November 15, 2017

The November 15, 2017 meeting of the Board of Education began with the following announcements out of Closed Session:

  • Hired Kristi Oliveras as Director, Data for Instructional Improvement, Information Technology
  • Promoted Selma Gonzales, Vice Principal III on Special Assignment, School Leadership to Director, School Leadership

Next, Maria Turnbull, a parent who has had a positive impact at Thomas Elementary School, led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Students Damian Carillo, Alex Fernandez and Mariah Lopez from Cambridge High School thanked Trustee Davis for attending their SAB meeting and for providing them with inspiring advice.  Next, they shared that they will be participating in a community kindness project called Be a Santa to a Senior which hopes to provide presents for up to 1,000 seniors who will be alone this holiday season.  The students told the board about Cambridge’s successful credit recovery opportunities.  So far this school year, their APEX online program has recovered 780 credits.  Cambridge hopes to have 10 graduates by December.  The school also held its very first Welcome Back Rally, to introduce all staff members to students and advise students about programs available to them.  Cambridge students also held their first Community Carnival. The carnival was a success with many families thanking the school for being hospitable to the community. Cambridge is also starting a new program to increase student voice on campus.  Also, students from Terronez Middle School shared with the board that they love their school’s welcoming environment.  They also shared the activities they participate and their future plans. 

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

  • Recognizing School Psychologist Week and expressing gratitude for the exceptional work psychologists do on behalf of our students and staff. Every year, the California Association of School Psychologists awards the Nadine N. Lambert Outstanding School Psychologist award to a recipient in each region recognizing service to students, teachers, administrators, parents, community agencies and the profession.  For the past four years a Fresno Unified psychologist has been voted on to represent the region with all four then selected as the award recipient.

  • Applauding last week’s CTE: Ticket to the Future event put on by the College and Career Readiness department.  More than 5,500 eighth graders every middle school at Fresno Unified attended at Valdez Hall at the Convention Center to check out high school pathway demonstrations and programs.  He shared a video recapping the event.

  • The launching of Saturday Academy, open to all students with full day absences to make up school work and recover credits.  The program has had a successful start with 13 initial launch sites and several hundred students from transitional kindergarten through high school participating.  The students attend a variety of offerings focusing on reading, math, science art and more.  It was exciting to see so many students and teachers participating in creative activities together. 

  • New opportunities for classified staff who may want to move up the career ladder and are interested in teaching.  Recently, the district launched the Grow2Teach program geared to help classified employees become credentialed teachers in hard-to-fill positions, such as special education, math, science and bilingual education.  The program provides counseling, training and an annual stipend.

  • Recognizing Teresa Morales-Young who is a finalist for Fresno County Administrator of the Year.  Teresa is the administrator of Teacher Development and has worked hard to support teacher support programs and has demonstrated a commitment to high quality instruction.  We’ll be rooting for you at the award ceremony tomorrow night at the Saroyan Theater.

  • Thanking the Young Professionals Network and the Fresno Association of Realtors for donating Thanksgiving food baskets for 50 Tehipite Middle School families. We’re truly grateful for those in our community who step forward to help our families in need, especially during this time of year.

  • Encouraging everyone to take time during the Thanksgiving holiday to spend quality time with family, friends and loved ones.  Please take the time to create great memories with those closest to you.  I wish everyone a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.

The Board of Education took the following actions on the below consent agenda items:

  • Approved personnel list
  • Adopted findings of fact and recommendations of the District Administrative Board
  • Adopted waiver request for Cydney Danisi to serve as speech language pathologist
  • Approved Provisional Internship Permits
  • Approved 2017/18 Fresno Unified Career Technical Education Advisory Committee Member List
  • Approved Award of Bid 18-07, Education Center Cooling Tower Replacement
  • Approved Award of Bid 18-08, HVAC Improvements in the Multipurpose Rooms for Pyle Elementary School, and Fort Miller and Yosemite Middle Schools
  • Approved Re-Appointment of Trustee Carol Mills, J.D. to the California School Boards Association Delegate Assembly
  • Ratified change order for the project:
    • Bid 17-29, Center for Professional Development Parking Lot Improvements
  • Ratified the filing of notices of completion for the following projects:
    • Bid 16-09, Baird Middle School Classroom Wing Addition
    • Bid 17-13, Terronez Middle School Gymnasium Make-Up Air Unit Replacement
    • Bid 17-29, Center for Professional Development Parking Lot Improvements
    • Bid 17-42, Adult Transition Program (ATP) Classroom Relocation
  • Ratified Purchase Orders from August 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, and Zero Dollar Contracts.  President Ashjian and Trustee Claudia Cazares both abstained pursuant to Board Bylaw 9270. 

Next, staff made presentations to the Board in the conference/discussion section of the agenda as follows: 

  • Presented and discussed updates to the 2017/18 Local Control and Accountability Plan
  • Discussed and approved grant applications and projects to the California Department of Education for the Career Technical Education Facilities Program
  • Presented and adopted Resolution 17-09 Making Findings on Energy Cost Savings, Pursuant to Government Code Section 4217.12, Related to Potential Energy Services Agreements for Comprehensive High Schools and the Brawley Service Center

The Board of Education received the following information and reports:

  • Received the Fresno Unified School District Proposal to California School Employees Association (CSEA) and its Fresno Food Services Unit Chapter 143 for Re-Opener Negotiations for the 2017/18 School Year
  • Receive the California School Employees Association (CSEA) and its Fresno Food Services Unit Chapter 143 Proposal to Fresno Unified School District for Re-Opener Negotiations for the 2017/18 School Year
  • Received Constituent Services Quarterly Reporting

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education is Wednesday, December 13, 2017 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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