Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Ashjian voted FUSD president after prickly process
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 8 years ago on
December 16, 2016

Share

Just days after superintendent Michael Hanson announced he would be ending his term next summer, one of his chief critics was selected as president of the school board.

In a somewhat awkward process, Brooke Ashjian received enough votes among the seven-member board to take the reins of the Fresno Unified School District board. He has been a tough critic of the policies of Hanson over the past two years.

Among many of his critiques, Ashjian is unhappy with the federal investigation of Hanson and the district over deals to award school construction contracts to Harris Construction. Ashjian has also hammered district leadership over educational policies. In turn, Hanson has retorted with barbs and zingers on Ashjian in plenty of media interviews.

Hanson himself presided over the nominating and voting process. He noted it is the only time of year he gets to run a board meeting.

Right off the bat, fellow critic and trustee Carol Mills challenged Hanson’s handling of the nomination process. Hanson first recognized trustee Valerie Davis. Mills objected, citing that tradition calls for taking nominations in alphabetical order. Hanson rebuffed that request saying that they haven’t always done it that way.

Davis nominated trustee Christopher De La Cerda. Cal Johnson seconded and appeared to call for a close to nominations, before Mills interjected that there were more nominations. She brought forward Ashjian’s name.

After the closing of nominations, a roll call vote was taken for De La Cerda. Davis, Johnson and De La Cerda voted for him being president. Mills along with Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas voted no. Ashjian and Claudia Cazares abstained. With four votes needed, De La Cerda’s bid failed.

Then the vote came for Ashjian. He voted for himself, along with Mills, Jonasson Rosas and Cazares. When De La Cerda was asked to record his vote, there was a 20 second pause as he whispered in Hanson’s ear off mic. De La Cerda wanted to hold a discussion, but the request was denied by the board clerk.

The rest voted against.Thus, Ashjian received enough votes to take the gavel, even though the clerk incorrectly stated there were three votes in his favor (she quickly corrected herself).

Earlier in the evening, Cazares, Jonasson Rosas were sworn in as new board members.  Mills also was sworn in having won re-election.

E-mail David Taub

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

With Fresno Budget $20 Million in the Red, Belts Tighten at City Hall

DON'T MISS

Humpback Whale Briefly Swallows Kayaker — All Captured on Video

DON'T MISS

California Braces for Rain as Winter Storm Causes Massive Pileup

DON'T MISS

State Dept. Halts $400M Tesla Armored Vehicle Plan

DON'T MISS

Fresno Sub Teacher’s Immigration Queries of Students Spark Board Meeting Outrage

DON'T MISS

Southern California Braces for Storm Damage in Wildfire Areas

DON'T MISS

Trump’s Pick for Education Chief Outlines Plan to Dismantle Department

DON'T MISS

Trump Orders Mass Layoffs of Federal Probationary Workers, Warns More to Come

DON'T MISS

Two Students Injured in School Bus Crash Near Madera

DON'T MISS

Fresno Chain Sequoia Brewing Closing All Three Restaurants

UP NEXT

Fresno Sub Teacher’s Immigration Queries of Students Spark Board Meeting Outrage

UP NEXT

Two Students Injured in School Bus Crash Near Madera

UP NEXT

Fresno Chain Sequoia Brewing Closing All Three Restaurants

UP NEXT

250 Fresno Unified Bus Driver Jobs at Risk, Teachers Fear 12% Pay Cuts

UP NEXT

Kern County Baker Can’t Refuse Wedding Cake for Lesbian Couple: Court

UP NEXT

With Grove Terming Out, Maher Announces State Senate Bid

UP NEXT

Mindy Casto Becomes Fresno’s Top Cop, Shedding Interim Tag

UP NEXT

City Center Unveils Real Solutions for Fresno Homelessness

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Jessica Lynn Leon

UP NEXT

Apartments Planned for North Fresno Land at Audubon Avenue

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

State Dept. Halts $400M Tesla Armored Vehicle Plan

8 hours ago

Fresno Sub Teacher’s Immigration Queries of Students Spark Board Meeting Outrage

9 hours ago

Southern California Braces for Storm Damage in Wildfire Areas

9 hours ago

Trump’s Pick for Education Chief Outlines Plan to Dismantle Department

9 hours ago

Trump Orders Mass Layoffs of Federal Probationary Workers, Warns More to Come

9 hours ago

Two Students Injured in School Bus Crash Near Madera

10 hours ago

Fresno Chain Sequoia Brewing Closing All Three Restaurants

11 hours ago

250 Fresno Unified Bus Driver Jobs at Risk, Teachers Fear 12% Pay Cuts

11 hours ago

CA Schools Still Fall Behind Despite Big Increases in Spending

11 hours ago

Trump Wants Denuclearization Talks With Russia and China, Hopes for Defense Spending Cuts

12 hours ago

With Fresno Budget $20 Million in the Red, Belts Tighten at City Hall

Fresno is facing a $20 million budget shortfall, city officials said in a mid-year budget report to the city council on Thursday. And, it co...

8 hours ago

8 hours ago

With Fresno Budget $20 Million in the Red, Belts Tighten at City Hall

8 hours ago

Humpback Whale Briefly Swallows Kayaker — All Captured on Video

8 hours ago

California Braces for Rain as Winter Storm Causes Massive Pileup

8 hours ago

State Dept. Halts $400M Tesla Armored Vehicle Plan

9 hours ago

Fresno Sub Teacher’s Immigration Queries of Students Spark Board Meeting Outrage

A public works employee builds sand berms to protect homes along the beach from expected storm surge in Capitola, Calif., Feb. 13, 2025. A large swath of California was bracing on Thursday for an intense bout of rain that could lead to flooding and cause debris flows in areas recently burned by wildfires. (Nic Coury/The New York Times)
9 hours ago

Southern California Braces for Storm Damage in Wildfire Areas

9 hours ago

Trump’s Pick for Education Chief Outlines Plan to Dismantle Department

Protesters hold banners during a rally in front of the Office of Personnel Management, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington. President Donald Trump is relying on a relatively obscure federal agency to reshape government. The Office of Personnel Management was created in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter and is the equivalent of the government's human resources department. (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
9 hours ago

Trump Orders Mass Layoffs of Federal Probationary Workers, Warns More to Come

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend