February 8, 2017

The February 8, 2017 meeting of the Board of Education began with the following announcements out of Closed Session:

  • Board took action regarding workers’ compensation claims

Next, Dana Wells, a community member that has had a positive impact at Hamilton, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Board of Education approved the minutes from the January 11, 2017 regular meeting and the January 12, 2017 special meeting.

Maddie Corey, ASB President and Alejandro DaSilva, students from Edison High School, provided a report to the Board of Education, sharing details of yesterday’s SAB meeting as well as ongoing events at Edison. They thanked Board Members Johnson and Davis for attending the SAB meeting.  In addition, students from Gaston Middle School provide highlights of activities.  The students also shared with trustees their kindness project called #BeKindBeATiger and gave the board members t-shirts from the campaign.  The students also recognized Edison Vice Principal Mr. Barrett and Campus Culture Director Ms. Perez.  Perez was named Educator of the Year at the Excellence in Education awards ceremony the night before.

Next, Acting Superintendent Nelson provided a brief report to the Board of Education including:

  • Acting Superintendent Nelson welcomed Dr. Carole Goldsmith, president of Fresno City College who was in attendance. She joined a few of our staff members in a presentation about a unique partnership to relocate our Design Science High School into permanent facilities built on the Fresno City College campus.  Currently, Design Science students are housed in portable classrooms on Cambridge Avenue just east of Blackstone.  
  • Nelson also shared there would be a presentation this evening about adding school-based health and wellness clinics to school campuses.  In advance of tonight’s meeting, Trustees have received materials and participated in question-and-answer sessions on this topic.  The district is now looking to partner with Clinica Sierra Vista and Valley Children’s Healthcare to expand centers to six school sites.  The plan is in two phases.  The first phase includes funding from Valley Children’s Healthcare for the buildings, Clinica Sierra Vista providing the services, and Fresno Unified providing nursing and case-management services.  Prior to the second phase of expansion, the district will revisit the plan with the board.     
  • The district’s new emergency notification system, Rapid Alert, was launched today with a text message inviting parents, guardians, and staff to Opt in.  We hope everyone who received the Rapid Alert text responded by Opting In.  For staff who did not receive the test alert, an email was sent this afternoon with instructions for registering.  While we hope we don’t have to utilize this technology very often, it’s good to know we have it and can reach parents and staff quickly in the event of an emergency. 
  • Finally, last night the district hosted our annual Excellence in Education awards banquet at the Golden Palace Banquet Hall, and it was a full house as we celebrated 49 remarkable employees.  Of the 49 finalists, five employees won the district’s crystal award, and I want to offer special congratulations to:  Classified category:  Office Manager from Turner Elementary, Tianna Gonzales, Elementary certificated:  Aynesworth, Teacher, Judith Sanchez, Middle School certificated:  Ahwahnee, History Teacher, Stephen Ruiz, High School certificated:  Edison, Campus Culture Director, Fabiola Perez, Administrator:  Teacher Development, Administrator, Teresa Morales-Young.  Three of these crystal award winners, Tianna, Fabiola, and Teresa, will go on to represent Fresno Unified at the Fresno County Office of Education event next fall.  Nelson shared a videofrom the evening.  

Following Acting Superintendent Nelson’s remarks, the Board of Education took the following actions on the below consent agenda items:

  • Approved personnel list for Fresno Unified employees
  • Adopted findings of fact and recommendations of the District Administrative Board
  • Approved Independent Contractor Services agreement with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, Early Care and Education Department.
  • Approved an amendment to the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee Bylaws
  • Approved an agreement with MGT of America for Assessment of Facility Conditions
  • Approved use of Individual Piggyback Contracts for 2016/17
  • Approved award of Bid 17-15, Disposable Meal Trays
  • Denied Claim #17-0103-0001
  • Ratified Change Orders for Bid 16-04 Robinson Elementary New Kindergarten Building, Bid 16-21 Duncan Polytechnical High School Gymnasium New Colling Addition, Bid 16-23 Roosevelt High School Gymnasium New Colling Addition, Bid 16-27 McLane High School Gymnasium New Cooling Addition and Bid 16-32 Summer 2016 Portable Classroom Relocation and Infrastructure Project.  (President Ashjian abstained due to a remote business conflict, board bylaw 9270).
  • Ratified the filing of the Notice of Completion for Bid 16-04 Robinson Elementary School New Kindergarten Building Construction
  • Ratified Purchase Orders from November 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016.  (President Ashjian abstained due to a remote business conflict, Board Bylaw 9270. Trustee Cazares abstained due to a remote financial interest, Board Bylaw 9270).

After the consent agenda, staff made a presentation to the Board in the conference/discussion section of the agenda as follows:

  • Presented and discussed the 2017/18 Strategic Budget Development Plan
  • Discussed and approved an award for request of Proposals 17-12, school-based health clinics at Addams Elementary, Bakman Elementary, Duncan Polytechnical High, Sequoia Middle, Sunnyside High and Tehipite Middle Schools with a review of potential expansion to additional future sites.
  • Discussed and approved the charter renewal petition for Valley Preparatory Academy.
  • Presented and discussed the Expansion of the partnership between State Center Community College District and Fresno Unified for the Design Science High School program, plus approved an allocation of new funding for new facility.
  • The board approved to move the process of discussion for selecting an interim superintendent to the February 22, 2017 board meeting.
  • The board approved to move the discussion of the process for selecting a superintendent search firm to the February 22, 2017 board meeting.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education is Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. at the Fresno Unified Education Center, located at 2309 Tulare St. in Fresno. Complete minutes and agendas are available online at https://go.fresnou.org/board

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