The Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Board at its May 27 meeting approved the expansion of the College and Career Counseling Center at Beverly Hills High School by adding several new counselors.
The board also approved the implementation of a Spanish dual language program in the city’s elementary schools.
“I think this is the most exciting, phenomenal, amazing board meeting I have attended in the past two-and-a-half years,” said Board Vice President Judy Manouchehri of the two new initiatives.
In a presentation about the proposed restructuring of the College and Career Counseling Center, Dr. Dustin Seemann, the district’s assistant superintendent, education services, articulated the need for more counselors at the high school level.
Currently, the College and Career Center employs five academic counselors, one college counselor and two wellness counselors. Seemann recommended transitioning that structure to four freshman and sophomore transition and academic counselors, four junior and senior academic and college counselors, one wellness counselor and one director of counseling.
“[Our] recommendation is increasing opportunity, access and exposure for our school counseling program, specifically starting at [Beverly Hills High School],” he said, adding, “We are really coming to you and making a recommendation to redesign the way that we have seen our school counseling program functions at the high school.”
The counselors focusing on freshmen and sophomores would be responsible for meeting with incoming eighth-grade families, collaborating with teachers and parents, and guiding students through the transition to high school.
“That team, I kind of jokingly called it our hug,” Seemann said. “It is the team that is welcoming and transitioning all of our families, not just the students but all of our families, parents, all of our stakeholders, into the high school.”
The counselors focusing on juniors and seniors would meet individually with second-semester sophomores, liaise with college admissions representatives and guide students and parents through the college testing and application process.
The board approved the request unanimously.
“When they evaluate you for a Distinguished School or a Blue Ribbon School, and also U.S. News & World Report, one of the metrics is those who not only applied to four-year schools but were accepted and matriculate,” said Board Member Dr. Amanda Stern. “So, it definitely is in our best interest to fortify the supports for that.”
Seemann also conducted a presentation to inform the board about progress on implementing a Spanish dual language program in the city’s elementary schools. The program, which would be called the Dual Language Academy, would be introduced in one kindergarten classroom and one first-grade classroom at both El Rodeo and Horace Mann Elementary Schools in the fall.
The program would follow a one-way immersion structure, meaning the majority of students enrolled would be native English speakers learning Spanish.
The board approved the initiative with enthusiasm.
“I wholeheartedly support this,” said Manouchehri. “I believe this is another game changer for our district.”
The district will hold a dual enrollment parent meeting on June 11 to answer questions about the program from the community.
At the board meeting, Board President Rachelle Marcus debuted a new video series called “Mrs. Marcus Meets.” In it, Marcus meets with teachers and staff throughout the district to highlight their work.
According to a statement from the district, the series aims to showcase BHUSD’s core values of excellence, integrity, wellness, inclusion, safety and community.
The first episode features Marcus in conversation with Beverly Vista Middle School (BVMS) Musical Theatre teacher Dr. Fred Pinto. The two discuss how Pinto knew he wanted to work with kids, the school’s recent performance of “The Addams Family” and what he enjoys about working at BVMS.
New episodes will continue to air throughout the year.
In other business, the board approved educational technology tools for the 2025-26 school year, including such products as iReady, BrainPOP and Classtime. The approval followed a discussion in which several board members expressed concern that the district is moving toward more screen time for students rather than less.
“Is there something we can do, because we’re really trying to get away from screen time for the K, 1 through 2 and 2 through 3,” said Board Member Sigalie Sabag.
Seemann noted that the tools have been carefully vetted by school administrators and staff.
“My answer would be, I’m making the recommendation to purchase [these tools],” he said, later adding, “I can promise you we are not plugging and playing students.”
