Planning and Oversight Committee (BSEP & BERRA)

Since 1986 the generosity of Berkeley taxpayers has strengthened Berkeley schools and given Berkeley’s public school children opportunities for quality education which they would not otherwise have had. In return, the parents and community members who serve on the district-wide Planning & Oversight Committee have been vigilant in safeguarding the BSEP and BERRA dollars, ensuring that the funds generated by the voter-approved tax measures are spent according to the terms of the Measures.

The P&O Committee, mandated by the BSEP and BERRA Measures and comprised of representatives from every school, meets regularly to:

• Review the implementation of the many aspects of the BSEP and BERRA Measures, ranging from Class Size Reduction to Music & the Arts, from Technology to Professional Development for Teachers, Recruitment and Retention Initiatives, and much more;
• Ensure that BSEP and BERRA funds are spent in compliance with the Measures;
• Make annual recommendations to the School Board for the use of BSEP and BERRA dollars.

Before BSEP and BERRA revenues are spent, spending proposals may be discussed in Planning & Oversight subcommittees, and then must receive two readings at the P&O Committee as a whole. After approval by the P&O Committee, the proposals are sent to the School Board for approval.

The Planning & Oversight Committee also reviews the BSEP and BERRA Year-End Reports annually in December and January.

The members of each school’s School Site Council are elected each September. The newly elected SSCs then select their school’s Planning and Oversight Committee Representative(s). P&O Representatives do not need to be a member of the SSC, but do serve as a liaison between the P&O and the SSC. The term of office of the P&O Representatives is October 1 – September 30.

Serving on the P&O Committee is a great way to gain a district-wide perspective, and to learn about and weigh in on district priorities. Anyone interested in joining the P&O Committee should speak with their principal or SSC Chair. Interested community members may also contact the Director of Local Resources at KathyFleming@berkeley.net.

For more information about the School Site Councils and the Planning and Oversight Committee, please refer to their Bylaws. Those regarding School Site Councils are found here. The bylaws directly governing P&O are posted here.

For more information on both BSEP and BERRA, visit the Local Bond and Tax Funding page.