What's Next From FUSD's Measure X? Air Conditioning for All.
By Myles Barker
Published 5 years ago on
January 10, 2019

Share

One thing appears certain in Fresno Unified’s near future: Every school will have air conditioning.
The topic dominated the district’s special school board meeting Wednesday, which focused exclusively on setting priority projects for Measure X construction funds.
Fresno Unified voters passed Measure X — a $225 million bond measure to improve facilities within the district — in 2016.
So far, the district has expended or committed $48 million to projects, which leaves it with $177 million in the pipeline.
Some of the recent projects the district has completed include modernizing Rata High School, a special education site, and improving a quad at McLane High School.


“To go through another bond and not achieve equity is not acceptable.” — Carol Mills, FUSD Board Clerk
Instead of discussing what new schools the district will build with Measure X dollars, the board focused heavily on updating existing schools.
The theme of the evening: equity for everyone.

Equity For All

That means ensuring all schools are equipped with basic needs like air conditioning.
“When we have 100-degree temperatures, it is not fair that some students have air conditioning and some don’t,” said Board Clerk Carol Mills.
Mills said the first priority for her is “equity for our regions.”
To go through another bond and not achieve equity is not acceptable,” she said.
Trustee Terry Slatic suggested that Superintendent Bob Nelson and his staff turn off their air conditioners when summer hits until every classroom in the district has functioning air conditioning.
“Not having air conditioning in classrooms is unacceptable,” Slatic said. “You want to talk about I feel your pain, feel their pain, and turn off your own air conditioning, Mr. Superintendent, and your senior staff’s.”
Slatic vowed to turn off his own air conditioner in his home until the issue is resolved.


“Not having air conditioning in classrooms is unacceptable.” — Terry Slatic, Area 7 trustee
Resident Andrew Fabela said he wants to see air conditioning installed at every school before the board starts any other projects.
“You can’t learn in disgusting conditions,” Fabela said. “So the first thing should be making sure every classroom that has a defective air conditioner has one replaced. That is the first thing that I want to see.”
Fabela said the air conditioning issue is not new. He recalled two instances where students had to suffer the consequences of not having a climate-controlled classroom.

Second Workshop In February

The board agreed to hold another workshop in February to give staff time to gather additional data for potential Measure X priority projects.
Other possible priority projects include:
— Upgrading security cameras district-wide.
— Installing door alarms in special education classrooms district-wide.
— Creating or upgrading Career Technical Education programs at each comprehensive high school.
— Adding or upgrading gyms at Edison, Fresno and Roosevelt high schools.
— Adding more elementary schools in the Edison and McLane regions because of overcrowding.


DON'T MISS

FresYes Fest Is Saturday: This Immigrant Is Living the American Dream With Xtreme Shawarma

DON'T MISS

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

DON'T MISS

3 Valley Schools Honored by State as Model Community Day Schools

DON'T MISS

Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?

DON'T MISS

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

DON'T MISS

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

DON'T MISS

Bredefeld, Chavez Win Attorneys Fees from Fresno County. Court Gives Chavez Blvd. a Green Light.

DON'T MISS

Trump’s Lawyers Say It Is Impossible for Him to Post Bond Covering $454 Million Civil Fraud Judgment

DON'T MISS

Special Congressional Election Tuesday. How Many Have Voted Already?

DON'T MISS

Brothers Say They Found Amelia Earhart’s Plane, Will Donate It to Smithsonian

No data was found

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

8 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

Bitwise /

8 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

Environment /

11 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

12 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

12 hours ago

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

12 hours ago

Trump: Some Migrants Are ‘Not People’, There’ll Be a ‘Bloodbath’ if I Lose

12 hours ago

Tech Lawyer and Philanthropist Nicole Shanahan Rumored as RFK Jr.’s VP Pick

News /

12 hours ago

March Madness is Here. UConn, Purdue, Houston and North Carolina Get Top Seeding in NCAA Tournament

13 hours ago

Crafts Retailer Joann Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as Consumers Cut Back on Pandemic-Era Hobbies

13 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

â– Valley Children’s paid CEO Todd Suntrapak $5.2 million in 2021. The hospital also gave him a $5 million forgivable home loan. â– The Va...
Healthcare /

7 hours ago

3 days ago

Realtor Association Settles Lawsuit on Commission Rules. Fresno Broker Fears the End of Market Transparency

3 days ago

Prosecutor Leaves Georgia Election Case Against Trump After Relationship With District Attorney

4 days ago

Rory McIlroy’s 65: 10 Birdies, 2 Tee Shots in the Water, 1 Testy Dispute

4 days ago

Aaron Donald Announces His Retirement After a Standout 10-Year Career With the Rams

4 days ago

New Book Explores the Myths, Truths and Legacy of the Macho Man

4 days ago

Baseball Superstar Ohtani and His Wife Arrive in South Korea for Dodgers-Padres MLB Opener

4 days ago

India’s New Citizenship Law Excludes Muslims. Here’s What to Know

4 days ago

US, G-7 Allies Warn Iran to Back Off Deal to Provide Russia Ballistic Missiles or Face New Sanctions

Photo of San Francisco 49ers' Arik Armstead

4 days ago

Former 49ers DT Arik Armstead Agrees to a 3-Year, $51 Million Deal with the Jaguars, AP Source Says

4 days ago

Supreme Court Rules Public Officials Can Sometimes Be Sued for Blocking Critics on Social Media

Search