Published
6 years agoon
OPINION BY BILL MCEWEN
Largely unnoticed amid the furor that Ashjian has triggered is his drive to help students get the education, skills and support they need to succeed in the world.
Fresno Unified is finally moving on Career Technical Education. A state-of-the-art diesel technology center will open at Duncan Poly High School next year, and more offerings are in the pipeline.
The special education department is being rebuilt with a renewed commitment on helping students — instead of focusing on what can’t be done and spending millions of dollars on lawyers to defend the district’s failure to comply with the law. This rebuild includes six additional psychologists, bringing the district’s total to 56 and, yes, Ashjian anticipates some of those new hires will be working closely with LGBT students. In the next budget cycle, Ashjian says, more will be added. Good. Still more are needed.
The renewed attention to student health, which was begun under Hanson, is continuing with licensed vocational nurses replacing health aides. The district has designated $1 million to boost achievement and lower discipline rates among black students. And a new system has been set up to track and counsel foster and homeless children enrolled in the district.
All of the credit for these improvements doesn’t go to Ashjian. Other trustees and interim Superintendent Bob Nelson have led or played key roles, too. But you should not overlook Ashjian’s commitment to making Fresno Unified better and doing right by students who must overcome the huge obstacles of poverty, family circumstances or special needs to succeed.
The challenges Ashjian faced growing up en route to becoming a multimillionare businessman left him with a soft spot for women and children. These experiences are why before running for the school board, he threw himself into volunteer work with the Marjaree Mason Center. It’s why he often cries when the topic is at-risk kids or women who have suffered domestic abuse.
Some critics say his tears are theatrical. I have seen his tears often enough to vouch for their legitimacy. They are part of the bundle of contradictions that is Brooke Ashjian.
When I was a kid, it was ingrained in me to judge a man by actions, not by his words. But words can be powerful, too. They can inspire. They can evoke sadness or laughter. And sometimes they can scar. Not just the object of derision, but the speaker, too.
I wish Ashjian were more judicious with his words. If he was, his passion for helping children would share center stage with his actions on their behalf.
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. Contact Bill at 559 492-4031 or bmcewen@gvwire.com.
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email
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