Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

‘Freedom Week’: California Gun Owners Rush to Buy Ammo After Court Ruling

5 hours ago

Wall Street Selloff Sparked by Trump Tariffs, Amazon Results, Weak Payrolls

6 hours ago

US Construction Spending Extends Decline in June

6 hours ago

Global Shares in Red After US Jobs Data, Trump’s Tariff Salvo

6 hours ago

Construction of $200M Trump Ballroom at the White House to Begin in September

1 day ago

US Senate Committee Backs $1 Billion for Ukraine in Pentagon Spending Bill

1 day ago

Trump Says Mexico Trade Deal Extended for 90 Days

1 day ago

Fresno Unified Trustee Susan Wittrup Responds to $162,000 Payout

2 days ago
Teamwork Replaces Chaos in Fresno Unified, Leaders and Union Say
By Myles Barker
Published 7 years ago on
October 3, 2018

Share

One year ago, Fresno Unified teachers threatened to go out on strike over stalled contract negotiations with the district. Among the issues contributing to the impasse: a demand by teachers that the district make a commitment to reducing class sizes to help address deficiencies in student achievement.
On Wednesday, the district and teachers union joined together to announce the progress they’ve made on bridging the divide.
“Since August of this year, we eliminated combination classes in our elementary schools and we reduced class sizes in our secondary schools in language classes,” said Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson.

“It has not been an easy journey, we are still working on our development of creating a joint relationship of mutual trust, but we are committed in working forward together.” — Bob Nelson, superintendent of Fresno Unified
In situations where student numbers were high and extra classroom space was unavailable, Nelson said a second teacher or paraprofessional educator was added.
“It is important to note that these efforts all took place outside of the formal bargaining process, which is markedly different from anything that we have done before,” Nelson said. “We are trying to operate differently.”

New Attitude in the District

The changes came following joint labor-management committee meetings that were created as a condition of a new contract between the district and the Fresno Teachers Association. The agreement was reached in January, just before teachers were scheduled to walk out for the first time in 40 years.
Leaders say there is a new attitude at work.
“When we move from a place of chaos and conflict to collaboration and cooperation, the 74,000 students of Fresno Unified transform, our city transforms, and this Valley transforms,” said FTA President Michael Bonilla.
Nelson echoed the sentiment.
“It has not been an easy journey,” Nelson said. “We are still working on our development of creating a joint relationship of mutual trust, but we are committed in working forward together,” Nelson said.
School Board Member Claudia Cazares, who represents Fresno Unified Hoover area region, commended both Bonilla and Nelson for the “remarkable accomplishments we’ve had as partners in this community.”
“It is not about the adults and it is not about how well we can get along, it is about our children and making sure they advance and that the city advances,” Cazares said.

Focusing on Special Ed Improvements

Creating a plan to better serve students with special needs is another issue the district is working on addressing, Nelson said.
In response to feedback from the Council of the Great City Schools regarding how well Fresno Unified is doing in providing for students with special needs, Nelson said the district has developed a plan, which he will present to the school board in the near future.

“When we move from a place of chaos and conflict to collaboration and cooperation, the 74,000 students of Fresno Unified transform, our city transforms, and this Valley transforms.” — Manuel Bonilla, president of the Fresno Teachers Association
The plan consists of providing direct support to students in classrooms in the form of additional material, equipment, and technological tools supporting both communication for special needs youth and mobility.

More Work To Do

Even with the progress the district has made, Nelson said there’s “absolutely further work to do.”
Some of that work includes focusing on the area of literacy and early learning.
“We acknowledge that early learning is key in order to make sure that our students enter kindergarten with a foundation, which is solid for future learning and growth,” Nelson said.

School Board Member Valerie Davis said she is really proud that both Fresno Unified and the FTA can get the credit for getting so much done for students.
“I am moved beyond words that this is a new beginning and I look forward to more work with our teacher unions and our superintendent together,” Davis said.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

It’s Raining Cash for Some 2026 Fresno City Council Hopefuls

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Finds E. Coli at Avocado Lake. Don’t Swim There

DON'T MISS

Trump Fires US Labor Department’s Statistical Leader After Weaker Than Expected Jobs Report

DON'T MISS

Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Close After Funding Cut, in Blow to Local Media

DON'T MISS

Trump Eyes Bringing Azerbaijan, Central Asian Nations Into Abraham Accords, Sources Say

DON'T MISS

Farmers in West Fresno County to Consider 200% Groundwater Pumping Fee Hike

DON'T MISS

Trump Orders Nuclear Submarines Moved Near Russia

DON'T MISS

Fresno Councilmember Vang Accused of Conflict of Interest in Budget Vote

DON'T MISS

Ghislaine Maxwell Moved From Florida Prison to Lower-Security Facility

DON'T MISS

Trump Escalates Trade War With Canada Following Palestine Stance

UP NEXT

Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Close After Funding Cut, in Blow to Local Media

UP NEXT

Farmers in West Fresno County to Consider 200% Groundwater Pumping Fee Hike

UP NEXT

Fresno Councilmember Vang Accused of Conflict of Interest in Budget Vote

UP NEXT

Ghislaine Maxwell Moved From Florida Prison to Lower-Security Facility

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Scott Oscar Whitehead

UP NEXT

Visalia Road Project to Temporarily Shut Down Part of Caldwell Avenue

UP NEXT

Fresno Fire Displaces Family of Three, Pets Rescued

UP NEXT

Measure C Advisory Group Still Squabbling but Agrees on Mission Statement

UP NEXT

Adopt Eevee and She’ll Bring Sunshine Into Your Life

UP NEXT

Fresno County Authorities Arrest Suspect, Recover Firearms and Drugs in Fowler

Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Close After Funding Cut, in Blow to Local Media

2 hours ago

Trump Eyes Bringing Azerbaijan, Central Asian Nations Into Abraham Accords, Sources Say

2 hours ago

Farmers in West Fresno County to Consider 200% Groundwater Pumping Fee Hike

3 hours ago

Trump Orders Nuclear Submarines Moved Near Russia

3 hours ago

Fresno Councilmember Vang Accused of Conflict of Interest in Budget Vote

4 hours ago

Ghislaine Maxwell Moved From Florida Prison to Lower-Security Facility

4 hours ago

Trump Escalates Trade War With Canada Following Palestine Stance

4 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Scott Oscar Whitehead

5 hours ago

‘Freedom Week’: California Gun Owners Rush to Buy Ammo After Court Ruling

5 hours ago

Wall Street Selloff Sparked by Trump Tariffs, Amazon Results, Weak Payrolls

6 hours ago

It’s Raining Cash for Some 2026 Fresno City Council Hopefuls

In 10 months, voters in four Fresno City Council districts head to the polls to begin a major reshaping of the seven-member panel. Candidate...

33 minutes ago

Fresno city hall with council campaign finance money
33 minutes ago

It’s Raining Cash for Some 2026 Fresno City Council Hopefuls

E. coli identified at avocado lake
1 hour ago

Fresno County Finds E. Coli at Avocado Lake. Don’t Swim There

President Donald Trump speaks at a dinner with Republican Senators, in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 18, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

Trump Fires US Labor Department’s Statistical Leader After Weaker Than Expected Jobs Report

Breaking News from Reuters
2 hours ago

Corporation for Public Broadcasting to Close After Funding Cut, in Blow to Local Media

President Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 31, 2025. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Trump Eyes Bringing Azerbaijan, Central Asian Nations Into Abraham Accords, Sources Say

3 hours ago

Farmers in West Fresno County to Consider 200% Groundwater Pumping Fee Hike

President Donald Trump speaks after disembarking Marine One, as he departs for Scotland, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., July 25, 2025. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)
3 hours ago

Trump Orders Nuclear Submarines Moved Near Russia

4 hours ago

Fresno Councilmember Vang Accused of Conflict of Interest in Budget Vote

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

Search

Send this to a friend