School districts send different messages

If you read the Jan. 17 Bee, you were able to make yet another comparison between Fresno and Clovis unified school districts.

In Clovis, a few parents are upset because of how the district enforces its strict dress code. In my eyes, those parents should be grateful. Their children are learning that ignoring the rules has consequences, which is a vital lesson as these students become adults in our community.

Now consider what is occurring at Fresno Unified. We have a dysfunctional school board that is paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorneys fees as it defends a lawsuit concerning a construction contract that contains indemnification language that no one knew existed.

Fresno Unified Superintendent Michael Hanson and other administration officials are secretive with the public and display no willingness to take responsibility for their actions. What lessons are the Fresno students learning as they observe the behavior of Fresno Unified’s leaders?

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 7:34 AM with the headline "School districts send different messages."