The Fresno Unified School Board has reversed course and committed to a comprehensive nationwide search for our next superintendent. Your collective insistence on transparency and excellence is the reason we achieved this necessary outcome. We will remain diligent to ensure the board follows through on this process with integrity.
April 20, 2024
Final supporters
Sign this petition if you care about the future of our children and their education!
Four Fresno Unified trustees are hurting the success of Fresno students. They are avoiding an open and fair search for our next superintendent.
_______________
Four opposers:
- Trustee Claudia Cazares
- Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas
- Trustee Keisha Thomas
- Trustee Valerie Davis
Three supporters:
- Trustee President Susan Wittrup
- Trustee Veva Islas
- Trustee Andy Levine
Read more:
_______________
Ignoring well-established best practices, a narrow majority of the Fresno Unified School Board decided on March 20 to limit its search for the district’s next superintendent to internal candidates only.
As the City of Fresno’s hiring of Paco Balderrama from Oklahoma City to be police chief demonstrates, a commitment to excellence demands a nationwide search for Bob Nelson’s successor. Balderrama has been an outstanding leader as reflected in the reduction of homicides and other violent crimes.
Bold and innovative leadership is exactly what Fresno Unified needs to end decades of shockingly low student achievement and to stem a recent tide of dropping attendance and high chronic absenteeism.
Fresno’s economic prosperity is directly linked to the school district’s performance. Until Fresno Unified produces more students prepared to excel in the workforce or college, businesses will continue to face hiring challenges and it will be impossible to diversify our economy.
Fresno Unified receives more than $2 billion a year to prepare our young people to succeed in life. However, it continues to fail students, families, and the community in this trusted mission every day and every year.
We demand that the School Board embrace best practices and conduct a wide search to identify and hire the transformative superintendent that Fresno deserves.
Anything less is a disservice to students and a commitment to failure.
By signing our petition, you are sending a powerful message that you refuse to accept mediocrity when it comes to our children's education.
____________
You can also voice your concerns by emailing the board.
Please encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to do the same by forwarding this petition to them. Thank you.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
March 30, 2024
March 30, 2024
I have been reviewing the feedback provided by many of you regarding the recent board decision. The lack of transparency in the superintendent search remains a primary concern for those who prioritize student success. Further outreach to school board members is currently underway to demand a national search process.
Reached 100 supporters
March 28, 2024
100 Comments
Fresno Unified should consider external candidates for two reasons: To ensure the best-qualified candidates have an opportunity to apply. To validate the selection of an internal candidate who had to compete with other strong candidates to get the job.
The students at FUSD deserve the best available Superintendent. The only way to ensure that is to conduct a full search from both internal and external candidates as one simultaneous process. I know my Mother, former Trustee Ryan would have said the same.
The board owes Fresno an explanation why they’re not willing to look outside Fresno for the best candidate for superintendent. Maybe the best candidate is local, but that’s not been established. We owe our kids and our community better.
FUSD has shown patterns of manipulating facts to cover up/hide poor behavior made by site officials and district administrators. This needs to change. The FUSD board can’t be allowed tohide behind a ‘home-grown superintendent forever. What a disservice to the teachers and students of Fresno.
As a parent with two children currently enrolled in FUSD (Edison H.S., Baird) I believe an expansive, nationwide search should be conducted. The manner in which the process has been handled thus far appears to lack the level of rigor a decision like this warrants.
WOW I didn't know that thank you for sharing
If the best is out there, why not see what's available? I'd think it's what's in the best interest of our students.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
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The Fresno Unified School Board has reversed course and committed to a comprehensive nationwide search for our next superintendent. Your collective insistence on transparency and excellence is the reason we achieved this necessary outcome. We will remain diligent to ensure the board follows through on this process with integrity.
April 20, 2024
Final supporters
Sign this petition if you care about the future of our children and their education!
Four Fresno Unified trustees are hurting the success of Fresno students. They are avoiding an open and fair search for our next superintendent.
_______________
Four opposers:
- Trustee Claudia Cazares
- Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas
- Trustee Keisha Thomas
- Trustee Valerie Davis
Three supporters:
- Trustee President Susan Wittrup
- Trustee Veva Islas
- Trustee Andy Levine
Read more:
_______________
Ignoring well-established best practices, a narrow majority of the Fresno Unified School Board decided on March 20 to limit its search for the district’s next superintendent to internal candidates only.
As the City of Fresno’s hiring of Paco Balderrama from Oklahoma City to be police chief demonstrates, a commitment to excellence demands a nationwide search for Bob Nelson’s successor. Balderrama has been an outstanding leader as reflected in the reduction of homicides and other violent crimes.
Bold and innovative leadership is exactly what Fresno Unified needs to end decades of shockingly low student achievement and to stem a recent tide of dropping attendance and high chronic absenteeism.
Fresno’s economic prosperity is directly linked to the school district’s performance. Until Fresno Unified produces more students prepared to excel in the workforce or college, businesses will continue to face hiring challenges and it will be impossible to diversify our economy.
Fresno Unified receives more than $2 billion a year to prepare our young people to succeed in life. However, it continues to fail students, families, and the community in this trusted mission every day and every year.
We demand that the School Board embrace best practices and conduct a wide search to identify and hire the transformative superintendent that Fresno deserves.
Anything less is a disservice to students and a commitment to failure.
By signing our petition, you are sending a powerful message that you refuse to accept mediocrity when it comes to our children's education.
____________
You can also voice your concerns by emailing the board.
Please encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to do the same by forwarding this petition to them. Thank you.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
March 30, 2024
March 30, 2024
I have been reviewing the feedback provided by many of you regarding the recent board decision. The lack of transparency in the superintendent search remains a primary concern for those who prioritize student success. Further outreach to school board members is currently underway to demand a national search process.
Reached 100 supporters
March 28, 2024
100 Comments
As third largest school district a national search is best practice, staying within the district reeks of favoritism and backward thinking! If someone local is outstanding then they will outshine where ever candidates come from!
Fresno Unified should consider external candidates for two reasons: To ensure the best-qualified candidates have an opportunity to apply. To validate the selection of an internal candidate who had to compete with other strong candidates to get the job.
The students at FUSD deserve the best available Superintendent. The only way to ensure that is to conduct a full search from both internal and external candidates as one simultaneous process. I know my Mother, former Trustee Ryan would have said the same.
The board owes Fresno an explanation why they’re not willing to look outside Fresno for the best candidate for superintendent. Maybe the best candidate is local, but that’s not been established. We owe our kids and our community better.
FUSD has shown patterns of manipulating facts to cover up/hide poor behavior made by site officials and district administrators. This needs to change. The FUSD board can’t be allowed tohide behind a ‘home-grown superintendent forever. What a disservice to the teachers and students of Fresno.
As a parent with two children currently enrolled in FUSD (Edison H.S., Baird) I believe an expansive, nationwide search should be conducted. The manner in which the process has been handled thus far appears to lack the level of rigor a decision like this warrants.
WOW I didn't know that thank you for sharing
If the best is out there, why not see what's available? I'd think it's what's in the best interest of our students.
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As third largest school district a national search is best practice, staying within the district reeks of favoritism and backward thinking! If someone local is outstanding then they will outshine where ever candidates come from!