Emergency Info

Our highest priority is to keep students, faculty, and staff safe at all times. It’s possible that a weather event, site malfunction, or otherwise unsafe scenario could force us to make the decision to close school temporarily.  Notification of school delays and closing will be published here on this page and communicated to parenting adults, staff, and faculty by email and by text.

Please be sure your contact information is up-to-date in our Student Information Systems, BigSIS.

We hope the protocol information below helps everyone understand the processes that we use to make the best possible decision for everyone connected with our school community.

Air Quality Protocol

Monitoring air quality is an important and regular part of our health and safety protocol. To determine whether modifications to school-day activities are needed, we use this set of guidelines, developed from EPA guidelines and public health officer observations from past California wildfire/air quality episodes. We look to airnow.gov and the local source, Aquatic Park, for real-time AQI information. We do not use PurpleAir or other sources to make these decisions.

On days that start with air quality in the moderate (yellow) range and are forecast to grow worse, we monitor the AQI hourly. When conditions move into the unhealthy for sensitive groups (orange), unhealthy (red), or very unhealthy (purple) ranges we make modifications to daily routines.

If 4 consecutive school days take place with AQI at red or purple, and the forecast indicates a 5th day with similar conditions, we will cancel school for the 5th day. That determination will be made on or before noon on the 4th day.

If the forecast predicts that a school day will begin with air quality beyond very unhealthy, we will cancel school for that day, notifying families by 8PM the day before. If air quality moves into the “beyond very unhealthy” range during the school day, we will do everything possible to end school activities earlier than scheduled.

Power Outage Protocol

In the event of a temporary power outage, whether planned or unexpected, TBS will remain open.
We have arrangements in place to ensure that our students will be safe and secure – and continue learning! – during such outages. Should the power go out, we have backup infrastructure and protocols to ensure two-way communication with families and to keep our gates operational.
In case of power outage, families can still contact our campuses using our analog phone lines:
Early Childhood Campus: (510) 841-4460
University Avenue Campus: (510) 665-8700

How to contact us in case of campus power outage:

In case of a power outage, families can still contact our campuses using our analog phone lines:

Early Childhood Campus

(510) 841-4460

University Avenue Campus (K-8)

(510) 665-8700

Questions about our Emergency Preparedness? Please contact:

Tim Thomas
Facilities & Campus Safety Director
(510) 665-8800, ext. 104

The Berkeley School welcomes students of any race, color, religion, gender identity or expressionsexual orientation, ability, and national or ethnic origin and accords them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made available to students at The Berkeley School. TBS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, and national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, employment policies, scholarship programs, and athletic or other school administered programs. 

Our Mission

Ignite Curious Minds
Awaken Generous Hearts
Engage a Changing World

K - 8 Campus

1310 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 665-8800

Early Childhood Campus

2030 Francisco Street
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 849-8340

The Berkeley School welcomes students of any race, color, religion, gender identity or expressionsexual orientation, ability, and national or ethnic origin and accords them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made available to students at The Berkeley School. TBS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, and national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, employment policies, scholarship programs, and athletic or other school administered programs. 

Ignite Curious Minds
Awaken Generous Hearts
Engage a Changing World

K - 8 Campus

1310 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94702
(510) 665-8800

Early Childhood Campus

2030 Francisco Street
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 849-8340

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