I’m not here to talk about the superintendent pick negatively. This isn’t about the qualifications or the contract. This is about the theatrics.

Because when you reserve front-row seats, pack the room with family members of the yet-to-be-officially-named appointee, and then ask the public to believe the decision wasn’t already made — come on. Who’s buying that?

The Great Fresno Unified Production

Watching the Fresno Unified board meeting on Wednesday was like watching a high school play where the ending is whispered from the wings before the curtain even rises. There was joy. There was hope. There was fear. There was anger. And somewhere in all of that, there was the glaring realization: This was already sewn up.

And just to really drive it home, the district released what can only be described as a cue sheet on Wednesday morning — a near itemized rundown of who needed to be where, and when, once the announcement was made.

The kind of detailed coordination you’d expect from a dress rehearsal, not a public process that’s supposed to be unfolding in real time.

That’s not transparency. That’s choreography. And the public can tell the difference.

Everyone Shared the Unpublished Script Apparently

The Fresno Unified board is known for its share of political maneuvering — some trustees eye these seats like stepping stones, not public service. And if this week proved anything, it’s that secrecy is not their strong suit. If you’re going to orchestrate a grand reveal, at least try not to leak the whole script before opening night.

GV Wire, bless its inbox, seemed to know the outcome before the meeting. Maybe that’s Fresno Unified’s cover story — that the front row wasn’t reserved, just occupied by diehard news junkies that got their insights from some “tabloid.” It’s a cute theory. But it falls apart the moment you hear clapping before the vote is even called.

Nikki Henry, spokesperson for Fresno Unified, said the reason people showed up in droves was because they were simply anticipating what was going to happen.

Anticipation might explain interest. But it doesn’t quite explain front-row seating and coordinated family attendance before the vote was official. That level of preparation suggests more than just a hunch.

Stop Treating Us Like We Are Dumb

Let’s talk about what this does to public trust.

When people show up to a school board meeting hoping to witness a fair process, and instead find themselves at a coronation, what are we supposed to believe? That it was all just a lucky coincidence?

We’re not that naïve. And Fresno doesn’t deserve to be treated like it is.

If the board had already made up its mind — and let’s be real, it clearly had — then the vote was a formality. A show. A box to check. And the public process (or lack thereof)? That was just window dressing. That’s the part that stings. Because this city is tired of decisions being made behind closed doors while the rest of us are handed carefully crafted statements and told to clap on cue.

Don’t get me wrong — I understand the board members are elected officials, and we put them there to make decisions on our behalf. That’s how representative democracy works.

But when that same board keeps boasting about transparency and listening to the community — then turns around and behaves like the decision was never in question — it starts to feel suspect. You can’t keep using the word “transparent” when everything looks this foggy.

This isn’t a gripe about transparency just for the sake of it. It’s about the deep frustration of a community that keeps getting looped in after the decisions are made, expected to cheer for outcomes we weren’t invited to shape.

Fresno deserves better than backroom deals dressed up as board meetings. We deserve leaders who understand that the optics do matter, especially when the community’s trust is already on shaky ground.

Misty Her Could Do Amazing Things for Fresno

And here’s the kicker: Maybe the pick, Misty Her, is the right person for the job. Maybe she’ll do great things. But even if that’s true, this rollout undermined the new superintendent. It stripped away the power of the moment. Instead of inspiring confidence, it raised eyebrows. Instead of building unity, it sowed doubt. Now, she will have to deal with the distrust the board has caused.

Misty Her, I genuinely believe you can do great things. I believe you have the vision to make Fresno Unified better. I believe you’ll bring a fresh perspective this district badly needs.

But success will require engaging with the community honestly — not burying the truth six feet deep and calling it “transparency.” 

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.