November 8, 2017

The November 8, 2017 meeting of the Board of Education began with no announcements out of Closed Session.  

Next, Pete Gonzales, a parent who has had a positive impact at Roeding Elementary School, led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

The Board of Education approved the minutes from the August 23, 2017 regular meeting.

Students Robert Vaca and Adriana Sagrero Villegas from Roosevelt High School thanked Trustees Jonasson Rosas, Davis and De La Cerda for attending their ASB meeting and supporting student voices.  The students voiced their support for the Senior Santa Project, to help seniors who may be alone this holiday season.  They also shared some recent happenings from Roosevelt High including that the number AP students choosing to stay enrolled in the rigorous courses is on the rise.  They’re thankful for a great AP Program and team that helps build relationships and academic success.  Also, Pancho the Pig is back on Roosevelt’s campus.  This means both of the school’s JV and Varsity football teams won the Little Big Game.  Students, staff, alumni and community partners were proud to attend the game and support the school.  Students say school pride is on the rise as many students and staff are taking part in service learning projects in the Roosevelt community.  Also, students from Sequoia Middle School shared with the board their extra-curricular and academic activities, as well as their career aspirations. 

The Board of Education adopted a Resolution Proclaiming November as National Runaway Prevention Month

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

  • Last week, the State of Education luncheon raised more than $35,000 for the Fresno Unified Scholarship Fund.  The event featured one of last year’s scholarship winners, Lou Vang, who is now studying to be a teacher at Fresno State.  Vang spoke about a teacher at King Elementary who spent extra time teaching her English and had a major impact on her life.  The two lost touch, but were reunited at the State of Education luncheon.  Her teacher, Thim Bounnhong-Sivlay, is now teaching at Storey Elementary.  The event featured for the first time student artists from McLane and Edison high schools who working on art pieces during the luncheon.  At the end of the event, the pieces were auctioned off to benefit the scholarship fund.

  • His remarks focused on four major areas: transparency, equity, accountability and connectivity.  He believes these four areas will be the key to the success of the district’s 74,000 students.  Superintendent Nelson then showed a videohighlighting the State of Education event.

  • Thanking CalViva Health, Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Jim Yovino and Tzu-Chi Buddhist Foundation for their partnership in the See 2 Succeed program.  See 2 Succeed provides free eye exams by an optometrist, prescriptions and free glasses to students who haven’t pass their vision screening.  Last year the mobile vision unit visited eight Fresno Unified schools.  This year, the program has expanded to visit 18 campuses.  Superintendent Nelson then showed a video from when the See 2 Succeed mobile vision unit visited Fremont Elementary School.

  • Encouraging district employees to nominate their fellow outstanding employees for the Excellence in Education awards. It’s a terrific opportunity to honor district employees for their dedication and skill in serving our 74,000 students.  The deadline for nominations is November 17.

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 resolution ordering the date of the annual organizational meeting of the Governing Board
  • Approved Budget Revision No. 2 for Fiscal Year 2017/18
  • Approved revision to Exhibit A to the Joint Use Agreement with City of Fresno for Weekend Community Open Space Program, to add eleven elementary schools adjacent to city parks
  • Adopted addendum to Independent Contractor Services Agreement with PresenceLearning, Inc.
  • Ratified placement of school psychologist intern
  • Ratified the filing of a notice of completion
    • Bid 17-28 A-C, Asphalt Shingle Re-Roof for Locker and Multipurpose Rooms at Three Campuses

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

  • Presented and discussed Designated Schools Achievement Data
  • Presented and discussed Conceptual Planning for New Southeast Elementary School
  • Held opportunity for Public Discussion on the California School Employees Association (CSEA) and its Fresno White Collar Unit Chapter 125 Proposal to Fresno Unified School District for Re-Opener Negotiations for the 2017/18 School Year.
  • Held opportunity for Public Discussion and adopted the Fresno Unified School District Proposal to California School Employees Association (CSEA) and its Fresno White Collar Unit Chapter 125 for Re-Opener Negotiations for the 2017/18 School Year
  • Held Opportunity for Public Disclosure and Ratification of the 2016-2019 Negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement between Fresno Unified School District and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 521

The Board of Education received the following information and reports:

  • Received Updates to the 2017/18 Local Control and Accountability Plan
  • Received Fresno Unified School District’s First Quarterly Investment Report for Fiscal Year 2017/18

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education is Wednesday, November 15, 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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