Why Clovis Unified is hiring a principal for a new school that won’t open for two years

Lasherica Thornton

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Hey everyone! It’s Lasherica with The Bee’s Education Lab. It’s Election Day, and there will be plenty of coverage about the local Fresno-area races. But let’s talk about something else this morning.

Clovis Unified School District is opening its 35th elementary school at Fowler and McKinley avenues in the southeast area of the city to prevent overcrowding. A recent study of school enrollment showed that elementary schools will be overcrowded with over 1,000 students at the Clovis East area elementary schools within 10 years.

Most of the Clovis East area schools’ capacity are at either 750 or 800 students.

For example, Boris Elementary, which has a 800-student capacity, is estimated to reach a 1,000-student population by the 2026-27 school year.

The study examined student enrollment for the last 15 years, including student transfers to the district, and accounted for the number of students who’d most likely transfer to Clovis Unified over the next decade.

The school district started a boundary committee in October to redraw the school zones for the new school.

The boundary committee will recommend a principal for the school at Wednesday’s board meeting, Trustee Yolanda Moore said at the last board meeting.

Though the school won’t open until August 2024, the principal will be instrumental throughout the planning process, from being the face of the new school to creating the school culture, Moore said.

The committee started garnering parent feedback and developing the student attendance boundaries in October. Clovis East Area parents actually met last night to learn about the timeline, the process, and where they can get resources about the boundary changes.

Parents can access information on the boundary study, school location, school site drawings, frequently asked questions and a form to submit feedback online.

Important dates on the timeline include:

  • boundary options being shared with families by Nov. 30

  • a community forum on December 6

  • the school board – which will have two new board members – voting on the boundary committee’s recommendation on February 15

  • the school opening in August 2024

2 Minutes Today October 2022 from Clovis Unified School District on Vimeo.

Denver Stairs, assistant superintendent of facility services, said the district wants to keep neighborhoods together.

“We create long-lasting boundaries so that we’re not moving students several times when boundary changes,” he said in a video presentation.

The year after the school opens, in August 2025, the Terry Bradley Center will open, creating a new Clovis high school area. Because elementary schools are zoned based on high schools, the new changes being developed for the Clovis East elementary school could change again for the new high school.

But right now, only the Clovis East area elementary boundary will change, which could impact Boris, Reagan, Freedom, Miramonte, Temperance-Kutner, Fancher Creek and Young elementary schools.

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MORE FRESNO-AREA EDUCATION NEWS

The University of California, Merced is adding Visalia Unified School District to its Automatic Admissions Program, making Visalia Unified the ninth Central Valley school district in the partnership, a media release announced.

The program, considered a “streamlined process,” guarantees students admission to UC Merced if they complete the required A-G courses with a 3.5 weighted GPA with no grade lower than a C.

The City of Fresno is gathering community feedback as they look for ways to use Measure P funds and “create arts and culture programs that reflect our unique community,” a survey flyer said.

“Measure P helps ensure Fresno’s neighborhoods receive funding to improve and maintain our parks and facilities, create new parks and trails, and fund recreation, community, and arts programs,” the initiative’s website said.

The Cultural Arts Community Survey is available in multiple languages and can be found at surveymonkey.com/r/culturalartsplan

Fresno Unified families will receive text messages this week about Winter Enrichment Camps. Over winter break, students can participate in free, full-day camps that will encourage learning, adventure and fun, the district said.

Camps will be offered in two sessions, from Dec. 19 to Dec. 22 and from Jan. 3 to Jan. 6.

Through either K-8 regional school sites, community-based programs or career technical education camps, there will be:

  • Arts and music

  • Science and engineering

  • Sports, such as basketball basics

  • Archery, Taekwondo and parkour

  • Digital Creator Studio

  • Digital Illustration and Art

  • Fresno Chaffee Zoo Camp

  • Fresno Discovery Camp

  • Life Hacks/Adulting 101

  • Pickleball

  • River Camp Winter Wonderland

  • Rock climbing

  • Skiing/snowboarding

  • S’more camp

  • Visual arts

  • First responders camp

  • Drones and aviation

“We are so excited to be able to offer amazing options for our students over the winter break to expand their learning, delve into areas that interest them and just have fun,” Superintendent Bob Nelson said in a media release announcing the registration process.

Registration closes on Nov. 25.

Clovis Community College is offering “Coffee and College” sessions at local Starbucks locations for prospective students to learn about enrolling in the upcoming spring semester, which starts Jan. 9.

The remaining free events will be Nov. 10 from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Starbucks at Willow and Nees and Nov. 15 from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Starbucks at Friant and Fort Washington.

Prospective students can get help with their Clovis Community College application, academic planning and advising and financial aid, support services and the college’s free tuition program.

And prospective students will get a free iced or hot coffee.

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“This is a story about one student’s high expectations for himself, and the people who didn’t share them: the educators who put him on a non-university path, the public charter school that never questioned it, and the state that keeps funding schools with low graduation rates and little accountability.” | EdSource

Make sure to be on the Fresno Bee website tonight for the latest news on local elections and continue to follow the Education Lab for stories from the local school districts across Fresno County.

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