The August 21 meeting of the Board of Education began with the following announcements out of Closed Session:
- The Board promoted Don Soyinthisane, Manager II, Information and Technology to Director, Information and Technology
- The Board took action on one workers’ compensation item
- On a motion by Board member Islas, seconded by Board member Thomas, by the following vote 6-AYES and one ABSTENTION by Board member Slatic, the board took action in closed session to deny the Claim for Damages by a Minor: Case No. GL19-0111-2271.
Next, Campus Culture Directors for the 2019/20 school year led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Next, Superintendent Nelson provided a brief report to the Board of Education including:
- Highlighting that August 12 marked the start of school year for our more than 74,000 students. Superintendent visited sites and he thanked the entire Fresno Unified family for all they did to ensure students and staff had all they needed for a successful first week. From school staff, to operations and safety, to transportation and food services, to the countless departments that play pivotal roles to ensure we have the staff hired, trained and ready to serve and support our students the second they enter gates on day one.
- Nelson also shared that last week we had an incident involving a social media threat that has forever changed the trajectory of one of our Fresno Unified students. A student took a picture of a gun rack at a local Walmart and posted it with a threatening comment on Snapchat. The student was tracked by law enforcement through their phone. While the threat was not credible, the student was arrested for posting a terrorist threat. Nelson emphasized how important it is for our youth to understand the dire consequences associated with making threatening or derogatory comments on social media. Beginning next week, you are going to begin seeing a series of community messages around the subject of responsible social media use as we continue to reinforce these dangers with our youth and greater community.
- Next, Superintendent thanked the countless community organizations that once again provided back to school supplies and backpacks for our students in need. One of them was Cornerstone Community Care Project, which donated 4,400 backpacks to 22 Fresno Unified schools in addition to providing eight bikes throughout the school year to serve as incentives to supporting attendance and academic success. Acts of kindness such as these, remind us how generous our community is. Thank you to Cornerstone and the many organizations that support Fresno Unified and our students.
- Nelson also shared that at the same time we were busy welcoming students back to school, thousands of our recent graduates are beginning to head off to college, starting the next phase of their academic journey. While some students choose to stay home, many are venturing out of town for the very first time. It is a huge step for our young adults and would not have been possible for many students with the love and support they received from teachers and staff here within Fresno Unified. Here is a video of our recent Fresno Unified graduate Eduardo Casarubias as he begins his next big journey.
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 the District Administrative Board
- Approved Minutes from Prior Meeting
- Approved 2019/20 Spring Release Consolidated Application to the California Department of Education
- Denied Claim GL18-0813-1280
- Denied Claim GL19-0204-2457
- Ratified Agreement with Curriculum Associates, LLC
- Ratified Agreement with Fresno County Early Stars Program
- Ratified Change Order for the Project Listed Below
- Bid 19-20 Section B, HVAC Multipurpose Rooms Improvements for Viking and Vinland Elementary Schools
- Ratified Grant Application to the 2019 Project Prevents Grants Program
- Ratified Grant Application to the U.S. Department of Education School Climate Transformation Grant Program
- Ratified Purchase Orders from May 1, 2019 through May 31,2019 – Primary Report
- Ratified Purchase Orders from May 1, 2019 through May 31, 2019 – Supplemental Report (Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas abstained pursuant board Bylaw 9270)
Next, the Board of Education discussed and took action on the below conference/discussion agenda items:
- Public Discussion and Ratification of the 2019-2020 Tentative Agreement between Fresno Unified School District and California School Employees Association and its Chapter 125
- Public Discussion and Ratification of the 2019-2022 Tentative Agreement between Fresno Unified School District and Fresno Teachers Association – Building Trades Professionals
- Discussed and moved to table Action until September 18, 2019 for Existing Board Bylaws 9005 and 9130 and Adopted Two Proposed Board Bylaws Regarding Complaints Concerning Board Members and Censure Policy and Procedures
Next, the Board of Education received the following Information and Reports:
- Received Fresno Unified Schools District’s Fourth Quarterly Investment Report for Fiscal Year 2018/19
- Received Information Regarding the Issuance and Sale of 2019 General Obligation Refunding Bonds
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education is Wednesday, September 04, 2019 at the Fresno Unified Education Center, located at 2309 Tulare Street in Fresno. Complete minutes and agendas are available online at https://go.fresnou.org/board.