Candidates debated the future path of the Fresno Unified School District in a series of televised forums produced by GV Wire in collaboration with the Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC). On Nov. 6, voters will choose trustees to represent four regions in the 74,000 student school district.
The candidates outlined their priorities for school improvements and the strategies they believe will lead to higher student achievement. They also discussed the role of trustees in effectively managing Fresno Unified’s $1.3 billion annual budget to ensure the best value for taxpayers.
Trustees will be elected in the Edison, McLane, Sunnyside and Bullard high school areas. Eleven candidates, including two incumbents, are vying for those trustee seats and participated in the forums.
You can view each of the forums in their entirety below.
Edison High region (Area 1)
Candidates: Keshia Thomas (educator/business owner) and Robert Fuentes (civil rights attorney).
Sunnyside High region (Area 3)
Candidates: Mark Ratchford (small businessman), Karl Diaz (teacher) and Valerie Davis (incumbent).
McLane High region (Area 4):
Candidates: Christopher De La Cerda (incumbent) and Veva Islas (educator) .
Bullard High region (Area 7)
Candidates: Terri Edwards (educator), Nasreen Johnson (marketing director), Amanda Karabian (retired safety director) and Terry Slatic (retired Marine Corps officer).
