[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16121-16122]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING BERKLEY SCHOOLS

 Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I wish to recognize the 175th 
Anniversary of Berkley Schools. I appreciate the opportunity to 
recognize this truly significant milestone in the history of the 
Berkley School District and the city of Berkley, MI. I am proud of 
Berkley's enduring commitment to providing quality public education and 
wish it many more decades of successful service to its students and 
their families.
  Throughout its history, the Berkley School District has set the 
benchmark in public education, ensuring its students are prepared for 
success, both as individuals and leaders in an increasingly global 
community. The district's continued dedication to academics is apparent 
in its recognition by North Central Accreditation, as well as the many 
honors its students have received in marketing, communications, 
literacy and poetry, robotics, and video production. Berkley High 
School boasts 21 advanced placement and college level courses--more 
than any other traditional high school campus--and provides the highest 
math curriculum of any high school in Michigan's Oakland County. 
Additionally, the district's Norup International School is the United 
States only K-8 International Baccalaureate program housed on one 
campus. It is no surprise Berkley High School enjoys a 98 percent 
graduation rate, with nearly 100 percent of those graduates enrolling 
in colleges and universities.
  In addition to ensuring its students' success in the classroom, the 
Berkley School District provides an opportunity for students to 
participate in a wide variety of varsity sports, clubs, and student 
organizations. From football and softball, to rugby and skiing, 
students can compete for the Berkley Bears throughout the year. 
Students also entertain as members of the high school's marching band, 
symphonic band, concert band, and jazz band, as well as with its three 
choirs and theater program. I applaud the Berkley School District for 
providing opportunities for students to explore art, music, and 
literature.
  Berkley had been associated with education for nearly a century when 
the city was incorporated in 1932. The Berkley School was mentioned as 
part of the Royal Oak Township School District No. 7 in 1840. It was 
housed in the Blackmon School, at the corner of Coolidge and Catalpa, 
from 1840 until a new school building was established in 1901. The new 
building, named South School, was located at the northeast corner of 
Coolidge and 11 Mile Road until it was converted into a dormitory for 
teachers in 1920. The district's growth was swift. In 1921, the 
district built Angell School, a four-room building, on Bacon Street. 
Four years later, in 1925, the district added two more schools, 
Pattengill and Burton, which were occupied before they were even 
completed.
  Despite its success, the Berkley School District was not immune to 
the hardships of the Great Depression. In January 1930, all pupils were 
placed on half days, half of the faculty was dismissed, bus service was 
eliminated, and the gym was closed. The following year, the district 
was forced to close Burton and Pattengill schools. Fortunately, both 
schools were reopened in time for the ``baby boom'' that followed the 
end of World War II. As the district's population grew, Berkley

[[Page 16122]]

High School opened in 1949, followed by Tyler and Oxford Schools in 
1951; Hamilton School in 1952; and the district's two junior high 
schools, Anderson and Norup, in 1956 and 1957.
  Today, the Berkley School District continues to be a leader in 
providing excellent public education in the State of Michigan. It 
serves as an example of how community-driven, quality education can not 
only enrich the lives of students, but also drive the growth and 
quality of life in the surrounding community for generations. I am 
pleased to help celebrate the 175th Anniversary of Berkley Schools and 
wish it many more decades of successful service to its students and 
their families.

                          ____________________