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Police Accountability Board is short-handed | Is it time to rethink I-80? | Get The Scene, our new arts newsletter | We're hiring: Nosh Editor

Avatar photo

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.

ally@berkeleyside.org
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Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel stands in front of a small crowd of people seated inside the BUSD board room. The photo captures Ford Morthel's back facing the audience. She is wearing in a bright blue suit with defined shoulders.
Posted inSchools

1 year in, BUSD superintendent says she’s cultivating a data-driven culture

Avatar photo by Ally Markovich June 06, 2023, 2:40 p.m.June 6, 2023

Improved reading scores for Black and Latino elementary students and a new database tracking achievement trends are among Enikia Ford Morthel’s accomplishments in her first year.

Posted inCity

Berkeley’s population is rebounding faster than almost any other Bay Area city

Avatar photo by Ally Markovich May 31, 2023, 3:57 p.m.June 4, 2023

Thanks to the return of Cal students and growing university enrollment, Berkeley’s population is recovering but it’s still below pre-pandemic levels.

Posted inCommunity

Where to go for last-minute camping near Berkeley this holiday weekend

Avatar photo by Ally Markovich May 24, 2023, 4:29 p.m.May 25, 2023

Didn’t plan ahead? We’ve got tips for finding a scenic spot to sleep under the stars — even when traditional campsites are already reserved.

Posted inSchools

Fashion designs inspired by moss and iridescent frogs win Berkeley High student a national arts award

Avatar photo by Ally Markovich May 22, 2023, 10:19 a.m.May 22, 2023

Senior Gavin Trotmore is one of 20 students nationwide to be honored with a Presidential Arts Award. His teacher, Miriam Stahl, is also being honored.

Posted inCity

State Supreme Court agrees to hear case for building housing on People’s Park

Avatar photo by Ally Markovich May 19, 2023, 3:50 p.m.May 20, 2023

The court will review a lower court’s decision blocking UC Berkeley from building housing on the historic park.

Posted inCity

Why the South Berkeley ‘Reparations Now’ mural was painted over

Avatar photo by Ally Markovich May 17, 2023, 12:25 p.m.May 23, 2023

A graffiti complaint prompted the city to cover up the mural that helped inspire the City Council to pursue reparations in Berkeley. The neighbors who created the mural are considering next steps.

A group of people pose for a group shot in front of a mural that has Natives in Solidarity on left side and Black Lives Matter on the right
Posted inSchools

Berkeley college prep program RISE says without BUSD funds, it’s done

Avatar photo by Ally Markovich May 11, 2023, 2:00 p.m.May 12, 2023

The nonprofit has helped hundreds of low-income BUSD students get into college, but it says this will be its last year unless it gets more money.

Posted inSchools

For the first time, 4-year-olds can enroll in Berkeley’s transitional kindergarten program

Avatar photoAvatar photo by Ally Markovich and Ashley McBride May 09, 2023, 8:11 a.m.May 11, 2023

We visited a Berkeley Unified transitional kindergarten classroom last year to learn more about the expanding program.

Posted inSchools

Why the cost of special education is rising at Berkeley schools

Avatar photo by Ally Markovich May 05, 2023, 12:26 p.m.May 8, 2023

Spending on special education has increased 30% in Berkeley Unified over four years.

Reparations Now! mural painted on Ellis Street in South Berkeley
Posted inSchools

Berkeley school district’s reparations task force meets privately

Avatar photo by Ally Markovich May 01, 2023, 3:40 p.m.May 1, 2023

A 15- to 20-member task force, convened by the superintendent, held its first meeting last month as it explores giving cash payments to students with enslaved ancestors.

A one-story building with a tree in front of it. The door reads "Public Affairs."
Posted inSchools

UC Berkeley identifies next 2 sites to build student housing

Avatar photo by Ally Markovich April 25, 2023, 4:03 p.m.April 26, 2023

The university hopes to build up to 2,700 more beds in Southside by 2025 or 2026, though the actual number of beds has not been determined yet.

Posted inSchools

‘Building our Emerald City’: Berkeley High students pitch climate solutions

Avatar photo by Ally Markovich April 21, 2023, 4:29 p.m.April 21, 2023

After months of research, students proposed new ideas to help BUSD meet sustainability goals, from a rainwater collection system to a green job fair.

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