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Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent Michele Lawrence told an overflow, standing-room only crowd at the Berkeley Alternative High School Monday night that seniors from the school would be included in Berkeley High School’s graduation ceremonies at the Greek Theater this spring. 

But she added that the alternative school should form a student-administration committee to address concerns about participation in Berkeley High’s winter ball and prom. 

The meeting was called by BAHS parents over concerns that BAHS students are being officially excluded from activities at Berkeley High School. BAHS principal Alex Palau said he would move forward immediately to form a committee and meet with Berkeley High principal Jim Slemp and other school officials. 

Lawrence told meeting participants that Slemp had approached her late last year about excluding BAHS students from BHS dances because of what she called “safety issues.” 

Alternative school students first reported last fall that they had been barred from participating in Berkeley High’s Homecoming activities. Rumors then spread that the ban would be extended to all extracurricular activities, including graduation. 

“Our students are very upset,” said Berkeley Alternative counselor Mercedes Sanders. “The seniors in particular are hurt and discouraged.” 

In fact, parents and students at the meeting gave Lawrence an earful, charging that the mostly African-American and Latino students at the alternative school were being relegated to second class status. 

Berkeley Alternative was originally formed as Berkeley High School’s continuation East Campus, made up of students involuntarily transferred from the main school because of truancy or other discipline problems. Five years ago, the school was transformed from a continuation to an alternative school, and while it still continues to enroll students who are doing poorly at Berkeley High and need a smaller environment, according to Sanders, its students now are voluntary transfers. 

The school has 150 students, 30 of them seniors. 

—J. Douglas Allen-Taylor