The September 4 meeting of the Board of Education began with the following announcements out of Closed Session:
- The Board appointed Nikki Henry to Chief Information Officer, Communications
- The Board took action on three workers’ compensation claims
Next, Perla Aguilera a parent from Ericson Elementary led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Next, Mercedez Garcia, ASB representative from Roosevelt High School shared that the site is celebrating students’ academic success for the Spring 2019 semester. Academic Awards Assembly will take place on Thursday, September 12 at 6 p.m. in the Audra McDonald theater. Students in Honor Roll, High Honor Roll, Honor Society, Perfect Attendance, and the Principal’s “R” award. They are also hosting two days of “Club Rush” during lunch, 23 clubs participated, and they are expecting more to attend the final event. Mercedez also shared that the Freshman Link Crew tailgate will take place on Thursday during the football game vs. Firebaugh High School at Sunnyside stadium.
Students from Sequoia Middle School were present and spoke about what they love about being a student at their school.
Next, Superintendent Nelson provided a brief report to the Board of Education including:
- Highlighting that on Saturday September 14, at Leavenworth Elementary, Fresno Unified will join forces with California Highway Patrol, Fresno Police Department and Fresno Fire Department and others to host a Bike Safety Rodeo. Each year, students are hit by vehicles as they ride their bikes to and from school. In an effort to equip our youth with the needed safety tools to ensure they travel safely each and every time they ride their bike, we will host the bike rodeo from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Leavenworth. The event is open to the public. Law enforcement will provide safety courses, helmet fittings and quick check of bikes to ensure they are working. If you don’t have a bike but still want to take part in the event, gently uses bikes will be available so anyone who attends can participate.
- Nelson also shared that last week, the district unveiled its new mobile health unit at Hoover High School. The mobile unit, with two exam rooms and a waiting area, replaces a 20-year-old unit and enables the district’s Health Services Department to expand services and help to keep students healthy and in class. The unit will be visiting high schools through the district on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. When the mobile unit is not in use, health services are available at Tioga Middle School. Here is a video of las week’s special event.
- Next, Superintendent shared that September is Suicide Prevention Month and our school social workers and school psychologists will be focusing on this critical topic as they provide training to staff and students according to AB2246 – the state’s suicide prevention policy. The trainings include education around mental health, depression, and suicide, and resources to get help. This year, Fresno Unified also implemented new student ID badges, providing information on the back of each badge about how to receive help through both local and back and national suicide hotlines. This month’s outreach includes:
- Lunch time activities and support speeches
- Sending positivity grams to fellow classmates with messages of encouragement
- And photobooths where students make photo frames and take pictures with their friends while holding those militant positive messages of love and encouragement
- Nelson also shared that mental health and suicide prevention are often seen as taboo subjects. Because of that, our community struggles to know where to go for help and resources. Educating adults along with the students we support is vital in this effort to build capacity, recognize warning signs and connect those in need to resources while there is still opportunity. Issues of mental health are not always easy conversations, but for the sake of those we love and support, including those in our Fresno Unified family, I want to encourage us all to engage in the education and learning. Thank you to our social workers, school psychologists and all who diving deep into this body of work.
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
- Annual Increase in Board Member Monthly Stipend (Item pulled from agenda)
- Approved Award of Bid 20-02, McLane and Roosevelt High Schools Ballfield Scoreboard Installation
- Approved Award of Request for Qualifications 20-01, Charter Services
- Approved Provisional Internship Permits
- Approved Salary Schedules
- Denied Claim GL19-0201-2451
- Ratified Change Orders for the Projects Listed Below
- Bid 18-13, Duncan Polytechnical High School Career Technical Education (CTE) Center Building Construction and Alterations to Existing Shop Building
- Bid 19-27 Section B, Exterior Painting for Various Schools: Burroughs and Greenberg Elementary Schools, Kings Canyon Middle School
- Bid 19-33, Sunnyside High School Stadium Scoreboard Replacement
- Ratified the Filing Notices of Completion
- Bid 18-13, Duncan Polytechnical High School Career Technical Education (CTE) Center Building construction and Alterations to Existing Shop Building
- Bid 19-27, Section D, Exterior Painting for Various Schools: Starr and Yokomi Elementary Schools
- Bid 19-34, Fresno High School Gymnasium Thermoplastic PVC Re-roof
- Ratified Renewal Grant Application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for the 2019 Citizenship Assimilation Grant Program
- Ratified Purchase Orders fromJune1, 2019 through June 30, 2019 – Primary Report
- Ratified Purchase Orders from June 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019 – Supplemental Report (Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas abstained pursuant board Bylaw 9270)
Next, the Board of Education discussed and took action on the below conference/discussion agenda items:
- Presented and Adopted Resolution 19-03 Providing for the Issuance and Sale of 2019 General Obligation Refunding Bonds
- Presented and Approved the 2018/19 Unaudited Actual Financial Report, 2018/19 Year-End Budget Revision and 2019/20 Gann Limit
- Presented and Discussed Opening of Schools 2019/20
- Presented and Discussed Constituent Services Reporting
Next, the Board of Education received the following Information and Reports:
- Received Summary of Measure X, Series B Bond Issuance
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education is Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at the Fresno Unified Education Center, located at 2309 Tulare Street in Fresno. Complete minutes and agendas are available online at https://go.fresnou.org/board.