Summary of the Board of Education Meeting on May 19, 2021
The May 19, 2021 meeting of the Board of Education began with the following announcements out of Closed Session.
- The Board took action on one workers’ compensation claim.
- The Board took action to promote Lorena Federico, Vice Principal at Burroughs Elementary School to Principal at Burroughs Elementary School.
- The Board took action to promote Derrick Hansen, Vice Principal at Heaton Elementary School to Principal at Gibson Elementary School
- The Board took action to promote Amy Smith, Vice Principal at Sunnyside High School to Principal on Special Assignment at School Leadership
- The Board took action to promote Andrew Scherrer Executive Director at Equity and Access to Executive Officer at Equity and Access
Next, Julio Fisher SAB representative from McLane High School, shared that the school held their prom at Wolf Lakes on May 7 and students had an amazing time. They were able to pair with J.E. Young, and it was great to have them at prom with us. We have Senior Sunset planned for May 28. We have continued an incentive program where each week teachers get to select a student that they feel has been working hard during distance and hybrid learning. The student is recognized and can pick up a McLane swag item as a thank you for their hard work and dedication to learning.
The School Student Ambassadors from Yosemite Middle School also shared what they love about Yosemite Middle School.
Next, Superintendent Nelson provided a brief report to the Board of Education, including:
- Superintendent Nelson started by sharing that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In recognition of that, students in our Student Voice Collaborative from Fresno High and Edison High created their own PSA highlighting some facts about mental health issues and where students can get help. This was students creating a valuable tool for students, and they did a fantastic job. Thank you to our Communications Office for providing feedback and filming the students. Let us look at their work with the next video.
- Next, the Superintendent shared that May is a busy month with several important celebrations to highlight. For starters, it is Classified School Employee Week through May 22. These are the folks that do the heavy lifting behind the scenes. They are not in the spotlight, nor do they seek it. But our district could not operate a single day without the dedication and expertise of our classified employees. They are our paraprofessional, bus drivers, food service workers, office assistants, custodians, safety assistants, skill trades and so much more.
- Superintendent Nelson shared that the whole month of May is National Foster Care Month. Let us take time to salute those who are helping to children to find permanent homes and connections. We have upwards of 420,000 children in foster care in this country and right here in our district 678 youth in foster care. This is of course a topic near and dear to me as my wife and I have fostered children for a number of years, resulting in the adoption of four of our seven children.
- Next, Superintendent Nelson highlighted that this is also Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders and the remarkable contributions they make to our community and our country. Thank you to our McLane Hmong dancers who were here earlier this evening to help us celebrate and honor them in dance. Our Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Learning Department has created lessons for all ages so that students can learn more of the contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander American. In fact, our curriculum staff has developed a website with lesson plans for each month to honor the contributions of all people. Resources include book list and lesson for English language arts, history and social studies, math, PE, and science.
- Last, Superintendent Nelson took a couple of minutes to share that we are 16 days from the end of this extremely difficult school year, one that tested us all but also showed us we are more than capable of meeting tough times with grace and problem-solving. After what we have been through, it is good to be ending on a high note. We will celebrate our retirees this Monday with a drive-thru event in front of Sunnyside High School. It is not the traditional dinner we had hope for, but we will be showing our dedicated retiring colleagues as much love as possible with live entertainment, a special retiree gift, gift cards and souvenir program. Also, on Monday, we kick off our graduation season with two celebrations for last year’s class of 2020 graduates, followed by the ceremony for Design Science Middle College High School, all at the fairgrounds’ Paul Paul Theater. I think it is safe to say, we have never been more excited for graduation season.
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 Resolutions Delineating Authorized District Agents to Sign on Behalf of Fresno Unified School District
- Adopted Resolution 20-23, Requesting an Exemption from the Education Code Definition of “School Building” for an Academic Center for Suspended Students through the African American Academic Acceleration Program
- Budget Revision No. 5 for Fiscal Year 2020/21(Pulled from agenda)
- Approved Employment Agreement for Mao Misty Her, Deputy Superintendent
- Approved Employment Agreement for Santino Danisi, Chief Financial Officer
- Approved Amendment No. 2 to Superintendent Robert G. Nelson’s Employment Agreement
- Approved Positions and Adopt New and Revised Job Descriptions for Fresno Teachers Association – Trades and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Crafts, and the Revised Fresno Teacher Association – Trades Hourly Salary Schedule for the Positions Listed Below
- Approved Positions and Adopted New and Revised Job Descriptions and Revised Management Salary Schedules
- Approved Agreement with Fresno Chaffee Zoo
- Approved Agreement with SMALLIFY
- Approved Agreement with Growthpoint Technologies
- Approved Agreement with New Vision Aviation, Inc.
- Approved Addendum to Agreement with Wilderness Outdoor Leadership Foundation
- Approved Agreement with Leadership Associates
- Approved Addendum to Agreement with Microsoft Premier
- Approved Revised Addendum to the Center for Advanced Research and Technology Operating Agreement
- Approved Amendment 02 to Contract CCTR-0036 for General Child Care and Development Program 2020-2021 from the California Department of Education
- Approved Award of Bid 21-40, Hoover High School Event Center HVAC and Roof Replacement
- Approved Members to the Special Education Community Advisory Committee
- Ratified Agreement with Kroll Information Assurance, LLC
- Ratified Addendum to Agreement with Supplemental Health Care
- Ratified Grant Application to Albertsons Companies Foundation for Nutrition Services Equipment
- Ratified Change Orders for the Project Listed Below
Bid 20-36 Section B, Sunnyside High School Shade Structure and Site Improvements
Next, the Board of Education discussed the below conference/discussion agenda items:
- Discussed and Decided in the Naming of Facility at 10th Street and Ventura Avenue
- Adopted Resolution 20-12, Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of General Obligation Bonds, Election of 2016 (Measure X), Series D, in the Aggregate Principal Amount of Not to Exceed $45,000,000, and Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of Documents and Actions in Connection Therewith
- Adopted Resolution 20-13, Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of General Obligation Bonds, Election of 2020 (Measure M), Series A, in the Aggregate Principal Amount of Not to Exceed $80,000,000, and Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of Documents and Actions in Connection Therewith
- Discussed and Adopted Expanded Learning Opportunities Grant
- Presented and Discussed the State’s May Revised Budget Proposal
Finally, the Board of Education received the following Information and Reports:
- Received the California School Employees Association – Chapter 125 Initial Proposal to Fresno Unified School District for the 2021-2024 Successor Agreement
- Received the Fresno Unified School District Initial Proposal to California School Employees Association and its Fresno Chapter #125 for the 2021- 2024 Successor Agreement
- Received the California School Employees Association – Chapter 143 Initial Proposal to Fresno Unified School District for the 2021-2024 Successor Agreement
- Received the Fresno Unified School District Initial Proposal to California School Employees Association and its Fresno Chapter #143 for the 2021- 2024 Successor Agreement
- Received Fresno Unified School District’s Third Quarterly Investment Report for Fiscal Year 2020/21
- Received Proposed Revisions for Board Policies
BP 1220.1 Student Advisory Board (NEW)*
BP 1312.3 Uniform Complaint Procedures
BP 3555 Nutrition Program Compliance
BP 6159 Individualized Education Program
BP 6159.2 Nonpublic, Nonsectarian School and Agency Services for Special Education
BP 6174 Education for English Learners
BP 6175 Migrant Education Program
- Received Constituent Services Quarterly Reporting
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education will be Wednesday, June 02, 2021. Complete minutes and agendas are available online at board.fresnounified.org