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Kwame Alexander, Newbery Medal-Winning Author and Poet to  Visit Berkeley Families
Come join us for a Berkeley Family Night Out with Author Kwame Alexander!

Thursday, June 2
6:30 - 7:30pm

followed by book signing

Details here
Decline of California School Funding Since 1970

EdSource.org produced the information in this quick time lapse video showing that in the 1960s and 1970s, California had one of the highest per pupil funding levels for K-12 education in the country. Now the state of California's funding for public education is among the lowest in the U.S. Many California school districts, including Berkeley, have had to provide support for schools with local tax funding.
Re-Opened UC Theater to host BHS Jazz Ensemble and Pacific Mambo Orchestra: June 3
The Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble is opening for the Grammy award-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra on  Friday, June 3rd  at the brand new UC Theater!   Click on the image to read more.
District Meetings & Events
School Board Members Hold Monthly "Office Hours"
Join a board member in a local cafe and bring your ideas, suggestions, and questions.
 
Find the Board Member Office Hours Schedule

Note: Last day of school is Friday, June 17; New school year 2016-17 begins on Tuesday, August 30
Google Calendar
Brown Act Committees Open to the Public:

Tues., June 7, 7:15-9:30 p.m.
2020 Bonar St., Room 126

Wed., June 1, 7:30 p.m.
(School Board Meetings are held in the Board Room at 1231 Addison St.)
All School Board meetings are televised live on local cable channel 33 and stream live on  the BUSD YouTube channel .
Don't Wait, Vaccinate!
Starting January 1, 2016, a new state law (Senate Bill 277) no longer allows parents/guardians of students in any school or child-care facility, whether public or private, to submit a personal beliefs exemption form for any currently required immunization.

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Classified Employee Recognition: 
Dedication to Service
Hosted by the Personnel Commission of the Berkeley Unified School District, this year's Classified Employee Recognition Celebration recognized  64 classified employees who have served 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years and work in numerous professional capacities in our schools. Together these honorees have given 905 years of service to the Berkeley Schools!

In photo above: Geraldine Morgan, Claudia Waters, Nicole Williams, Kathy Kramer, Karon Harris Younger, Michele Ferrell

Receive School Notices on your Smartphone: 
SchoolMessenger's InfoCenter (IC)

Would you like to receive important messages from your child's school and the school district immediately on your smartphone? There's now a free app for that! 

Just follow this link to connect to the App Store (for iPhone) or Google Play (for Android) and download the free SchoolMessenger Information Center (IC) app! Then, all you need to do is click the "new user" button and create an account using the email address on file with the school district. The app offers easy options for tailoring the kinds of messages you'd like to receive, from those that are emergency only, attendance notices, and friendly reminders.

We've posted a "how-to" on our website to help you get started.  We're working to offer you more control over how and when you receive school and district communications.
BSEP Renewal Measure on Ballot this November

On May 18, the School Board reviewed and approved the full text of the 2016 renewal of the Berkeley Schools Excellence Program (BSEP) tax measure, and adopted a Resolution calling for placing the.BSEP measure renewal o n the ballot for the November election .

Compliance Officer & Title IX Coordinator: Beverly Bueno
Beverly Bueno recently joined Berkeley Unified School District as the Compliance Officer & Title IX Coordinator . In this position, she  manages all aspects of Title IX compliance, Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) regulations, formal complaint procedures, and informal complaint resolution. In this work, her goal is to actively support the District's positive school climate initiatives as she collaborates with students, families, employees, and state and federal agencies to ensure safe and welcoming learning and working environments for all members of our District community. As the Title IX Coordinator, Beverly serves as the point person for any questions, concerns, or complaints related to sexual harassment, and is an active member of the Sexual Harassment Advisory Committee.

Beverly Bueno brings a unique combination of educational and professional experience that make her well suited for this new role. You can read her brief bio here.
The Schools Fund Provides Grants to Over Half of BUSD Teachers in 2015-16

Did your child go on a field trip this year? Chances are it was made possible with funding from the Schools Fund.  From  teacher professional development for curriculum transitions in math and science , to the Symphony's Music in the Schools program, the Berkeley Public Schools Fund supports valuable academic support and enrichment in our schools. 

The Schools Fund   awarded 370 grants in the 2015-2016 school year, totaling almost $500,000 in direct support to Berkeley teachers. Grants range from smaller  Classroom Grants  to crowdfunded  Friends & Family Grants  to larger  Strategic Impact Grants . Nine  Summer Teacher Fellows are off  to pursue academic projects this summer, and Berkeley Schools Volunteers trained and placed 214 volunteers this year, adding valuable assistance to many classrooms. Read more about Schools Fund projects on their new blog.