Realm Charter School

A former Berkeley Unified School District student has filed a civil lawsuit against the district and a former teacher, alleging sexual abuse she endured at the former REALM Charter School, as first reported by Berkeleyside.

Wednesday night’s emotional Berkeley Unified School District meeting marked the end of many things — the end of student director Arvin Hariri’s yearlong term, recognition of the retirement of four BUSD employees and community members, and the revocation of REALM’s charter.

Berkeley High School senior and Berkeley Unified School District student director Arvin Hariri chaired the BUSD board meeting Wednesday night as a part of an annual tradition and led discussions on the education budget, transportation plans and special education programs.

BUSD board members continued talks surrounding the future of REALM Charter School and the district’s sustainability efforts at their meeting on Wednesday.

PSR was established in 1866 as the first seminary west of the Mississippi River and has a mission to “prepare spiritually rooted leaders for social transformation,” according to PSR President Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy.

Assistant Superintendent Pauline Follansbee and Associate Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi joined the board to discuss the cuts and presented the superintendent’s proposed reductions.

Demonstrators held signs advocating for a “living wage.” One recurring sign read, “We protect, cook, clean, drive, repair and help students succeed. We also need to eat.”

At their meeting Wednesday, Berkeley Unified School District Board members discussed proposed expenditures, as well as a measure that would consolidate REALM Charter Schools into one school for sixth through 12th grades.

The threat was discovered at around 9:30 a.m., according to Berkeleyside. Berkeley Police Department was alerted of the threat at 10:32 a.m., and officers were present on the campus until about 1:30 p.m., according to BPD spokesperson Sgt. Andrew Frankel.

The Berkeley Unified School District School Board unanimously passed a motion at its meeting Wednesday evening that will allow REALM Charter School to continue using facilities at 1222 University Ave.