BUSD Superintendent Donald Evans speaks with participants at the first of several LCAP forums for the community, this one in December 2013. Photo: Mark Coplan Berkeley schools are getting an extra $2.4 million this year to help low-income students and English learners under a new state funding system. To decide how best to spend the […]
Neil Smith
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BHS principal Scuderi moves to assistant superintendent
Berkeley High principal Pasquale Scuderi will become district assistant superintendent at the end of this school year. Photo: Emilie Raguso Pasquale Scuderi, principal of Berkeley High School since 2010, will become Berkeley Unified’s assistant superintendent for educational services at the end of this school year. Scuderi will take over the role from Neil Smith who is retiring […]
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Illegal enrollment is boon and burden to Berkeley schools
Parents desperate to get their kids into some schools, including Berkeley High School, cheat their way in. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel When Sarah James went to the first meeting for her daughter’s freshman crew team at Berkeley High School, she wanted to form a carpool for the 6 a.m. practices. But James (not her real name) lived in Oakland […]
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‘Beloved’ Berkeley schools leader to retire after 25 years
Neil Smith will retire after 25 years of service. Photo: BUSD A 25-year veteran of the Berkeley public school system will retire later this year, officials announced last week at the Berkeley School Board meeting on Wednesday. Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent Donald Evans announced the upcoming retirement of Assistant Superintendent Neil Smith, who is set to […]
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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. […]
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Oxford Principal to Thousand Oaks amid district shuffle
Jennifer Corn: the newly named Principal of Thousand Oaks Elementary School. Photo: BUSD Update, 4:02 p.m.: The Principal of LeConte Elementary School announced she is resigning shortly after this story was published. In a statement issued today, Kathryn Singh said she would be moving back to Massachusetts due to family matters. BUSD Co-Superintendent Neil Smith said in a note […]
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Workshop urges action on gun violence around Berkeley
BUSD’s Susan Craig (foreground) adds ideas during workshop on gun violence. Photo: Lance Knobel BUSD’s Susan Craig (foreground) adds ideas during workshop on gun violence. Photo: Lance Knobel Following the recent shootings of former Berkeley students in Oakland, a coalition of groups held a workshop Friday, May 24, to try to figure out ways to reduce […]
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Hayward chief named Berkeley schools superintendent
Donald Evans, most recently chief of the Hayward school district, is Berkeley’s new public school Superintendent. Donald Evans, most recently chief of the Hayward school district, is Berkeley’s new public school Superintendent. The Berkeley Unified School Board on Wednesday night formally appointed Donald Evans as the new Berkeley superintendent of schools by approving his contract. […]
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Man suspected of trying to abduct 2 Berkeley girls
The attempted abduction happened near the intersection of Berryman and Josephine streets near the King campus. Image: Google Maps On Thursday, May 2, officials say two sixth grade girls, who were waiting to be picked up from King Middle School, were approached by a man who asked them to help him retrieve an item from […]
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Hayward chief is finalist for BUSD superintendent spot
Donald Evans. Photo: Hayward Unified School District A national search for a new Berkeley schools superintendent has ended practically right next door in Hayward with the announcement Friday morning that Donald Evans has been chosen by the School Board as its preferred finalist for the position. Evans has been superintendent of the Hayward Unified School District […]
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Berkeley school board seeks replacement director
BUSD headquarters on Bonar St.: the board has posted an application for a new director to replace Leah Wilson. Photo: Kaia Diringer Berkeley Unified School District’s board Wednesday night agreed on the procedure to appoint a replacement director for Leah Wilson, who resigned earlier this month. The board has posted an application for directors on its […]
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School board launches new superintendent search
The Berkeley Unified School District has started a new search for a Superintendent after a failed attempt in 2012. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel The Berkeley Unified School District has started a new search for a Superintendent after a failed attempt in 2012. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel The Berkeley Unified School District board has launched a new search for a superintendent, following […]