Clovis Unified’s new school board inherits challenges that could affect the district for years
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Hey Bee readers! It’s the middle of the work week, so Happy Hump Day! I’m Lasherica with the Education Lab, and this is our weekly newsletter – the Dec. 14 edition.
Last Friday afternoon, Clovis Unified School District swore in its newly elected board members – parent and nonprofit executive Clint Olivier to the Area 1 seat and parent and teacher Deena Combs-Flores to the Area 6 seat. Tiffany Stoker Madsen, who was re-elected to the Area 3 position after running unopposed, also took the oath of office.
Olivier, Stoker Madsen, Combs-Flores, and the remaining board members who will be up for re-election in 2024 inherit some legal battles, teacher-pay disputes, contract negotiations with the district’s mental health professionals, and the opening of a new elementary school to alleviate overcrowding. For many of those issues, such as funding for school psychologists and teacher pay, the board will have the final say.
The Association of Clovis Educators, a group trying to unionize teachers, threatened legal action because they say recent updates to a district policy infringe on free speech and other rights.
ACE officials have said they don’t want to pursue any more legal action. The organization is mired in a fight over CUSD’s Faculty Senate — the district-supported teachers’ group that has operated in Clovis in lieu of a formal union. ACE accused the district of unfair labor practices, including “continued illegal financial support of the Faculty Senate.” That fight is expected to continue for up to another year before the California Public Employment Relations Board,
Clovis school psychologists are pushing the district to invest millions more in student mental health staffing and programs. The district’s mental health team asked for more staff, an “equitable and reasonable” caseload, a defined staff-student ratio, and enough time for their increasing duties spurred by the growing need for services.
The school district is opening its 35th elementary school at Fowler and McKinley avenues in the southeast area of the city to prevent overcrowding within the next 10 years. In February, the board will vote on the boundary committee’s recommendation for the new school.
As for teacher pay and benefits, CUSD teachers make $73,614 in comparison with the statewide average of $85,154, according to Clovis Unified data. Clovis Unified’s benefits package, according to a June compensation study, also puts CUSD in a less competitive position compared to other school districts. But the district is set to spend $12.8 million to implement recommendations from that market study.
“Clovis Unified is a jewel here in the Valley,” Stoker Madsen said as she discussed the next four years on the school board, “and we are going to continue to do what is best for students in our district.”
Other local school districts have either recently sworn in or will soon swear in their new or re-elected board members.
On Tuesday, State Center Community College School District swore in Destiny Rodriguez after a nine-vote win over incumbent Bobby Kahn for Area 1 seat and Rob Fuentes, who replaces Fresno City Councilmember-elect Annalisa Perea in the Area 5 seat.
Retired Fresno Unified school psychologist Susan Wittrup – the only challenger to win an FUSD seat – and FUSD incumbents Valerie Davis, Veva Islas, and Keshia Thomas are scheduled to take the oath of office at 4 p.m. today.
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State Center Community College District inducted three educators into the 2022 Muro de Honor (Wall of Honor) in early December, a media release said.
Sponsored by the community college district, the Wall of Honor recognizes the contributions of Latinos or those in the Hispanic community who have either attended or worked at one of State Center’s colleges (Fresno City College, Reedley College, Clovis Community College, Madera Community College and Madera Community College at Oakhurst), centers or the district office.
Reedley College Spanish Instructor Sara Aguirre, Fresno City College English Instructor Marisol Baca and Fresno City College Choral Director and Music Instructor Julie Reyes Dana, who retired in May 2022, were honored.
Aguirre’s 45-year career as a Reedley College faculty member started as one of the college’s first Latina teachers, which “paved the way for many others to follow,” SCCCD said.
Baca, though a FCC faculty member since 2007, has served students at each of the five community colleges in the school district by teaching, volunteering as a mentor and “helping develop spaces for local women poets and writers,” the school district said.
Reyes Dana, as the FCC choral director for more than 20 years, taught students from each of the five community colleges in SCCCD, referring to them as “her kids.” Though retired, she remains active with the music community by organizing state and national conferences, the school district said.
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While Republicans and Democrats agree on some topics, there are sharp political divides on others, especially LGBTQ issues. | Education Week
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This story was originally published December 14, 2022 at 10:11 AM.
