October 3, 2018

The October 3 meeting of the Board of Education began with no announcements out of Closed Session. 

Next, Student Malak Sarama, SAB representative from Sunnyside High school, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Next, Aryanna Delgado, ASB representative from Bullard High School, introduced herself to the Board. She went on to share how SAB members had a presentation on the new draft Graduation Policy. The two major topics were dress, grooming, and the requirements to walk in graduation.

Aryanna shared how SAB students are working to bring positive changes to school. Projects have ranged from spreading kindness around campus, to having clothes drives for the elderly, or collaborating with Food Facilities and Fiscal Services to bring water stations to every school campus. SAB members are now working on a new project that will benefit schools and community. Aryanna Delgado also spoke on how students at Bullard are enjoying the shade provided by the solar panels that were recently installed in the parking lots of the school.  Delgado shared that they have 168 students at the Fresno Fair 4.0 celebration and that Bullard has started a monthly Town Hall Meeting, design for students to have a voice and bring ideas to administrators.

Next, students from Tenaya Middle School were present to talk about what they love about their school, and being a Tenaya Brave.

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

  • Recognizing that October is National Principal’s Month. Superintendent spoke of weekly visits to school sites where he has experienced first-hand the strength and positive affects our site leaders have on the youth of our district, and ultimately our community. 
  • Superintendent pointed out that we are just days away from the end of the first grading period. Parents can get a quick glance of their child’s grades and attendance when they subscribe to EduText daily text messages.  Registration can be done from a cell phone by simply texting the child’s EduText Parent PIN to 28527 or visiting the district’s ATLAS parent portal.
  • Nelson also updated the Board regarding the release of the State of California scores for standardized tests from last spring.  Known as the Smarter Balanced Assessments, state tests are given to students in grades 3-8 and 11th in the areas of math and English language arts.  District  students in grades 3-8 saw increases over the year prior while 11th grade seems to mirror what happened throughout the State—experiencing a slight decrease. Staff is currently analyzing the recently released results and plans to provide an overview to our Board and the community at an upcoming meeting.
  •  Superintendent shared that tonight marks the opening of The Big Fresno Fair and the Big 4.0 event in which more than 1,400 Fresno Unified middle and high school students participate.  Invitations were sent to students who were in grades 7-11 last school year and earned a 4.0 in both the 3rd and 4th quarter last year. Congratulations to all our 4.0 students who participated.
  • Superintendent reminded the Board that on Thursday, October 25, Fresno Unified’s Parent University will host its annual open house and Trunk or Treat event.  This Halloween themed event connects parents and students with community resources and information while giving everyone a great excuse to dress up and practice their trick or treat skills.  Community organizations interested in participating can register until this coming Friday, October 5.  For more information, you can call or visit the Parent University Resource Center located at 850 N. Blackstone Ave.

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 the District Administrative Board
  • Approved Minutes from Prior Meeting, September 5, 2018
  • Adopted Variable Term Waiver request for Margarita Hernandez, Maria Arcos Rodriguez, Alva Ruiz and Jose Ruiz Jr.
  • Approved the Naming of the Fresno High School Baseball Field and the Edison High School Tennis Court
  • Approved 2018/19 Fresno Unified Career Technical Education Advisory Committee Member list
  • Approved  Amendment to Independent Contractor Services Agreement with Shift3/Bitwise for Additional Development
  • Approved Grant Applications and Projections to the California Department of Education for the Career Technical Education Facilities Program
  • Approved Independent contractor Services Agreement with DNS Filter, Inc.
  • Approved Provisional Internship Permits
  • Deny Claim #GL18-0803-1472
  • Ratified Agreement with Fresno Police Department for Student Resource Officers
  • Ratified Purchase Orders from July1, 2018 through July 31,2018 (President Jonasson-Rosas and Trustees Ashjian and Mills abstained pursuant to board Bylaw 9270)

Next, the Board listened to staff presentations on the following agenda items:

  • Presented and Discussed  Early Learning Community Partnerships
  • Presented and Discussed the California Dashboard Overview Series, Part One

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education is Wednesday, October 17, 2018 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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