Open Letter to Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss

Welcome, Dr. Alex Cherniss, as the new Superintendent of the fabled Beverly Hills Unified School District.

From your past teaching and administrative experience with BHUSD, you know this community and the District well. You also know how deeply involved and committed this community is to the success of our public schools. As a result, our schools are exceptionally well-financed: next academic year, we will spend about $37,000 per student and have a student–teacher ratio of 15:1, according to U.S. News & World Report. This level of funding rivals top private schools — and our ratios are far better than even the highest-performing public schools in California.

Our facilities, including the brand-new El Rodeo campus and the significant improvements at Beverly High, are spectacular.

From your background here and your nearly nine years as Superintendent at San Marino, Palos Verdes Peninsula, and Placentia–Yorba Linda Unified School Districts, you know how important a quality education is: well-educated students are better citizens and better prepared for productive lives. Once, our schools were among the best in the nation. This is no longer the case.

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Where We Stand

Of the eight high schools in the districts where you previously served as Superintendent, every one ranked substantially higher than Beverly High in the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings — despite Beverly High’s better student–teacher ratio.

The tools are here. The resources are ample. The community is supportive. The question is how to use them.

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My Thoughts and Suggestions

High academic standards are lacking. Teacher quality, which is crucial, is uneven. Teacher morale is not good. You must find a way to reward high-performing teachers — and, easier said than done, remove those who are not. Recruiting the best teachers must be a high priority.

Politics has no place in education. Whether a teacher or administrator is perceived as “woke” or “MAGA” is irrelevant. You were selected on a 3–2 vote — and from your time at Placentia–Yorba Linda you know how fragile a Superintendent’s tenure can be when politics creeps in. It is critical that you be, and be seen as, a Superintendent for everyone.

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Focus Above All Else: Academics

This District’s administration and Board of Education have a tendency to become distracted — whether it’s reconfiguring schools, security, construction, accommodating displaced Palisades High students, or controversies about popular teachers. These issues are not unimportant, but they must be resolved quickly and decisively. Otherwise, focus on academics is lost.

We cannot revisit reconfiguration because of its costs and disruption. The slide in academic standing has developed over years and no Superintendent has managed to reverse it. We have lacked clear responsibility, transparency, and accountability.

You must set specific goals for improvement, such as higher scores on state proficiency tests, and publicly report results. Hold those responsible — including yourself — accountable before moving on to the next year. For example: in the most recent results, only 38% of Beverly High students met state proficiency standards in science — only slightly better in English and math. Only 41% passed at least one AP exam. We must aim higher.

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Recruit, Retain, Attract

One way to raise standards is to attract students with high potential. They are already here — but increasingly attend private schools. Please make it a priority to persuade those families to stay or return. Also, expand the Permit program beyond just grandchildren of residents, and make it easier for students with a real connection to Beverly Hills to enroll.

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Keep Us on the Cutting Edge

Modern education must embrace digital tools and artificial intelligence. With our resources, BHUSD should stay at the forefront — using technology to improve student performance.

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Plan for Continuity

Today, few Superintendents stay long. It’s never too early to identify and groom your successor. No leader is successful without a plan for succession.

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Live Here — It Matters

On a personal note: I understand that you live in Los Alamitos and value that community. But as I write this on a weekday afternoon, Google Maps shows it takes over an hour to drive from your home to your office at Hawthorne School. This is not a 9–5 job. It requires your presence — evenings, weekends, holidays. Adding 2.5+ hours of commuting daily is unsustainable. Please do not attempt it. Relocate here.

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In Closing

You know how to do this — I trust you can do it again, here, for Beverly Hills. I wish you great success and look forward to meeting you in person.