Community School Classroom at
Berkeley Adult School
Frequently Asked Questions
How many students will be in the program?
There will be 15 classroom students and 30 Independent Study student (one at a time); a total of 16 maximum students on campus at any given time.
Where are these students coming from?
The students are from Northern Alameda County.
How many teachers? How many adults?
Two teachers and one Instructional Assistant (3 adults) will staff the program.
Why are you recommending locating the program at the BAS?
Berkeley Adult School is located along a convenient transportation corridor, has available facilities and we would be serving our students who currently must travel to Hayward to school. California Ed Code does not allow for this type of programming on a K-12 campus. The students must be separated from regular K-12 campuses. CA Ed. Code 48661. (a) A community day school shall not be situated on the same site as an elementary, middle, junior high, comprehensive senior high, opportunity, or continuation school.
What steps do you think are necessary to insure the safety of the other students and the community, and which of these are you implementing?
The students in the program will be properly supervised and an additional School Safety Officer will be on site.
What can you do to control or monitor the students coming and going to and from school?
The ACOE has jurisdiction to discipline students for behavior in route to or from school.
What can you do to control or monitor the students in and around the neighborhood (hanging out, visiting local businesses etc.)?
The Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE) has jurisdiction to discipline students for behavior issues on or around campus as well as during the school day. One of the steps for these students to achieve success in the program is to respect their rights. Most of the students in the program have a strong desire to complete the program successfully, so that they can return to a mainstream public school. The program is strictly monitored and students who do not abide by the rules do not remain in the program.
What responsibility will the County Office of Education take for these students?
The ACOE is responsible for monitoring and discipline regarding behavior, attendance and academics. Their rules are very clearly defined and must be adhered to for a student to remain in the program.
Is this a done deal?
No. The BUSD Governing Board will decide. This is the site that will be recommended by staff, because it is the only site in BUSD that is able to facilitate this program.
What is the approval process?
The BUSD Governing Board will hear staff recommendations and make a decision in the months ahead.
How can we expect to be kept in the loop as this move forward?
We will communicate every step of the way through the Berkeley Adult School principal, Brad Smith and the School/Neighborhood Committee. The committee will continue to review this in their regular quarterly meetings.
If this program is approved by the Board, can we have quarterly meetings with a representative committee to review how this and our general relations are going with BAS?
Yes. BAS Principal, Burr Guthrie, meets regularly with the neighborhood group.
I assume that the students are scanned for metal objects each time they enter the school. Is that correct? No, BUSD/BAS do not have the capacity to scan all students for metal objects.
Do we know why the classroom will not be opened this spring?
Superintendent Huyett has delayed the process to include communication with the community. Mr. Huyett and the County Superintendent have agreed that it wouldn’t really serve these students to make the transition with only a short time remaining till the end of the school year. If the classroom location is approved by the BUSD Board, it will open in the fall.
Is the county looking for other places?
Yes. In response to the closing of Rock LaFleche School (community day school in North Oakland), ACOE is opening several other classrooms spread throughout the County.
What if the Board does not approve the proposal?
BUSD is required to provide an educational placement for expelled BUSD students. Currently, expelled BUSD students attend ACOE’s Hayward Community School. If the proposal is not approved by the Board, BUSD students will continue to attend HCS if available. However, if ACOE does not continue to provide a community school for expelled BUSD students, BUSD will need to open a District community day school in Berkeley. District run community day schools generally operate at a significant financial loss.
