September 16, 2024   Dear Berkeley Unified Community: Today begins the celebration of Latine/x Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15.  We celebrate the beautiful diversity of our BUSD community in our classrooms all year long. Latine/x Heritage Month provides us an opportunity to reflect on the vibrant tapestry of languages, traditions, […]

August 26, 2024   Dear BUSD Community,  We are aware that over the weekend some hateful antisemitic messages were distributed in the driveways and doorsteps of some of our Berkeley community members. We are disturbed that this incident has resurfaced in our community.  Let me unequivocally state that Berkeley Unified stands against antisemitism, bigotry and […]

June 6, 2024   Dear Berkeley Unified Community, Join with me in congratulating the Berkeley Unified School District graduating Class of 2024!  They have distinguished themselves in so many ways. We note their excellence in academics, the arts, athletics, community service, allyship, and advocacy. Graduation marks both the culmination of their  K-12 Berkeley Unified education […]

May 10, 2024   Dear Berkeley Unified community, On Monday, May 13 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm, BUSD will host a webinar on Zoom on how to recognize, respond to and prevent both Islamophobia and antisemitism in our community.  Since the escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza in October 2023, both Islamophobic and antisemitic […]

May 8, 2024   Dear Berkeley Unified Family, As you read this, I am appearing before the Committee on Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education in Washington, DC. This hearing, titled “Confronting Pervasive Antisemitism in K-12 Schools,” follows recent similar hearings at which several university presidents were called to testify.  […]

May 3, 2024   Dear BUSD Community,   Please enjoy a brief video message from Superintendent Ford Morthel, in English or Spanish, about May BUSD highlights.   Stay Connected to BUSD on: YouTube Instagram Twitter   Berkeley Unified School District Public Information Office Mayo 3, 2024 Estimada Comunidad en BUSD:   Por favor disfrute de […]

  May 1, 2024   Dear Berkeley Unified community, In May, we embrace the significance of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month – a time to celebrate the rich cultural tapestry and invaluable contributions of these diverse communities. Amidst our celebrations, it is crucial to recognize that within the broader AAPI umbrella, there exists […]

  May 1, 2024   Dear Berkeley Unified community, May is a rich month of heritage celebrations which includes BUSD’s third year celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month. Since 2006, May has been proclaimed as Jewish American Heritage Month so that we can center and honor the many lived and historical experiences of Jewish Americans. As […]

April 17, 2024   Dear Berkeley Unified Community, Yet again, this morning BUSD staff and staff at other East Bay school districts received spam emails suggesting that explosives may be planted inside of our schools. This is similar to hoax emails received by school districts in December of 2023 and February 2024.  Upon becoming aware […]