Recommendation: Who should be the next Fresno Unified trustee for the Fresno High area

A special election is being held April 12 to fill the vacant seat on the Fresno Unified School District board that represents the Fresno High area.

Called Area 5, the vacancy occurred when Trustee Carol Mills passed away last July after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). She represented the area for 17 years.

Four people are running to represent the current boundaries of Area 5; the winner will serve until the end of 2024. The next election for the seat, utilizing the redistricted boundaries, will be November 2024.

Of the four candidates, The Bee Editorial Board recommends Andy Levine.

Who is Andy Levine?

Andy Levine is a Fresno native who grew up in the Fresno High School area, but entered Computech Middle School and then went to Edison High. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology at UC Davis, then a master’s in the sociology of education from Columbia University.

He is now an instructor in the sociology program at Fresno State, the same university where his father taught for 45 years. His mother was a school psychologist with the Fresno County Office of Education.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Levine worked in Oakland for New Leaders, a group that supports principals of schools in high-poverty communities.

Before landing at Fresno State, Levine worked as deputy director for Faith in the Valley, a multifaith coalition that focuses on creating healthy housing, cracking down on predatory lending, and preventing gun violence. He continues with the organization as a part-time senior adviser.

What he adds to the board

In his work as a community organizer, Levine gained valuable experience bringing people with different views — sometimes opposing ones — together to find a solution to a civic problem, like gun violence and crime.

His master’s in sociology of education equips him with deeper understanding of the human dimensions of learning, not just the theories used in schooling.

One of his ideas is to bring the community schools concept to Fresno Unified. Under a $3 billion program being launched by Gov. Gavin Newsom, districts can apply for funding to create the schools, which focus not only on the students, but the well-being of their families. Schools would be the neighborhood hub for a range of services, such as mental health counseling.

He would like to help aspiring students get set up with college savings accounts, and wants parents more involved in helping shape the district’s $1.3 billion annual budget.

Other candidates

Also on the ballot are:

▪ Russ Allen, a retired high school math teacher. Allen graduated from Fresno High, then worked for Fresno Unified for 27 years, many of those at DeWolf Continuation High School, which takes students from Fresno and Bullard high schools. A factor inspiring him to make his first run for public office was how the FUSD board handled the mascot controversy at Fresno High, in which the Iroquois Indian mascot was retired when some students protested it. He terms the episode “cancel culture bandwagon.”

▪ Andrew Fabela, a retired firefighter. He has been a regular attender of school board meetings for years and often offers the trustees his views during public comment. Sometimes his comments are harsh. For example, he questioned Mills’ fitness for office as she dealt with her illness, which required her to use a speaking device. Mills responded that Fabela’s remarks “reflect the stigma and prejudice toward people with disabilities.”

▪ Daniel Renteria, a retired administrator with the state. A 1969 graduate of Fresno High, Renteria said he struggled in school as a youngster, but persevered and found success at Fresno City College before launching a career in government. His humble upbringing — his father single-handedly raised five children — helps Renteria understand young people who must work hard to get ahead, he said.

The Bee’s recommendation

With his work for New Leaders and Faith in the Valley, Levine has rich experience in trying to improve conditions for low-income families. Fresno Unified serves some of the nation’s poorest neighborhoods.

As an instructor himself, Levine also knows the challenges teachers have to face, especially in the time of COVID.

Additionally, he has shown skill in creating civil discourse, which is sorely needed at Fresno Unified board meetings these days. Yet Levine can state his position without being intimidated by any opposition. In these ways, Levine reflects how Mills operated when she held the seat.

It should be noted that the Fresno Teachers Association is backing Levine.

The Bee Editorial Board recommends that voters choose Andy Levine as the next trustee to represent Fresno Unified’s Area 5.

Voting schedule

Ballots are being mailed by county elections officials to voters starting March 14. Those ballots can be returned at anytime up to Election Day, which is April 12. Ballots must be postmarked no later than April 12 in order to be tallied.

Also starting March 14, voters can cast ballots at the County Clerk’s office, 2221 Kern St. in downtown Fresno.

From April 2-12, 11 vote centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All voting centers will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more key information, go to the county clerk website page and click the needed links.