are both gone this year. They might replace one, but it’s not clear. Still: BSEP is a godsend, no question. The K classes in Oakland now have 24 students, whereas Berkeley’s are still at 20. Thank you, thank you Berkeley voters.