[BHS Etree] ADMIN: BHS Redesign Community Letter, June 2016

[BHS Etree]

PLEASE do not reply to this email, contact Sam Pasarow, 
sampasarow at berkeley.net


June 29, 2016

Dear Berkeley High School, Longfellow, Willard, and King Middle School 
Families,

Although the 2016-17 school year has come to a close, I want to provide 
one final update on the BHS redesign efforts that have been underway 
since the beginning of this school year.

First, I’d like to say THANK YOU! to all the parents, guardians, and 
families who came out over the last six weeks to one or more of the nine 
family workshops we held at Berkeley High, and at each of our three 
middle schools, to learn about and give us feedback on the ideas we are 
working on to redesign Berkeley High School. We received extremely 
useful feedback that has helped us understand what is important to our 
families, as well as great questions that we will be working to answer 
more fully as the work progresses. (When school resumes after summer, 
please keep an eye out for answers to some of the frequently asked 
questions!)

I also want to extend a public appreciation to the BHS Teacher Co-Leads 
of the Design Team, Tamara Friedman and Hasmig Minassian, who have 
worked tirelessly this whole year to shepherd this well-organized and 
inclusive process. I have been thoroughly impressed by their leadership 
as well as the commitment and energy of the entire Design Team of 
teachers, administrators, staff, students, and parents who have all had 
a part in this group effort.

*BHS Redesign Proposal*

After studying and developing several proposals based on the research of 
effective high schools, the Design Team gathered input from the Berkeley 
High staff and from a multitude of student clubs and parent groups. 
Since then, our staff and Design Team have coalesced around one 
particular redesign proposal with several key elements that aims to 
provide excellent educations for /all/ Berkeley High students.

Though some of the changes being considered are specific to the high 
school program for 9th grade students, a few of the elements would need 
to be implemented school-wide. For example, if we decide to change our 
current six period day to a modified block schedule (students not 
meeting with every class every day), then this would need to be 
implemented at all grade levels in the 2017-18 school year. 
Additionally, this redesigned schedule would provide every 9th and 10th 
grade student with an advisory class.

For more details about the essential elements of the BHS redesign 
proposal, please take a look at the updated BHS webpage on the redesign: 
http://bhs.berkeleyschools.net/bhs-school-redesign-process/

The redesign proposal, and the research and thinking behind the redesign 
elements, were presented and discussed at a recent School Board Study 
Session. The session is archived on youtube and can be viewed online 
here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg4CgKM2qDw

*Next Steps*

We are now in the process of conducting a thorough analysis of our 
budget and current resource allocations in order to determine how we 
might be able to pay for the redesign proposal. I will be working with 
members of my administrative team and district budget analysts over the 
summer to examine the fiscal trade-offs that would be required to fund 
the redesign. My hope is to make a formal presentation to the 
superintendent and school board on the status of the redesign in September.

In addition to the varied benefits for our students, the redesign of 
Berkeley High School is also intended to create structures that better 
support our teachers. We will be in close communication with Berkeley 
Federation of Teachers (BFT - the union representing Berkeley teachers) 
and the school district around how this redesign would impact the 
current BUSD/BFT contract and what the timeline would be for addressing 
BFT/BUSD negotiations, should the proposal get approval from the Board.

We’re looking forward to continuing our outreach efforts as soon as 
school resumes, and we will keep you informed of any new developments 
and opportunities to learn more.

As I have mentioned in prior communications both by email and in the 
family workshops, we have been making steady improvements in teaching 
and learning and in creating a positive school culture, and this path 
toward excellence for all students will continue, whether or not we are 
able to implement these structural changes in 2017-18.

Thank you for your support as we work together to make Berkeley High 
School the best it can be for all students.

GO JACKETS!

Sam Pasarow

Principal


___________________________

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