End of Year Message from Superintendent Francis

Berkley Schools Community,

As we wind down the 2025-26 school year, I am reflecting on the wonderful moments our students and staff should be proud of including seeing 307 of our Berkley High School students graduate last week.  I’m also grateful for our staff who make the school year so successful and go above and beyond for our kids.  

And while it’s always a bittersweet time of year, and I know we are all looking forward to some quieter months during the summer, I want you to know about a few important things that we are working on that will look different for the 2026-27 school year: universal safety and emergency language, the Student Code of Conduct and our District-wide cell phone policy. Please read through the end of this email to hear about the new plans so you’re prepared for these changes as they roll out in August.

Safety Language

In December of 2024, the State of Michigan passed new legislation (HB 4095 and 4096) that requires all schools in Michigan to adopt uniform terminology for emergency response starting in the 2026-27 school year. This language, developed by the I Love U Guys Foundation, will standardize emergency terms so public safety officers and staff have consistent language no matter which school they visit. This language does not replace ALICE. It sits side-by-side with ALICE and we will share more detailed updates with you in August.  

Student Code of Conduct

Over the last two years, the District administrative team has worked to revise the Student Code of Conduct. The current Code of Conduct is over a decade old and through the BELE Framework, Restorative Practices and our equity work, the team worked to make adjustments with the ultimate goal of creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive school community. The opening of the Code of Conduct states:

In the Berkley School District, we believe every student deserves a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. This Student Code of Conduct reflects our shared values and our commitment to fostering a positive school culture built on respect, kindness, fairness, and belonging for all.

This is a guide to help us create a community where students are encouraged to make thoughtful choices, take responsibility for their actions, and grow through learning and repair, not just punishment. While some behaviors require specific consequences under District policy or State law, our approach prioritizes restorative practices, like conversations, circles, and opportunities to repair harm, alongside fair and progressive responses that fit the situation.

Creating this culture is a collective effort. Students, families, staff, and community members all play an important role in shaping our schools. We believe students should have opportunities to lead, contribute, and help teach expectations to younger peers. We also want every student to know where to turn for help, whether to a teacher, counselor, social worker, or other trusted adult.

In addition, all of our administrators have been trained in Restorative Practices as has our high school staff, and throughout this upcoming school year, all our remaining staff will go through the same training. It is our hope that by focusing on fostering relationships and repairing harm, our students will learn important life skills. This new philosophy does not remove the options for traditional consequences like suspensions, but we hope it reduces those consequences by teaching our students skills to manage difficult situations.

District-wide Cell Phone Policy

In February 2026, Senate Bill 495 and House Bill 4141 were signed into law stating that Michigan school districts must create action plans that keep devices away during class, with exceptions for emergencies and academic use. Our administrative team has reviewed the law and will be implementing the following parameters:

• Elementary: All personal electronic communication devices must be away for the entire day, including smart watches. All devices must be stored in backpacks or a phone caddy in the classroom.

• Middle School: All personal electronic devices must be away for the day, including lunch. All devices must be stored in each classroom phone caddy during class time, and not be in use during passing and lunch times.

• High School: All personal electronic devices must be away during class time and stored in each classroom’s phone caddy during instruction.

In addition, we will be requiring students to leave their personal iPads and laptops at home and use the District-issued Chromebooks for their school work. This change will secure our cyber network, and make our electronic data safer.

 

State of Michigan School Aid Budget

At this time, the State of Michigan has not finalized the School Aid Budget for the 2026-27 school year, which is the primary source of funding for public schools across our state.  My concern is that we will not receive a budget until after their deadline of July 1 and we will find ourselves in a situation similar to last year when we didn’t know the State’s budget details for schools until after the school year began.  

I have been in contact with our local legislators asking them to embrace fiscal responsibility and pass a budget before their July 1 deadline.  Being fiscally responsible means funding the School Aid Fund in full and making our students and your children a priority. 

If you are concerned about the State’s School Aid Budget, the best way to express that concern is through contacting your representatives and Governor Whitmer. You can find your Senator and find your Representative on their websites.

District Survey

Before we sign off for the summer, please be sure to take 5-10 minutes to fill out the District Culture & Equity survey. It’s important to us to hear from our constituents, so we know what changes we need to make and if we’re hitting out Strategic Plan goals. Students, we would love to hear from you, too.

Regional Enhancement Millage

And lastly, I encourage you to learn more about the Oakland County Regional Enhancement Millage that is on the August 4, 2026 ballot. If approved by voters, the proposal would levy 1.5 mills for six years to provide additional funding directly to local public school districts and eligible public school academies. Funding would be distributed on a per-student basis, estimated at approximately $781 per student annually. If approved, the top priority for Berkley Schools would be to invest the additional funds in attracting new staff members and retaining our outstanding staff. The Board of Education has committed to use 90% of the funding for staffing.  Additional priorities include: maintaining small class sizes, supporting social and emotional well-being, closing special education funding gaps, and maintaining a balanced budget. Additional information regarding the millage, including a tax calculator and a FAQ page, can be found on the Oakland County Regional Enhancement Millage website.

 

Thank you for the wonderful memories this school year. Wishing you a restful summer.

As always, I am grateful for our school community and to be a part of the community. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Scott Francis

Superintendent

Berkley Schools