The Berkeley School Board, at its August meeting. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD The Berkeley schools Board of Education meets tonight (Wednesday, Sept. 17) for a closed session at 6 p.m., followed by its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. Follow along via the Sept. 17 agenda packet. The board will consider adding an assistant principal at Malcolm X Elementary School. […]
Malcolm X Elementary School
Posted inSchools
State-mandated kindergarten program explains perceived student numbers squeeze at Berkeley schools
First day of school at Malcom X Elementary School in Berkeley. Photo: Mark Coplan/BUSD When the Berkeley school district added two new kindergarten classes – one to Cragmont school and one to Malcolm X — just before school began, some parents were concerned about what impact the move would have on the schools, which, they said, were neither […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: Berkeley schools are victims of their own success
I am a proud graduate from, and enthusiastic supporter of, the Berkeley public schools. I am a lifelong resident of Berkeley, and have chosen to raise my family here. I love the school that my children attend, and have had nothing but tremendously positive experiences with all of the teachers and staff that have been […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: A Berkeley elementary school shows how it’s done
Kids on the Malcolm X playground. Photo: David Wilson When we first sent our two sons to Berkeley public schools in the mid-1970s, the debate about education was a little heated. Neighborhood schools were out, busing was in. Tracking of any kind was a no-no. It seemed to some that in the name of equality, […]
Posted inSchools
Enrollment surge necessitates three new kindergartens
BUSD officials informed the principal of Rosa Parks Elementary School, Paco Furlan, just nine days ago that he would have to add another kindergarten class. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel So many new students have unexpectedly enrolled for kindergarten for the 2013-2014 school year that the Berkeley Unified School District has to add three new kindergarten classrooms. […]
Posted inCity, Schools
Mobile asthma clinic makes its debut at Berkeley school
Outside the Breathmobile at Malcolm X Elementary School, Oct. 18, 2012. Photo: Emilie Raguso A mobile asthma clinic designed to keep kids in school and out of the hospital debuted Thursday at Malcolm X Elementary School in south Berkeley. The Breathmobile, a 33-foot-long Winnebago RV, drew inquisitive looks and questions from students throughout the day. The vehicle was […]
Posted inNosh
School edible programs get reprieve from the feds
Three Berkeley elementary schools secure additional federal funding for their cooking and gardening programs for the next academic year.
Posted inCity
Community rallies to get pool measure on ballot
Students, parents, and community members rally on Sunday to reopen Willard Pool. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel About 75 people rallied on the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Derby Street in Berkeley Sunday afternoon to convince the City Council to put a pool bond measure on the November ballot. Holding signs that read “Save Willard Pool,” and […]
Posted inSchools
Berkeley district votes to fund at-risk edible programs
Kids eat the fruits of their labor at Berkeley's Malcolm X Elementary School. Photo: Rivka Mason Late last night, the Berkeley Unified School District School Board voted to authorize funding up to $350,000 for three elementary schools — Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, and Washington — that were in danger of losing their gardening and cooking […]
Posted inSchools
Community seeks life support for school edible programs
The end of salad days for some BUSD students? Photo: Rivka Mason This week, Berkeley parents and community members rallied to find ways to secure funds to save the gardening and cooking programs at three local elementary schools. The programs at Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, and Washington, whose combined budgets are $372,000, are threatened because, under existing guidelines, […]
Posted inNosh
Berkeley school gardening, cooking programs face cuts
Cooking and gardening programs at three Berkeley elementary schools may face cuts.
Posted inSchools
What does Berkeley want from its new schools head?
Retiring BUSD Superintendent Bill Huyett: the search for his successor should conclude by May A series of public meetings and workshops with teachers, administrators and classified staff took place over the last four days as part of the search for a new Berkeley schools superintendent to replace Bill Huyett, who is retiring on June 30. […]
