berkeley technology academy saved my child's life!

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I have heard this statement more than once from parents in the 15 months since I became Principal.  This school has been saving lives for many years.  To call this a "school" is really an understatement.  This is a family.  This is a home.  This is a hope.

Since 2011 the enrollment at Berkeley Technology Academy (BTECH) has been steadily declining.   When I became Principal last year it was at its lowest enrollment ever.  There were 57 students enrolled on the first day of school.  Did you know that we are staffed to serve 150 students?  

That's right!  There could be 150 students taking advantage of this small learning environment.  150 kids could be getting the love, attention, and guidance that they need when they leave your homes in the morning.  150 students could be making up credits if they are behind.  150 students could be getting the personalized instruction they need to build confidence, enhance skill sets, and become better prepared for life after the diploma.

Speaking of diplomas...did you know that Berkeley Unified School District touts itself for graduating more Latino and African-American students than the state average?  Although that may be true have you ever stopped to ask how many of those students were reading below grade level?  How many could not perform basic mathematical computations?  How many did not have a plan or a clue as to what to do next?  Could some of those students benefit from our learning environment that is loaded with teachers and staff of color administering cultural relevant pedagogy?

BTECH helps students not only build confidence in themselves, recover credits, improve grade point averages, increase attendance, and create community but we also connect students with internships, jobs, and post-graduation plans.

Some of the big questions looming right now are:

 

WHAT IS STOPPING FAMILIES FROM ENROLLING THEIR CHILD AT BTECH?  

WHY IS THE DISTRICT PROPOSING TO CUT STAFFING (3 teachers and 1 safety officer)?  

WHY IS THE DISTRICT PROPOSING TO MERGE STAFFING WITH THE INDEPENDENT STUDIES PROGRAM (1 administrator for both sites, 1 counselor for both sites, 1 clerical for both sites)?  

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING ALL OF A SUDDEN (the proposal was presented on November 1 with an ask for a decision on December 6th with no community vetting)?  

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...

Are you interested in the answers to these questions?  Do you have more questions?  Are you ready to see Berkeley Technology Academy reduced to a school with 5 teachers, half a counselor, 1 safety officer, half a secretary, and a Principal that is also responsible for managing the Independent Studies program?  

Do you think this school is important enough to FIGHT for?  

This is the time of the year when the District is forced to make some very tough budgetary decisions as they are attempting to cut approximately 1.3 million for the 2018-19 school year.  BTECH is not the only target.  Many other positions and programs are also in the balance.  Those other positions and programs are not going down without a fight.  Neither will we.

Will you spread the word through your networks that this is happening?  Will you come out on Thursday, November 30 at 5pmto ask questions about the current proposal to Assistant Superintendent Mr. Scuderi?  Will you attend the next School Board meeting on Wednesday, December 6th at 7pm for the public comment section?  Will you help the school by thinking about these questions I am providing and adding your own comments, stories, solutions?  Will you let me know you are ready to fight?

Some things to consider as we mobilize our community:

Many of you have told me that your child started coming to school a lot more since enrolling at BTECH.  Many of you say that at Berkeley High your child was not going to class and was truant.  Did you know that there is a truancy program called the Student Attendance and Review Team (SART) and Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) that refers students to the Alameda County District Attorney's Truancy Program without recommending to the family that the student give BTECH a try?  Why is that?  Did you know that the California Education Code allows for schools to involuntarily transfer (although I recommend counseling) truant students to schools like BTECH so that they have a better chance at graduating?  Why isn't this happening?

The most recent Smarter Balanced Assessment Test Results (2016-2017) indicates that 46% of Black juniors that took the test were below proficiency in reading and 59% were below proficiency in writing while only 11% of White juniors were below proficiency in reading and 14% of White juniors were below in writing.  The achievement gap was even worse for math as test scores revealed that 73% of Black juniors had not met the math proficiency compared to only 17% of White juniors.  We want all students to be able to have at least an opportunity to enter a career pathway, college classroom, apprenticeship, or job with the requisite hard and soft skills to compete. 

Does BUSD market its very own Alternative High School program?  If so, when and where?  Did you know that students at Berkeley High routinely claim that they are threatened to be sent here if they don't do well there?  Is this the marketing campaign?  Could BTECH be supported by the District in a way that it is marketed in a positive way?  Do you have any suggestions on how this could happen?

LCAP (Local Control and Accountability Program)

How are current LCAP dollars being used at BTECH?  Can the District leverage more LCAP resources for BTECH?  Are you familiar with the School Governance Council?  The School Site Plan?  Would you be interested in more information as to how you can be an active parent?

What you can do before our meeting on November 30 is contact BUSD school board members and let them know how you feel about this proposal (see attached).  

You can find School Board member information at this link: