Summary of the Board of Education Meeting on January 13, 2021 Virtual Meeting
The January 13, 2021 meeting of the Board of Education began with the following announcement out of Closed Session
- The Board took action on a workers’ compensation settlement
Next, Brandon Aoki, SAB representative from Edison High School, shared that most Edison students ran a winter session in which a vast number of credits were recovered. Students are getting adjusted to the new schedule. They are beginning the process of creating their first virtual rally to be an extension of student voices allowing them to show their feelings and socialize beyond breakout rooms.
The School Student Ambassadors from Gaston Middle School also shared what they love about Gaston Middle School.
Next, Superintendent Nelson provided a brief report to the Board of Education including:
- Superintendent Nelson started by recognizing that January is National Mentoring Month. Fresno Unified is fortunate to have a designated mentoring office that offers our students a robust range of mentoring supports, including individual, group, and e-mentoring. Our numbers of student mentees have grown from the hundreds to the thousands in the past several years. During virtual learning, not only did we quickly pivot all of our mentoring programs to virtual platforms, we expanded a number of our programs, including peer mentoring for English learner newcomers and a Tech peer mentoring program where peer mentors assist other students who are having technology challenges. Here is a video highlighting our mentoring opportunities. During January, the DPI Mentoring office will be highlighting in social media many of our mentors and school sites that go above and beyond. If you or someone you know is interested in being a mentor. Please reach out to our Prevention & Intervention office at 457-3340 or visit dpi.fresnounified.org.
- Next, the Superintendent recognized and celebrated seven students from our district selected to the 2021 California All State Honor Band and Orchestra. Being selected to these ensembles is the highest honor a California music student can receive. The following Fresno Unified musicians have been recognized as one of the top music students in the state of California for the 2020-21 school year:
California All State Middle School Honor Orchestra
- Izzy Cobb, Violin – Computech
- Xavion Torres, Viola – Computech
- Betsy Woodward, Cello – Computech
- Penelope Freeman, Violin – Computech
California All State High School Honor Orchestra
- Rowan Crass, Violin – Edison
California All State High School Honor Band
- Kate Richardson, Euphonium – Bullard
- David Kglygan, Contrabass Clarinet – Bullard
In a normal year, these students would come together with the other top musicians from around the state to make music. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the All State ensembles this year will be a virtual experience. The California Band Directors Association and the California Orchestra Directors Association have put together a fantastic, alternative experience. Our students will be involved in masterclasses online with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Air Force Band members. Congratulations to you all, and special thanks to all your music teachers – Joe Cargill, Brad Feyma, and Chuck Salanitro.
- Superintendent Nelson shared that our health services staff were eligible to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccines this week. Our health services staff were able to be accommodated during Phase 1A as health care workers, and we are so grateful to the Fresno County Department of Health for including them. In the Phase 1B, which is planned to begin mid-February, ALL of our Fresno Unified staff will be eligible to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is voluntary, but personally, I have to say I’m very excited for this opportunity and know that as more and more of our community are vaccinated, we’ll be able to bring our COVID-19 numbers down. When our COVID numbers as a county reach the Orange tier, we will be able to start phasing back in our in-person instruction – and I know that’s what we all have been wanting and waiting for. I have to say – if you are NOT a health services staff member but have received the link to sign up for a vaccine somehow, please DO NOT make an appointment until it is your turn in Phase 1B. The county health department will turn away any ineligible staff at the appointment. We do not want our Fresno Unified family responsible for creating any bottlenecks in the vaccination rollout by being eager to get our vaccines before our turn.
- Superintendent then reminded everyone that tomorrow kicks of our first of 11 virtual LCAP Town Halls. I want to thank our State and Federal team and our Strategic Plan Work Team for pivoting this year to a virtual format and being innovative to ensure access and interactivity for our Fresno Unified family to participate in this year’s LCAP discussions. These teams have improved our LCAP survey, which is currently available to take on our website, and they’ve worked hard to makes these LCAP Town Halls some of the most interactive we’ve had. I encourage each and every one of you – students, staff, parents, and community members – to complete the LCAP survey and join us for one of the 11 town halls to make your voice heard in our budgeting process. To access the survey and the dates, times, and links to access the LCAP Town Halls, please head to our website at Fresnounified.org
- Superintendent Nelson reminded everyone that our Virtual Teacher Job Fair is coming up on January 21st. This is your chance to join our Fresno Unified family for the 2020/2021 school year. To get prepped, head to our website to get signed up for an interview spot, and submit your resume and transcripts ahead of time.
- Last, Superintendent mentioned that tonight you would be hearing from a familiar Fresno Unified family member, Debra Odom. This Friday, Debra will be finishing up a 26-and-a-half-year career with Fresno Unified. She has served our district as a teacher, vice-principal, worked in the transfers office, and in the recent 10 years, was a manager for the Charter School office. Debra, thank you for serving the children, parents, and staff of the Fresno Unified School District – you will be missed.
Next, the Board of Education took the following action on the below consent agenda items:
- Approved Personnel List
- Adopted Resolutions Delineating Authorized District Agents to Sign on Behalf of Fresno Unified School District
- Approved Minutes from Prior Meeting
- Approved Appointment to the Audit Committee
- Approved Independent Contractor Services Agreement for Corwin Press, Inc.
- Approved Independent Contractor Services Agreement with Good Company Players
- Approved Independent Contractor Services Agreement with Men of Color in Educational Leadership
- Approved an Independent Contractor Services Agreement between Fresno Unified School District Early Learning Department and Elizabeth Magruder
- Independent Contractor Services Agreement with American Ambulance (pulled from agenda)
- Independent Contractor Services Agreement with Riddell Football (pulled from agenda)
- Independent Contractor Services Agreement with San Joaquin Valley Officials Association – Central California Amateur Arbiters Sport Officials (pulled from agenda)
- Approved Agreement with Thoughtexchange
- Addendum to Independent Contractor Services Agreement with Advanced Medical Personnel, Inc.
- Approved Award of Bid 21-16, Mayfair Elementary School Masonry Block Wall
- Approved Award of Request for Information 21-22, Academic Return on Investment Services
- Ratified a Multi-year Lease Agreement between Fresno Unified School District Early Learning Department and Housing Authorities of the City and County of Fresno
- Ratified an Agreement between Fresno Unified School District Early Learning Department and Kern County Superintendent of Schools
- Ratified Agreement with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools to Provide Student Meals to Career Technical Education Charter High School
- Ratified Agreement with Dr-Graphix
- Ratified Change Orders for the Projects Listed Below
- Bid 19-51 Sections B and C, Mechanical Improvements for Malloch Elementary School and Tehipite Middle School
- Bid 20-36 Section A, Hoover High School Shade Structure and Site Improvements
- Ratified the Filing of Notices of Completion
- Bid 20-15, Viking Elementary School Modular Classrooms and Restroom Infrastructure
- Bid 20-46 Sections A and B, Vinland Elementary School Parking Lot Expansion and Site Access Improvements
- Ratified Purchase Orders from October 01, 2020 through October 31, 2020, and Zero-Dollar Contracts
Next, the Board of Education discussed the below conference/discussion agenda items:
- Discussed and Decided in the Matter of the Aspen Ridge Public School Charter Petition
- Discussed and Decision in the Matter of the Golden Charter Academy Charter Petition (pulled for future discussion)
- Public Disclosure and Ratification of the 2020-2021 Negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement between Fresno Unified School District and California School Employees Association and its Fresno Chapter 143 (pulled from agenda)
- Presented and Discussed the 2019/20 Bond Annual Report
Finally, the Board of Education received the following Information and Reports:
- Received Proposed Revisions for Board Policies
• (DELETE) BP 5112.2 Exclusions from Attendance
• BP 5113.1 Chronic Absence and Truancy
• BP 5126 Awards for Achievement
• (NEW) BP 5141.5 Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health
• BP 5145.7 Sexual Harassment
• BP 6020 Parental Involvement
• BP 6179 Supplemental Instruction
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will be a teleconference meeting on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. Complete minutes and agendas are available online at board.fresnounified.org