Berea City School District

2/6 BCSD Winter Job Fair

2/14 No School, Professional Development Day

2/17 No School, Presidents' Day

2/18 Board of Education Meeting

2/18 2025-26 Preschool & Kindergarten Enrollment Opens & Summer Camp Registration Opens

2/21 Magic Gives Back

Please also check your child’s school newsletter for additional important dates that pertain to your student.

2024-2025 School Year Calendar

Dear Berea City School District Families,

Our priority is, and always will be, the well-being, success, and support of every student in our district.

We want to assure you that we are closely monitoring recent federal directives related to funding and policies, working in partnership with legal counsel, state and national education organizations, and policy experts to assess any potential impact on our schools, programs, and funding. If there are official policy changes that affect our students, staff, or resources, we will communicate those updates directly with you.

It is important to emphasize that a child’s immigration status, or that of their parents, does not affect their right to a public education. Federal law guarantees access to schooling for all children, and we remain dedicated to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment for every student.

If you have concerns about immigration, student well-being, or access to resources, we encourage you to reach out. Our school counselors, administrators, and community partners are available to provide direct support and connect families with helpful resources.

We remain dedicated to providing the best possible education and support for our students.

Sincerely,

Tracy L. Wheeler
Superintendent

We're celebrating the importance of attendance all month long with fun activities, competitions, and exciting incentives! Prioritizing daily attendance helps students stay engaged, connected, and on track for success. See your school’s newsletter for all the details!

Berea City School District has taken an exciting step toward the future of education with the launch of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force. This group, made up of educators and administrators, is working to develop guidance for educators on the ethical and effective use of generative AI in the classroom while fostering an environment of responsible AI integration that enhances both teaching and learning.

In January, the district’s AI Task Force held its inaugural meeting. During the session, members brainstormed how AI can and will impact education, collaborated in small groups to identify the top five ways AI will shape the field over the next 5-10 years, and engaged in thoughtful discussions about the opportunities and challenges AI presents.

As part of this initiative, the district introduced a pilot program to explore two innovative tools: MagicSchool AI and SchoolAI. Participants will engage in weekly challenges to analyze, experiment with, and evaluate these tools in real-world scenarios. Their feedback will be crucial in shaping AI implementation across the district’s schools.

Additionally, task force members will participate in a collaborative book study. By combining hands-on experimentation with ongoing professional learning, Berea City School District is taking thoughtful steps to embrace AI in a meaningful and responsible manner.

Ensuring your child’s online safety is more important than ever. To support families in this effort, our district uses Securly for Parents, a tool designed to help parents monitor and manage their child’s online activity outside the classroom.

The Securly Parent Portal provides a comprehensive view of your child’s internet use, including websites browsed, social media activity, and search history. It also allows parents to set controls and restrictions during non-school hours, giving you greater oversight and control of your child’s screen time at home.

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.

For more information and access to resources, please visit our website.

The Berea City School District invites job seekers to attend its Winter Job Fair on Tuesday, February 6, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 390 Fair Street, Berea. This is a great opportunity for individuals looking to build or advance their careers in education.

The district is currently hiring for several roles, including:

• Intervention Associates
• Intervention Assistants
• Certified Substitutes
• K-12 Teaching Positions (2025-26 school year)
• Nutrition Services
• Transportation Drivers
• Transportation Assistants

Additionally, Ohio Substitute Services will be on-site to provide information and support to those interested in becoming substitute teachers and staff.

Whether you're passionate about helping students succeed academically, ensuring safe transportation, or providing nutritious meals, BCSD has a role for you to make a positive difference in students' lives.

Scan the QR code above or click here to register for a time slot.

Join us for Berea City School District's 3rd Annual School Showcase on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. We will be highlighting our amazing programs, clubs, activities, initiatives, and academics, and we need your input! Let us know what you'd like to see featured to make this year's School Showcase truly reflective of our community's interests by taking this quick survey.

On Friday, February 21st at 7:00 p.m., Magic Gives Back will transform Berea-Midpark High School's Performing Arts Center into a Las Vegas-quality stage with an unforgettable magic show!

Featuring world-renowned magician Rick Smith Jr. and his incredible team of performers, this high-energy production will leave you amazed with mind-blowing illusions and jaw-dropping entertainment.

This event is also a fundraiser for Big Creek Elementary School! Tickets are open to the general public, so feel free to invite your friends, family, and neighbors. There are still great seats available, so don’t miss your chance to witness this phenomenal show.

Purchase Tickets

The Portrait of a Titan is a collective vision that articulates aspirations for ALL of our students. The Portrait identifies six key competencies that every student in the Berea City School District should possess by the time they graduate. These competencies are nurtured at every grade level. They are adaptable, communicator, critical thinker, empathetic, innovative, and leader. Our educators are inspiring students to cultivate these essential skills.

In Mrs. McMullen's photography class, students embraced a hands-on learning experience by creating pinhole cameras, also known as "camera obscura" or "dark chambers." These simple yet fascinating devices use a small hole to project an image of the outside world onto the opposite side of a closed box, revealing the principles of light and perspective. This project utilized students' critical thinking as they carefully designed, built, and adjusted their cameras to achieve the best results.

Curiosity led the way as seventh graders in Mr. Trzebuckowski's science class sparked their inner Critical Thinkers and Innovators by building series and parallel circuits. They applied hands-on learning and problem-solving skills to identify voltage and diagram how these circuits work. An electrifying example of Deeper Learning in action!

Get ready for an exciting summer at Grindstone Elementary! Our 2025 Summer Camp will run for eight weeks, from June 9 to July 31, 2025.

We offer flexible options, including:

• 4-day/week camp (Monday-Thursday)
• 3-day/week camp

Please note, there will be no programming on Fridays or on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

Camp hours are from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with before and after-care available.

• Registrations will be open 2/18/2025-5/23/2025. We reserve the right to close registration early if enrollment is full.
• All school fees must be brought current and up-to-date and the registration fee must be paid in order to reserve your spot!

We can't wait to provide a summer filled with fun, learning, and adventure!

Berea City Schools is proud to share an exciting opportunity for our students! Polaris Career Center is hosting its First Annual BuildHER event, a hands-on construction workshop designed for seventh and eighth grade girls.

Sponsored by Henkel Corporation and Regency Construction Services, this event aims to spark interest in construction careers through fun, real-world lab activities led by Polaris instructors and student leaders.

The BuildHER event will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Polaris Career Center. For a $25 registration fee, participants will receive:

• Lab experiences and all class materials
• A take-home project
• A free BuildHER t-shirt and Polaris beanie
• Lunch

With hands-on learning opportunities and mentorship, this action-packed day is expected to fill up quickly! Priority registration for students in Polaris partner school districts, including Berea City Schools, runs through February 14, 2025. Families are encouraged to register early at www.polaris.edu/buildher.

Key Registration Dates:

• February 14, 2025 – Deadline for priority registration for students in partner districts (Berea, Brooklyn, Fairview Park, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, and Strongsville).
• February 15, 2025 – General registration opens for students outside of Polaris partner districts.

Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. For more information, call 440.891.7666 or email DKarberg@polaris.edu.

The Education Foundation offers support for events and projects not otherwise funded within the school district. This support can include backing for special programs, grants for staff and students, scholarships for students, and assistance with other unique opportunities that do not duplicate existing events or projects. These educational opportunities are financed by our various fundraisers and from generous donations made by individuals, organizations, and businesses.

The Education Foundation for the Berea City School District will host its Annual Auction virtually this year, between Thursday, March 6th and Sunday, March 9th.

The success of this event is largely due to our Community Partners and Patrons, who lend their names in support of our mission and provide our organization with financial backing, as well as our donors and bidders.

Learn more about the Annual Auction and how you can get involved: https://www.educationfoundationberea.org/auction.html

• Berea school board alters 2025 meeting start times, Farris named president

• Berea-Midpark girls flag football team participates in exclusive video shoot to promote girls flag

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.

As of December 31, 2024, the Berea City School District is on track with its budget for the school year. We've received about half (50%) of our expected funding, totaling $41.48 million. This money comes from sources like property taxes, state funding, and other revenues. Some areas, like property and personal taxes, are coming in slightly below 50%, but state funding in one category has exceeded expectations.

On the spending side, we've used 48% of our budget, which is right where we planned to be halfway through the year. Major expenses include payroll and benefits for staff, school operations, and services that support students and facilities.

Even with these expenses, the district has a strong cash balance of $27.1 million, providing financial stability as we continue the school year. We're carefully managing resources to ensure that we meet the needs of our students and staff while staying on budget.

Additional 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.