Berkeley USD Regular School Board Meeting May 20, 2026

The Berkeley Unified School District held a regular school board meeting on May 20, 2026, focusing heavily on budget discussions and community input regarding program funding and staffing. The board reviewed budget balancing strategies to meet a $10.4 million target for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, including cost savings, revenue generation, and reallocations of expenses to different funding sources such as BSEP and LCAP. Key proposals involved right-sizing staffing, transferring costs, and exploring revenue from fee payer schedules. The board also discussed the impact of expiring grants and the implications of the governor's May revise on district funding, including increased COLA and special education funding. Public comments emphasized the importance of fully funding ethnic studies, after-school programs, and college and career readiness initiatives like Bridge and Puente, with community members urging the board to avoid cuts to these programs. The board acknowledged the challenges of balancing fiscal responsibility with sustaining equity-driven programs and committed to further budget discussions in upcoming meetings.