Berea City School District

8/2 Stuff the Bus Supply Drive

8/9 Stuff the Bus Supply Pick Up

8/11 Board of Education Meeting

8/20 First Day of School Grades 1-12

8/22 First Day of School Kindergarten

For a complete list of important dates, visit our Back-to-School Information Hub

2025-2026 School Year Calendar

Welcome to all of our new Titan families and welcome back to our returning families! I will keep my message brief to allow you to focus on the many details provided within this newsletter.

As we eagerly anticipate the start of a new school year, this newsletter will share some important information and updates as we make final preparations for the 2025-2026 school year. Please be sure to read through it thoroughly as we have a lot of exciting information to share!

Be safe, be kind, and ALWAYS be a Titan!

Tracy L. Wheeler
Superintendent

In June, we shared an email outlining updated start and end times for the 2025-26 school year that mainly affect our elementary schools. The communication also included some transportation updates. If you missed it or need a refresher, you can view that message here: https://secure.smore.com/n/zasuj

Students will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch, regardless of income through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, and all students will be automatically enrolled.

The CEP is free for eligible public school districts to participate in. Districts must apply through the state, which involves calculating and submitting a percentage of students who are identified as eligible for school meals for any reason other than a free and reduced student meal application. If the percentage is 25% or higher, the district is eligible. Schools participating in the program will be partially reimbursed for each meal served. The CEP also eliminates any stigma associated with free or reduced-price meals, promoting equality and fostering a supportive atmosphere for all students.

The free meal will be the set meal for each day, although additional items will still be available for purchase. Parents are encouraged to contact Nutrition Services Supervisor Carrie Beegle at cbeegle@bereaschools.org or 216-267-2142 to discuss food allergies, special dietary needs, and any specific requirements their children may have.

Parents may continue to deposit money into their students’ accounts using Infinite Campus Food Service at any time during the school year. Please make checks payable to the school cafeteria, and funds can be dropped off in the school cafeteria prior to the beginning of the school day. Funds may also be added to your student’s account using the online site. There is no charge from Infinite Campus to use this feature or to view your student’s account. Please allow at least 30 minutes for the online payment to appear in your student’s account.

Families are asked and encouraged to complete the Income Eligibility Verification Application (must be printed and filled out) to access additional benefits, including increased state and federal funding for staff, equipment, and supplies; discounts on fees for academic assessments; and access to local scholarships, tuition assistance for dual credit and AP courses, and discounts on college application fees. By completing the application, you help the district continue to provide valuable resources and opportunities for every student.

All high school and middle school students in the Berea City School District will have the opportunity to attend their school athletic home games free of charge!

This exciting initiative has been extended, meaning that our students can cheer on their fellow Titans at no cost, making it easier than ever to support their friends and classmates. To gain free entry, students simply need to have their school ID scanned at the entrance of each game. This streamlined process ensures that our events remain safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Here are the key details:

• Free entry applies to regular season, home games only

• High school students will be admitted free of charge to high school home events

• Middle school students will be admitted free of charge to middle school home events.

• The Student Sports Pass will still be available for $35 for students who attend games at a different building (e.g., any K-8 student who attends BMHS games), offering the savings of the Student Pass.

Sports play a crucial role in developing teamwork, school spirit, and a sense of community. By providing free access to our athletic events, we are encouraging our students to get involved and support their peers, fostering a stronger, more united school environment.

Students, mark your calendars! We can’t wait to see the stands filled with enthusiastic students, cheering on our Titans!

The convenience and savings of Titans Athletic Passes will be available soon for the 2025-26 school year. Whether purchasing a Titan Pass which will get you in to every home game for every sport at both BMHS and BMMS, or getting an individual sport pass, there are plenty of options to fit your Titans Athletics experience.

The 2025-26 Berea City School District Information Guide will soon be arriving in your mailbox! Inside, you'll find our school directory and hours, information about health services, nutrition services, Infinite Campus, procedures for school closings and delays, our before and after care program, transportation services, back-to-school important dates, and a listing of contacts for specific departments and topics. This guide is your quick reference for key information, ensuring you have the resources and contacts you need for a successful school year.

To improve how we communicate with you, we’re updating the phone number we use to send text messages. Starting now, our outreach text messages will be sent using a local 10-digit phone number

New Text Message Number for Outreach: 216-899-2223

Please note: Emergency notifications will continue to be sent from the previous short code for now.

We recommend saving it in your contacts as “BCSD Alerts” so you always recognize messages from us.

Why the change?

Our mass communications vendor, Finalsite, is moving away from short codes in favor of local phone numbers, in line with industry best practices. Local numbers are more familiar and trusted by recipients, improving message delivery and recognition.

Important clarification:

• This change applies only to mass text messages

• Recorded voice messages (such as school closure alerts or attendance calls) will continue to come from our main school phone numbers, as they always have.

• While it might seem logical to use the same number for mass text and voice messages, federal regulations require separate numbers for each type of communication.

Thank you for staying connected with us — we’re committed to making sure you receive timely and clear communication from Berea City Schools.

This notice is a requirement per Ohio Senate Bill 29 (“SB29”) that was passed by the Ohio General Assembly at the end of June 2024, was signed by Governor DeWine on July 24, 2024, and became effective on October 24, 2024. This legislation introduced new rules about how and when schools can access and monitor school-issued devices, and we want to ensure you are aware of these changes. Please be aware that the District, either directly or through a technology provider, is able to monitor all school-issued devices (as that term is defined by R.C. 3319.325). The monitoring can include the following features: student interactions with school-issued devices, including web activity and keystroke monitoring, and to prevent and respond to threats to life or safety. The District monitors these features for educational purposes of instruction, technical support, exam proctoring, and/or as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

What Does Senate Bill 29 Say About Monitoring Student Devices?

Under SB 29, schools and technology providers have the ability to access school-issued devices (such as laptops or tablets) under specific circumstances to ensure student safety and the appropriate use of technology. However, the bill also requires that families are promptly informed when such access occurs.

Key Points to Know:

1. Notification Requirement: If a school district or a technology provider accesses a student’s device, the school is required to notify the student or their parent/guardian within 72 hours. The notice must include:

1. A written description of the reason for accessing the device

2. Details about which features of the device were accessed (e.g., camera, microphone, browsing history)

3. A description of any potential threat that led to the access

2. Exception for Imminent Threats: In cases where immediate notification could pose a danger to the life or safety of students or staff, the school is allowed to delay the notification. In such cases, the school must notify the student or parent within 72 hours after the threat has passed.

Why Is This Important?

This policy aims to strike a balance between protecting students' safety and maintaining transparency about how school-issued devices are monitored. As schools continue to use technology to enhance learning, it's important to ensure both privacy and security are maintained. These monitoring provisions are designed to help safeguard students from potential online threats or misuse of school-provided technology while keeping you informed of any interventions.

What Can You Expect?

Should any school personnel or technology providers need to access your child’s device, you will receive a notification within 72 hours as required by SB 29. This notification will clearly explain:

• Why the device was accessed

• What action was taken

• What safety concern, if any, prompted the access

We want to assure you that any monitoring or access to student devices will only occur in accordance with the law and to protect student well-being.

Our priority is always the safety and privacy of all students, and we will continue to follow these guidelines responsibly. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The Securly Parent Portal gives parents the ability to view online activity outside of the classroom, such as sites browsed, social media use and activity, and items searched. Parents can also set controls outside school hours. We encourage parents to download the Securly Home app. The app will help to safeguard your child’s online activity when devices come home and give you more control.

Please visit our website for more information: https://www.berea.k12.oh.us/departments-services/technology/chromebook-info-parent-help-ticket/securly

Pursuant to Ohio Rev. Code 3313.473(B)(4), this document lists of all health care services available to our students through the School District and in connection with outside providers. As a parent, you may withhold consent or decline care on behalf of your child for any of the physical, mental, or behavioral health care services listed. Please note that withholding consent or declining access to services will not waive your right to access your child’s educational or health care records.

If you choose to opt out of any services, please print, complete, and return this form to your child’s school. A separate form must be completed for each child. Copies of this form are also available in the main office of each school.

It's always exciting to see students eager to start their educational journey. Upon completing their kindergarten readiness assessment, our newest Titans will be signing a letter of intent to attend Berea City Schools next week.

Once they step through the doors of Berea City Schools, our dedicated educators will help them discover their passions, explore their talents, and nurture their unique abilities. We can't wait to see them learn, grow, and achieve great things.

Here's to a bright and promising future for our tiny Titans! They might be little, but their dreams are big, and their potential knows no bounds.

ALL KINDERGARTENERS are invited to attend the August 29th Titans Football game at Finnie Stadium (141 E. Bagley Rd, Berea, OH 44017) and participate in a welcome parade.

Kindergarten students will get to walk on the field and be introduced to the crowd as the Class of 2038! Kindergarten students should wear their "This Kid is a Titan" t-shirt received at KRA testing to get in for free admission.

School administrators and teachers will meet students at the southwest ramp gate. Please note: One parent/guardian MUST walk with his or her child on the track.

Please note: Tickets are not yet available. When they are, use the PROMOTION CODE field at checkout to enter your kindergartener's school ID number, you can download ONE complimentary ticket for an adult. Any additional guests must purchase a general admission ticket.

Students MUST arrive no later than 6:00 p.m. for the line-up.

Through the Annual Update, parents and guardians will be able to enter Emergency Medical Authorization, update emergency contacts, and other information pertaining to household and students.

The Infinite Campus Parent Portal can be accessed through the Berea City Schools website (look for the quick links below the main page video) or by using this LINK.

After logging into the Parent Portal, click on more in the lower left corner, then scroll down to choose Online Registration and Update. We ask that you go through each section of the application updating all data or missing information. Once complete, click on the SUBMIT button.

Thank you for your attention to this important information! If you have any questions about your Parent Portal account or the Online Registration and Update, please click on this link and submit the help request form.

Infinite Campus Annual Update Help

1. Once logged into Infinite Campus, click on More

2. Choose Online Registration and Update
3. Click here to go to Existing Student Registration

4. Read and Confirm the information by typing your name in the box.

5. Use the mouse to sign your name on the line below the box.

6. Click "Submit" and "Begin"

7. Review, update and add information at each prompt using the Next and Save/Continue buttons to proceed.

8. Complete/update each existing student's information.

9. Add any non-enrolled children that will be starting school during the 2024-25 SY,

10. If any of your information on the summary page is highlighted in yellow, you have missed a required field and must edit to go back in and update.

11. Once Done. Click "Submit." There is an option to print the registration on this page.

12. You will receive an email confirmation shortly after your registration is submitted.

NOTES: Since this is an Annual Update, unless you have moved or legal custody has changed, you do not need to upload any documents. All other uploads are only for an existing family adding a new student.

The process CANNOT be successfully completed on a mobile or tablet device.

**If you need assistance, please call 216-898-8300 or complete the Portal Request form icportalsupport

All students are automatically assigned to a bus route. Bus route information will be emailed on August 12th. Families will receive an email from Stopfinder to view route information through the Stopfinder App (available in the App Store or Google Play). If the contact information for your child is not up to date, it will need to be updated through Infinite Campus.

Bus Eligibility:

• Students in grades K-4 must live 1 mile or more from their home school to be eligible for transportation service.

• Students in grades 5-12 must live 1.5 miles or more from their home school to be eligible for transportation service.

If you have a HS student attending Polaris and want to request transportation, please fill out the transportation form here: https://machform.bereaschools.org/view.php?id=845461

Please complete this form for each student in your household who will NOT be utilizing BCSD bus transportation: https://forms.gle/HSCRG2T3t5BPfLk29

Transportation Frequently Asked Questions

This form is for students requesting to be picked up and/or dropped off at a location other than their home address on a regular basis. Childcare Provider Forms are available for students in Grades KG - 8. A separate form must be filled out for each child.

For service to start at the beginning of the school year, the form must be completed by AUGUST 8TH.

FORMS RECEIVED AFTER AUGUST 8TH WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH OF THAT SCHOOL YEAR.

Students will be assigned to EXISTING STOPS ONLY if space is available on the bus.

Your student will only be allowed ONE (1) route in the AM and ONE (1) route in the PM (you can still have your student picked up at home on one route and dropped off at the daycare/babysitter on another route in the afternoon or vice versa). Your student will be on that route for all five (5) days of the week. If you need transportation from or to a different location other than the one you have chosen on any other day of the week, you will be responsible for providing transportation on those days.

You will be contacted by Transportation after your form is processed.
If you have any questions, please call Transportation at 216-898-8301 or email us at:
berea_trans@bereaschools.org.

The Berea City School District, in partnership with Southwest General Health Center, proudly presents our first annual WELLfest, a health and wellness festival.

WELLfest is a FREE community wellness festival with a mission to celebrate healthy living by bringing members of our community together for a day of holistic wellness.

We are proud to host our first annual event, dedicated to providing the information and building blocks to help our community make the right decisions to better their health and wellness on a daily basis. Mark your calendar!

September 27, 2025

10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Berea-Midpark High School

165 East Bagley Road, Berea

Berea City Schools partners with Right At School to provide before and after school enrichment for grades K-5 at our 3 elementary buildings. Right At School provides safe, engaging and meaningful in-school and extracurricular programs to enrich the lives of students, give parents peace of mind and enable schools to focus on their academic mission. The fee-based services offer a curriculum that features hands-on learning, multi-sensory activities, child-driven projects, daily fitness, team building, and leadership development. There are a variety of options offered to accommodate family needs.

For more information or to enroll, please visit the Berea City School District Right At School information website https://www.rightatschool.com/districts/berea-oh/

We understand that circumstances change, and sometimes families need to relocate or switch to different school districts for various reasons.

If you are planning to move or change school districts, we kindly ask that you complete the Withdrawal Notification Form. This form is essential in ensuring a smooth transition for your child and helps us maintain accurate records.

• Berea Elks provide school supplies to help middle schoolers succeed

• Supplies for success: Berea Schools ‘Stuff the Bus’ drive returns Aug. 2

• Berea Schools warns of major funding threat from proposed state legislation

BCSD uses Peachjar, an electronic flyer posting and distribution system to distribute school flyers and approved flyers from community groups and organizations that sponsor activities of an educational/enrichment nature for students and staff >> view current flyers

The Berea Board of Education holds regular community conversations to give the public access to board members outside of the formal public participation setting of a meeting. Residents will have the opportunity to meet and discuss any concerns they may have with two board members during a 30 minute time-slot set aside prior to each regular scheduled Board of Education meeting. The goal of this effort is to more effectively connect with the public and learn more about the community.

District financial information such as our annual financial reports, forecasts, budget documents, etc., can be found on the district website under the Treasurer's Department page.