Are big power shifts coming to Fresno County’s largest school districts? What to know

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Good afternoon Bee readers! It’s Wednesday, Nov. 2 – something I’m pretty happy about – and this is the Education Lab’s weekly newsletter.

With the election less than a week away now, I hope you’ve been reading Julianna’s and my stories on the Fresno Unified and Clovis Unified races. There have been overview stories allowing you to meet the candidates. You could learn who the candidates are, why they’re running, what their priorities or goals are, if elected, and what organizations and individuals have endorsed them or made big-dollar contributions.

But that’s not all the reporting we’ve done.

For the bigger race – and I mean bigger in terms of the number of candidates running, the size of the district, and the amount of money being poured into the election – Julianna has also provided a breakdown of how the teachers’ union and local developers are donating thousands of dollars to candidates.

FUSD’s teachers’ union has endorsed three incumbents and one challenger that could change the balance of power on the board. Three of those candidates are already among the top earners in this election.

If you missed it, read: Unions and money tend to win school board races. These Fresno Unified candidates have both

In Clovis Unified, I wanted readers to see exactly how candidates stand on issues that have been prevalent not only in recent years but for decades, in some cases.

That’s teacher’s unizionation efforts, teacher pay and mental health funding.

It’s an easy-to-read, Question & Answer format: Here’s how the Clovis Unified candidates stand on teachers unionizing, pay, mental health

Keep reading for more recent stories from the Ed Lab, including getting your answers to why a county office with just 100 students employs more than 1,500 employees and uses a nearly $360 million budget.

HERE’S THE LATEST FROM THE EDUCATION LAB

‘Great sadness.’ Beloved teacher, football coach at Fresno Unified dies unexpectedly

“He had a profound impact on youth in southwest Fresno, Gaston Middle School, and at Edison High School.”

All but one board member gave Fresno Unified superintendent a positive evaluation

Six of the seven board members voted in favor of a positive review for the superintendent. Trustee Terry Slatic was the lone “no” vote.

Should Fresno County’s superintendent of schools make more than $300,000? Some say ‘yes’

The Fresno County Office of Education offers 70 programs and initiatives to serve the nearly 205,500 Fresno County students across 32 school districts. At least 65 of those programs are not required but “provide services to support our schools.”

Fresno City College wants to send 1,000 transfer students to UC Merced. Here’s how

Right now, only about 3 Fresno City College students are admitted to UC Merced each year. With a new agreement between the two campuses, school leaders are looking to change that. The FCC president is hoping for as many as 1,000 transfers in 5 years.

MORE FRESNO-AREA EDUCATION NEWS

The Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Office hosted a STEM for Girls Conference on Saturday. More than 300 students and teachers were expected to attend, a media release said.

Chevron Area Operations Manager Erica Toussaint delivered the keynote address, followed by breakout sessions with engaging, hands-on activities in physics, engineering, robotics and other topics.

Local business and education professionals in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields led the sessions.

Central High School celebrated its centennial on Saturday. Originally known as Central Union, the school opened in Oct. 1922 with portable units for its four teachers and 70 students. Construction for what was then the largest facility in the state started the following year.

“Over the last century, the campus has gone through countless evolutions, but the rich tradition, history, and legacy still serve as its foundation,” a media release said.

Now Central High is a school of choice with pathways that other high schools in Central Unified School don’t have, including agriculture, criminology, and Early College Dual Enrollment that allows students to obtain their associate’s degree, the school district said.

STILL WANT MORE EDUCATION NEWS? HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING

Julianna’s List

Sex Discrimination Case in Hawaii Could Change High School Sports Across the U.S. “It is rare for Title IX cases to go to trial. In Hawaii, a looming case could be a landmark stress test for the 50-year-old law.” | EdSource

Racist video circulates at Torrance high school, with Black student targeted by ‘racially hateful message’ The video, taken five years ago, was reportedly sent to a Black student along with racist messages. It’s now circulating on social media. | Los Angeles Times

California banned affirmative action in 1996. Inside the UC struggle for diversity

A look at California’s colleges place in nationwide conversations about affirmative action as the Supreme Court decides whether to strike down the policy. | Los Angeles Times

Lasherica’s List

The Power of Print: What—and How—Should Students Read?

“When asked how teachers should present those historical realities to middle school students, she calmly said, ‘Tell them exactly what happened. It was history. They can handle it.’” | Voyager Sopris Learning

What People Don’t Get About Being a Principal: Reflections From 3 Leaders

Principals reflect on what drew them to the profession, what people don’t get about it, and what they’ll remember when they no longer have the role. | EducationWeek

Segregation by college major can lead to future job segregation

Colleges alone don’t cause occupational segregation, but they do little to combat it, a new study says | The Hechinger Report

Maybe you still don’t feel like you’re quite ready to vote in Tuesday’s election.

There’s a host of other stories from Bee reporters. Like Tim Sheehan’s recent breakdown of which local & which out-of-county donors are pouring money into campaigns for and against Fresno ballot measures C, E, and M.

The Fresnoland team even put together everything you need to know about who is running for Clovis City Council.

You can always is subscribe to The Fresno Bee so you never miss any news that’s important to you! Or sign up for our weekly newsletter if you like all your news in one spot!