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With budget cuts at Berkeley Unified School District meaning reduced staff, larger classes and sometimes demoralized teachers, Longfellow Middle School’s new principal Rebecca Cheung gave her staff a place to stash pessimism: a plastic Kodak film canister labeled, “My Container of Disbelief.” 

Cheung distributed the canisters to her teachers before the first day of school last week as a tangible reminder of a promise she asked her staff to make – think positively. However, even Cheung understands that the gesture may not be enough to contain the anxieties of a school that is still reeling from last year. 

“Longfellow had a pretty chaotic year last year,” said Cheung, referring to rampant staff infighting that compounded with the budget and program cuts.  

One teacher, who asked not to be named, recalled a conflict between a teacher and a volunteer that “involved profanities and throwing papers around.”  

But the biggest problem, according to the teacher, was that former principal William Dwyer had a difficult time controlling the staff. Dryer, who retired last year, could not be reached for comment. 

When district officials got word that students could sense bad feelings at the school, they grew concerned. 

To turn things around, Berkeley Superintendent Michele Lawrence brought in a new administration composed of Cheung, who at 28 is the school district’s youngest principal, and Gene Nakamura, a legendary veteran administrator who has 33 years of experience in the Berkeley school system. 

“She’s going to be a star,” Lawrence said of Cheung. “I believe through her leadership there will be a renaissance at Longfellow.” 

Cheung, a graduate of Julliard School of Music, spent six years in the Oakland school district and one year as principal of Berkeley’s Emerson Elementary. 

To cut costs at Longfellow, the district reduced the school day from seven to six periods, cut some classes and programs such as chorus and saved $402,000 by cutting six teachers. They also scrapped a bus system to trim $30,000 more. 

Meanwhile, enrollment at the school is up more than 50 students this year.  

Longfellow is not alone in its troubles. 

Districtwide, $9 million dollars has already been slashed from the budget, according to Lawrence. Most of the savings came from layoffs and the closure of a school, Franklin Elementary. Despite the closure, enrollment in the district is projected to hold steady, forcing class sizes to increase. 

“I’ve seen tough times,” said Lawrence, a former superintendent of Paramount Unified School District, a district near Los Angeles notorious for gang activity. “But last year was the toughest I’ve had in 20 years.” 

Nonetheless, many of the staff at Longfellow already sensed a change for the better. Teachers said the campus is cleaner and more peaceful. Several teachers have even written notes and e-mails to Lawrence thanking her for the school’s new administrators. 

“This is, I think, the best year I’ll ever have at this school and it’s because of the new administration,” said Tina Lewis, coordinator of Longfellow’s after-school program. “It’s a real visible difference.”  

At a school assembly for the eighth-grade class yesterday, Cheung seemed every bit the stern leader. 

“I don’t like to see anyone’s underwear and neither does Mr. Nakamura,” Cheung said, nodding to her vice principal. “That means ladies, I don’t want to see your belly buttons. And boys, keep those pants up.” 

After the assembly, she reflected on her no-nonsense demeanor while supervising a group of sixth-graders waiting in line for grilled cheese sandwiches and hot dogs in the cafeteria.  

“I’m not usually like that,” said Cheung, a former UC Berkeley music major. “But when I have to be, I am.”