BHS Stop Harassing has been working to raise awareness about discrimination at Berkeley High over the past year (file photo). Photo: BHS Stop Harassing There were 165 complaints of bullying, sexual harassment and other types of harassment were reported in Berkeley schools in the 2014-15 school year, according to a report set to go before the School Board […]
Susan Craig
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Teachers at Berkeley Technology Academy raise the alarm
Berkeley Technology Academy has faced decreasing attendance and an increasing suspension rate in recent years. Photo: Emilie Raguso Teachers at Berkeley’s alternative high school have raised concerns about the state of affairs on campus, citing “extreme behavior” among students, chronically low attendance, a lack of academic rigor, and a generally unsafe campus environment due to deficient […]
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Berkeley schools, police, city join forces on youth crime
A tree outside the Berkeley Zen Center that became a memorial after one of its members was killed in broad daylight last fall. Authorities say a Berkeley Technology Academy student was responsible for the fatal attack. Photo: Emilie Raguso A tree outside the Berkeley Zen Center that became a memorial after one of its members was killed in broad […]
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School Board adopts interim sexual harassment policy
Sexual Harassment Advisory Committee member Peggy Scott speaks to the School Board during public comment on Wednesday April 8, 2015. Photo: Seung Y. Lee Amid a federal investigation on whether Berkeley High School inadequately responded to sexual harassment claims, the Berkeley School Board voted unanimously Wednesday to pass a new, interim sexual harassment policy. While passing […]
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Feds launch civil rights investigation into Berkeley School District’s response to sexual harassment claims
Berkeley High School: at the center of a sexual harassment investigation. Photo: Lance Knobel The federal Office for Civil Rights has launched an investigation into whether the Berkeley Unified School District inadequately responded to sexual harassment claims at Berkeley High School, thereby creating a “hostile environment on the basis of sex.” Failure to adequately respond to sexual harassment […]
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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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Berkeley school district settles into new headquarters
The Berkeley Unified School District has moved into new headquarters at 2020 Bonar Street, right near University Ave. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel The Berkeley School District has spent much of the past two weeks moving into its newly renovated headquarters at the West Campus at 2020 Bonar Street. The school district spent $10.5 million to renovate […]
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Students see security changes at Berkeley High School
Two signs direct visitors to enter at office door and students to proceed to A gate. Travis Dennis, an interim campus monitor, stands by the door to direct visitors. Photos: Frances Dinkelspiel As Berkeley High students returned to school this week, they weren’t permitted to enter by the Allston Street door leading into the main […]
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Student voices are missing from gun safety report
One of the inner courtyards at Berkeley High School Some significant voices are missing in the 11-page report the Ad Hoc Safety Committee prepared on how to reduce guns in Berkeley high schools: that of the students. While two Berkeley High students sat on the committee — at least until the end of the academic […]
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School committee finalizes report in wake of guns
A Berkeley High safety officer stands by a gate before the start of classess, part of a series of measures to reduce the number of guns on campus. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel In a small conference room on the second floor of old City Hall, a group of school administrators, parents, students, police and safety officers […]
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BUSD director responds to Berkeley Police Chief remarks
Susan Craig, Director of Student Services, BUSD Susan Craig, Director of Student Services for BUSD, responded to our story last week which reported on remarks made by Berkeley Police Chief Michael Meehan about what he perceived as poor communication between the school district and the BPD. The article has generated more than 70 comments from […]
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BUSD moves ahead on tackling weapons at Berkeley High
BHS Student Director Susan Craig and Principal Pasquale Scuderi (center) present safety report to the BUSD Board. Photo: Tracey Taylor The BUSD Board last night approved expenditure of $89,000 to boost security and staff training at Berkeley High following the recent spate of guns on campus. It also heard from Director of Student Services, Susan […]