Berkeley schools rely on testing, not contact tracing, to battle omicron surge
The district is relying on its new twice-weekly testing regimen and is giving two KN95 masks to all staff and students.
Ally Markovich
Ally Markovich, who covers the school beat for Berkeleyside, is a former high school English teacher. Her work has appeared in The Oaklandside, The New York Times, Huffington Post and Washington Post, among other publications. You can spot her running on the trails in Tilden Park.
Articles by Ally Markovich
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Student, staff absences rise at Berkeley schools amid omicron surge
Committed to keeping schools open, the district is ramping up testing and passed a booster-or-test policy that take effect Feb. 25.
Berkeley’s COVID-19 case counts soar above previous pandemic peak
Mayor urges Berkeleyans to avoid high-risk activities during omicron surge, stops short of calling for indoor event and dining restrictions.
As omicron surge swamps testing centers, Berkeley hospitalizations remain low
Amid “phenomenal” rise in cases, Berkeley health official says “we need to find ways to be able to live our lives with COVID.”
Berkeley kids return to school amid omicron surge
As of Monday afternoon, at least 227 students and staff have tested positive as the Berkeley school district ramps up testing, anticipates new isolation rules.
A year’s trash in a tiny jar: Berkeley’s zero-waste classroom is almost there
Jacqueline Omania’s fifth-grade students have been spreading the zero-waste gospel to everyone in their lives, from kindergarteners to parents to politicians.
Omicron is surging, but experts say Berkeley has the tools to stay safe
Doctors say residents now have added protections to help them stay safe.
Parents, staff lean toward 3-zone option for middle school enrollment, survey shows
The school board will consider the data next November when voting on whether to leave in place the current two-zone enrollment policy or replace it with a new policy.
Vaccinated Berkeley students were 6 times less likely to get COVID-19 this fall, district data show
The data mirror statewide trends showing lower rates of infection in vaccinated people.
Buffy Wicks considers legal changes to prevent educator sexual misconduct from getting ‘swept under the rug’
Prompted by Berkeleyside’s investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against a Berkeley High teacher, Wicks is considering changes to the California Public Records Act and Education Code.
In 2nd lawsuit, another student accuses Berkeley High chemistry teacher of sexual assault
The suit argues that the Berkeley school district’s inaction reveals a pattern of protecting “predators over students.”
Berkeley Unified could face $6.6M in budget cuts
But state money may mitigate the need for cuts in a district that’s lost 600 students since the start of the pandemic.
Police called to a fight outside King Middle School
Police responded to a report about a group of people involved in a fight near the school. No one was arrested or hospitalized, police said.
Berkeley schools sow the seeds of climate progress with ‘pocket forests’
Elementary students asked how they could do their part to stop climate change. A year later, their science teacher had an answer: micro-forests.
Berkeley High knew for 15 years of allegations chemistry teacher sexually harassed students
After years of sexual misconduct complaints, the school district signed a gag order allowing Matthew Bissell to quietly resign.
Unlikely team drives Berkeley’s first-of-its-kind climate literacy resolution
A teenager, a retired teacher, a Berkeley parent, and a School Board member banded together to make BUSD one of the first school districts in the country to commit to climate education.
