[BHS Etree] PTSA: Update to Information from PTSA Sent Last Week

[BHS Etree]

PLEASE do not reply to this email, contact Maria Rohlsson mariarohlsson at sbcglobal.net<mailto:mariarohlsson at sbcglobal.net>



The District has proposed the following positions at Berkeley High be eliminated: 1.5 academic guidance counselors, the Dean of Attendance, 4 Safety Officers, and the Independent Study (IS) Coordinator to address a $1.8 million budget shortfall in 2018-19. More information about these staff member roles can be found on the BHS PTSA website. http://bhs.berkeleypta.org/



The reasons for a budget shortfall are the following: California mandated increases in funding to school employee pension funds (1.2 million), Beginning Teacher Induction Program funding ends (0.3 million), Step and Column costs (teacher salary increases (0.9 million), and a decrease enrollment (100+ students).



Here's an update to information that the PTSA conveyed last week:

No decisions will be made at the Dec. 6th Board Meeting, but there will be discussion on the District proposal to eliminate the IS Coordinator position and shift these responsibilities to the BTA principal (Item 15.1 on the Agenda). A District Memo with a full description of this proposal was included in the Nov. 1 Board Meeting Agenda - note that it asks for approval in the January 10, 2018 Board meeting (scroll down to 15.1) http://agendaonline.net/public/Meeting.aspx?AgencyID=232&MeetingID=54302&AgencyTypeID=1&IsArchived=False



On December 4th in a community meeting, the proposal to cut the IS coordinator role and have the BTA principal take over its responsibilities was presented by the District. A group discussion followed with participants including Associate Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi, School Board members Karen Hemphilll and Beatriz Leyva-Cutler, and IS and BTA administrators, teachers, and parents. The meeting outcome is TBD.


We encourage you to become involved. The December 6th Board Meeting at 2020 Bonar Street<https://maps.google.com/?q=2020+Bonar+Street&entry=gmail&source=g> is an opportunity for you to address the board during Public Comment. This requires filling out a card and giving it to the clerk by 7:15 pm.

You can also write District decision makers and Board members; use this link to a sample letter that you can edit. http://bhs.berkeleypta.org/action/no-bhs-cuts-letter

Stay tuned for more info and future developments.



BHS PTSA

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