Berkeley USD Regular School Board Meeting Aprl 8, 2026

The Berkeley Unified School District held a regular school board meeting on April 8, 2026, which included a detailed study session focused on special education. The session provided an in-depth review of the district's special education demographics, program models, and budget challenges. Key procurement-related discussions centered on the district's efforts to manage rising special education costs, including strategies to reduce reliance on contractors by hiring more internal staff such as instructional aides, occupational therapists, and behavior technicians. The board reviewed budget data showing Berkeley USD's higher per-student special education costs compared to neighboring districts, driven by its inclusive education model and increased needs for non-public school placements and transportation. The district is developing new job descriptions to bring contracted services in-house and expanding specialized programs to better serve students with high needs. Public and union comments highlighted concerns about layoffs, program funding, and the importance of maintaining after-school coordinators and support staff. No formal votes on procurement were taken during this meeting, but the discussions laid groundwork for future budget and staffing decisions affecting special education services and related contracting.