The Beverly Hills Unified School District welcomed employees back for its annual Staff Opening Day, marking the beginning of the 2026-27 school year and the district’s 90th year.

The program brought district employees together before students return to campus and included remarks from Board of Education President Judy Manouchehri, Beverly Hills Mayor Craig Corman and Superintendent Alex Cherniss, as well as a student discussion and recognition of longtime employees.

Manouchehri, a 1998 Beverly Hills High School graduate, highlighted recent academic results, including increases of 4% in English achievement, 5% in mathematics and 9% in science. The district also reported a 37% increase in applications to four-year universities.

“A child’s future is never defined by where they begin, but by the people who believe in them, who challenge them, who encourage them and who inspire them to become more than they ever imagined possible,” Manouchehri said.

Corman, a 1977 Beverly Hills High School graduate, discussed his experience attending Beverly Hills schools from kindergarten through graduation.

Cherniss reviewed programs and facilities expanded during the previous school year, including the Dual Language Academy, High-Impact Tutoring, athletics and arts programs and Unified Physical Education through Special Olympics.

He also outlined initiatives planned for 2026-27, including the introduction of Beverly Hills Preschool, continued expansion of the Dual Language Academy and High-Impact Tutoring and development of the Prime Ambassador Program, which is intended to create employment opportunities for Prime graduates.

The district is also exploring an artificial intelligence graduation requirement that would address skills including AI literacy and prompt engineering. BHUSD will begin implementing the Board of Education’s new technology and screen-time policy and closed-campus policy during the school year.

Students also participated in a discussion titled “The Real Students of Beverly Hills,” moderated by Assistant Superintendent Dustin Seemann. Eleven students discussed ways teachers and staff can better support them in the classroom and throughout their education.

The program concluded by recognizing more than 65 employees for 10 to 40 years of service. Luis Mercado was recognized for 40 years with the district, while Rich Waters was honored for 35 years.

For information, visit bhusd.org.