Summary of the Board of Education Meeting on August 11, 2021
The August 11, 2021 meeting of the Board of Education began with the following announcements out of Closed Session.
- The Board took action to hire Tangee Pinheiro as Instructional Superintendent at Special Education.
- The Board took action on two workers’ compensation claims.
Next, Superintendent Nelson provided a brief report to the Board of Education, including:
- Superintendent Nelson started by sharing that tomorrow is officially our first day back to school and just like every year, I know so many of us are feeling those first-day jitters! Especially after the past year and a half of uncertainty and with all the politicization of returning to school in-person, I know it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Here’s my advice to all of us here tonight and to the entirety of our Fresno Unified Family – let’s focus on our kids coming back to school safely, responsibly, and happily. Let’s leave the controversy and politicization out and keep focused on our mission – to cultivate and nurture the interests, intellect, and leadership of our students by providing an excellent, equitable education in a culturally proficient environment. If we focus there, we will be successful in moving forward together and achieving our greatest potential.
- Next, the Superintendent shared that many of you heard the Governor announce today the requirement that all staff need to provide proof of vaccination or be tested for COVID-19 on at least a once weekly basis. Our teams are already working on how to implement this mandate successfully before the required deadline of October 15th, 2021. As with all mandates that have come our way, like indoor mask-wearing, we will work to successfully implement as required, but we will not be distracted from our core mission in serving our students.
- Superintendent Nelson shared that we’re so excited to welcome our students back tomorrow and kick this school year off with enthusiasm, support, and love. Safety guidelines are in place to protect our students and staff, social emotional supports have been increased for our students, and activities, sports and clubs are back. Our teachers are ready and supported to meet our students where they are, build those crucial relationships, and help each student to progress in their academic journey. School sites and our Parent University stand at the ready to support parents and answer your questions. And tomorrow, as busses get rolling and parents start their normal drop-off routines again, we ask that everyone be extra vigilant while driving around our schools to keep our students and families safe. If you’re looking for our current safety guidelines, bus routes, and bell schedules please head to our website and to your school’s website for more information.
- Last, Superintendent Nelson said that he would take a couple of minutes to dedicate the rest of my remarks to remembering and honoring our dear colleague and friend, Trustee Carol Mills. I first met Carol back in 2001, when I served as her son’s vice principal at Powers-Ginsburg Elementary. While serving as a parent, she advocated for not only what was best for her son, but also for all the young people in her circle. She was relentless in her pursuit of trying to make the district the best that it could possibly be, including
Carol served as a tireless advocate for our city’s kids, having spent her last 17 years as a Trustee of the District. First elected in 2004, Carol was the champion of any initiative that directly benefited students, including supporting every child with the opportunity to participate with programs such as the International Baccalaureate program or career technical education, as well as expanding our students’ access to arts, athletics, and engagement activities. She advocated tirelessly for having after-school opportunities available to every child and family — a dream that will be realized in 2021.
For the last several months, Carol fought a valiant battle against Lou Gehrig’s disease. True to her nature, she continued to serve as an advocate and role model, this time in the role of ableism. She advocated for her own rights, as well as the rights of others with exceptionality until her last breath. Her digitized graduation speech at the 2020 commencement for Fresno High was the very epitome of the concept of “finishing well.” Our community has been made better through her commitment to serving others. We stand in her debt, and she will be missed. Please watch this tribute to Trustee Carol Mills.
Next, the Board of Education took the following action on the below consent agenda items:
- Approved Personnel List
- Adopted Findings of Fact and Recommendations of District Administrative Board
- Approved Minutes from Prior Meeting
- Adopted Resolution 21-01, Authorizing Debt Service Estimate to be Provided to the County of Fresno Respecting Unsold General Obligation Bonds of the Fresno Unified School District Relating to the Measure M Authorization for Fiscal Year 2021/22
- Approved Budget Revision No. 1 for Fiscal Year 2021/22
- Approved Annual Agreements for the 2021/22 School Year
- College and Career Readiness
- Athletics
- Maintenance and Operations
- Targeted Assistance: Student Achievement Outcomes, Social Emotional Supports
- Professional Development
- Approved Memorandum of Understanding with Carter G. Woodson Public Schools
- Approved Amendment of California School Management Agreement for Emergency Connectivity Fund Applications
- Approved Award of Bid 22-01, Addams Elementary School Building Additions and Modernization
- Approve Proposed Revisions and Adopted Revised Board Policy (BP): 6158 Independent Study
- Denied Claim GL19-0919-5487
- Ratified Master Services Agreement with Frontline Technologies Group
- Ratified Change Orders
Bid 20-11, Ericson Elementary School Early Learning Building Construction and Interim Housing Infrastructure
Bid 21-01, Hoover High School Event Center Painting and Fire Proofing
Bid 21-04, McLane High School New CTE Digital Media Arts Lab
Bid 21-07, McLane High School Fire Alarm Upgrade
Bid 21-11, Edison High School Gymnasium Addition
Bid 21-14, McLane High School Stadium Scoreboard Replacement
Bid 21-24, Columbia Elementary School Classroom Building Addition
- Ratified the Filing of Notices of Completion
Bid 19-42 Sections B ,C and D, Lighting Improvements at Various Schools
Bid 19-50 Sections A and B, Portable Classroom Relocation and Infrastructure for Ewing, Kirk, Phoenix, Sunset, Vang Pao and Wilson Elementary Schools
Bid 20-11, Ericson Elementary School Early Learning Building Construction and Interim Housing Infrastructure
Bid 20-54 Section B, Modular Classroom Infrastructure for Lawless, Lincoln and Malloch Elementary Schools
Bid 21-01, Hoover High School Event Center Painting and Fire Proofing
Bid 21-07, McLane High School Fire Alarm Upgrade
Bid 21-12 Sections A and B, Gymnasium Scoreboard Replacement at Various Middle Schools
Bid 21-14, McLane High School Stadium Scoreboard Replacement
- Ratified Purchase Orders from May 01, 2021 through May 31, 2021, and one Purchase Order from February 2021
Next, the Board of Education discussed the below conference/discussion agenda items:
- Discussed and took action to not adopt the resolution to provisionally appoint a board member and allow for a call of an election for board vacancy in Trustee Area 5
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will be Wednesday, August 25, 2021. Complete minutes and agendas are available online at board.fresnounified.org