Editorials

School safety, a diverse teaching staff and a clear budget process were among the priorities that 100 community members laid out for the Berkeley Unified School District in a public planning meeting Monday night.  

Now parents say the true test will be whether the district pursues the goals they set at the discussion, which was convened by Superintendent Michele Lawrence. 

“Whether they’re going to implement and take the community seriously – that’s a whole other question,” said Michael Miller, a member of Parents of Children of African Descent and frequent critic of the district. 

“That, in fact, will be the test,” Lawrence agreed. “It’s not just a matter of taking in the opinions.” 

Lawrence said she would lose her “personal credibility” if the administration does not follow through on the district goals set by community, staff and students. 

Karen McKie, a longtime parent activist who attended the Monday night session, said the community has been through planning processes before but has not seen consistent implementation. McKie said she has faith in Lawrence, who took office last year, to make real change. 

“It appears as if [Lawrence] really wants to be here,” said McKie. “She wants to see this vision through.” 

Last year critics said Lawrence and the Board of Education did not do enough to include the public in a painful budget-cutting process. But district leaders argued that they were forced to move quickly on budget cuts because they did not learn the extent of the district’s financial woes until January. The district, which still faces a $3.9 million shortfall despite heavy cuts last year, has pledged to be more inclusive this year. 

Last week Berkeley High School played host to a community meeting, similar to the Monday night session, and Lawrence hopes to set up a goal-setting forum for Berkeley High students before the Christmas holiday. 

The district will combine the results from the community meetings, the student session and an Oct. 14 staff forum to lay out goals for the superintendent and Board of Education. Lawrence hopes to compile all the information by March, when the board will take up the 2003-2004 budget. 

The Monday night meeting took place at Berkeley Alternative High School on Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Participants divided into a series of small groups and, using large pieces of block paper, brainstormed on what the district is doing well and where it needs to improve. 

A series of existing programs received high marks, including the Writer’s Room program, which pairs writing tutors with high school and middle school students, and Berkeley High’s college counseling program. 

But participants also laid out several areas for improvement. In one group, Elena Ronquillo of the East Bay Community Foundation urged the district to “institute a budget process that people can understand.” 

Berkeley Unified replaced its notoriously confusing budget documents with a new, easier-to-understand format this year. The district will have a community meeting, focused on the budget in particular, in early January. 

City Councilmember Linda Maio, one of a handful of elected officials who attended the meeting, said Berkeley needs to better evaluate the effectiveness of city- and district-funded after-school programs. 

Several groups said there is a pressing need for a more diverse teaching staff. Lawrence said the problem is a national one and not unique to Berkeley. She said part of the solution rests with colleges and universities turning out a more diverse cadre of teachers. 

Lawrence said laws forbidding school districts from hiring on the basis of race limit the ability of Berkeley Unified to take pro-active steps. But she said getting the district’s finances in order could serve to attract teachers of all races. 

Contact reporter at scharfenberg@berkeleydailyplanet.net