The Board of Education holds regular meetings every second and fourth Wednesday of the month.Click here for details
As supporting material for board agenda items are made available, they may be accessed through using this link.

The Board of Education will receive the proposed calendar and adopt the school calendar for the 2009-10 school year at their regularly scheduled February board meetings. A Calendar Advisory Committee comprised of employees, union representatives, parents, and community members will review input from committee members and the public, and make recommendations on the proposed school calendar to the Board of Education. We anticipate that the 2009/2010 school calendar will follow a similar schedule as the current school calendar.

• Calendar Committee Meetings:
  At the end of each meeting on January 15 and 22, 2009 (6:15 p.m.), the public is welcome to provide input to the committee. The meetings will take place at the FUSD Education Center, 2309 Tulare Street, 2nd Floor Board Room.
• Mail:
  2009-10 School Calendar c/o Communications Department, 2309 Tulare Street, 2nd Floor, Fresno, CA 93721
• Email:
  School Calendar c/o Communications Department at Communications@fresnounified.org
• Fax:
  School Calendar c/o Communications Department at 559-457-3778

The Fresno Unified School District is creating a long-range Facilities Master Plan. This plan will provide important information on what the school facilities and feeder pattern may look and feel like now and in the future. Parents, staff and community members are invited to attend the meetings to provide input and suggestions. The meetings will be specific to the proposed high school areas which can be viewed here. The proposed feeder pattern information can be viewed here.

• February 5, 2009 – 6:30 PM – Bullard High School Area
  To be held at Wawona Middle School Auditorium
• February 10, 2009 – 6:30 PM – Fresno High School Area
  To be held at Williams Elementary School Auditorium
• February 12, 2009 – 6:30 PM – Hoover High School Area
  To be held at Ahwahnee Middle School Auditorium
• February 17, 2009 – 6:30 PM – McLane High School Area
  To be held at Scandinavian Middle School Auditorium
• February 18, 2009 – 6:30 PM – New SE High School Area
  To be held at Terronez Middle School Auditorium
• February 19, 2009 – 6:30 PM – Sunnyside High School Area
  To be held at Kings Canyon Middle School Auditorium
• February 24, 2009 – 6:30 PM – Roosevelt High School Area
  To be held at Anthony Elementary School Auditorium
• February 26, 2009 – 6:30 PM – Edison High School Area
  To be held at Edison High School Auditorium

The FUSD Board of Education received the First Budget Interim Report for 2008/09 Dec. 10 at its regularly scheduled meeting. The specific affect to FUSD is still unknown; however, FUSD will plan for a significant impact given the current dismal economic picture at state and national levels. FUSD stands in a much better position than most other districts in the state due to prudent budget actions. FUSD made $15 million of budget reductions required in 2008/09 without layoffs, classified or certificated – more than $7 million in reductions were taken in the Central Administrative Offices, and reserves were used of approximately $7.5 million. For 2009/2010, FUSD will remain dedicated to a similar strategy: a balanced approach of reductions and utilizing the reserves with a focus on minimal disruption to the learning environment.

An overview of the Adopted Budget 2008-2009 for Fresno Unified School District is available for download at the following link: http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/pdfs/Budget adoption 08-09.pdf.

The Superintendent’s Commission on Workplace Readiness and Career Technical Education is being led by a group of community and business leaders to examine the current delivery of career technical education in FUSD. Based on their research, analysis, and study, the commission is scheduled to bring forward recommendations on system-wide reform initiatives that will help achieve the mission of preparing Career Ready Graduates and define a best set of opportunities for business and community engagement that focuses on exposing students to the world of work. As the work of the Commission progresses, small group meetings with student and staff are being scheduled to gather specific input and feedback.

For more information on the work of the Commission, including meeting presentations, list of commissioners, research, data, and discussion board, please click here: www.fresnounified.org/dept/planning/careerprep/

FUSD Superintendent Michael Hanson gave a final report November 18 on the Edison High School investigation of an alleged student grade change. Superintendent Hanson’s statement is available here: http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/pdfs/STATEMENT - Edison News Conference - Investigation 11-18-08.pdf. Superintendent Hanson shared a report submitted to him on proposed system improvements based on the investigation. The report is available here: http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/pdfs/Report to Superintendent - Systems Improvements 11-18-08.pdf.

The 2008 LEA Plan Addendum is now available at the following link: FUSD LEA Plan Addendum 2008

Fresno Unified School District Board of Education established a Constituent Services Office to respond to the needs of parents and community members. Miguel Arias, the Constituent Services administrator, helps parents and community members to receive their requested information and guides them on the most effective route to address or resolve an issue. Fresno serves more than 73,000 students at 106 schools, and the Constituent Services Office helps to connect parents and community members with the information and resources to get the help they need swiftly. The Constituent Services Office can be reached at 457-3727.

The Fresno Unified School District will submit a grant application to the United States Department of Education for 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The application will be for Columbia, Easterby, Ewing, Greenberg, Homan, Jefferson, Kirk, Leavenworth, Norseman and Webster. If approved, the grant money will be used to provide academic support and enrichment activities for students after school. More information is available from the District’s Grants Office at (559) 457-3186.

On August 5, school and district leaders met to discuss the 2008-09 school year at the annual Leadership Conference. Click here for the Superintendents Address http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/pdfs/Final 2008 Leadership Conference.pdf and PowerPoint presentation http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/pdfs/2008 Leadership Conference.pdf.

2008-2009 Parent & Student Notification and Information Handbook
Every Student enrolled in Fresno Unified should receive a copy of the Parent Notification and Information handbook from school. You can also download this document in Adobe Acrobat PDF format . The 2008-2009 Parent & Student Notification and Information Handbooks are also available electronically in Spanish and Hmong versions.

For the third year in a row, FUSD demonstrated districtwide growth in both English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics on the California Standards Tests (CSTs). In addition, this is the third year of districtwide growth for all subgroups in both ELA and math with the exception of a one year dip in 2007 for African American students (in math).

Since 1998, we have never seen this kind of magnitude of across the board student achievement gains in grades 2-7 in mathematics for Fresno Unified, nor have we as a system been so targeted in our efforts, said Michael E. Hanson, Superintendent Fresno Unified upon reviewing the results. This represents approximately 1,200 students who are now proficient who were not before. If we keep them on track engaged and on target to graduate - we will be providing these students with an opportunity for the future much different than it would have been just a year ago.

Please visit the California Department of Educations website to view state, district and school results at http://star.cde.ca.gov/.

Fresno Unifieds latest edition of Building Futures is now available. This edition features Fresno Unifieds cutting-edge technology, a parents guide to MRSA in California, a community partnership with Fresnos Rotary donating 6,000 dictionaries to 3rd graders and more. Fresno Unified would like to thank the many businesses that supported Building Futures making our January edition a success. If you are interested in advertising in Building Futures please review our media kit. For additional information contact the Communications Office at 457-3733.