The parent of a fifth-grade student at Golden Charter Academy is accusing Fresno Unified School Board Trustee Keshia Thomas of spreading false rumors about the parent after he raised concerns about lack of access to school curriculum.

The parent, Matthew Gillian, says that after asking to see his child’s curriculum, Golden Charter told him he would need to sign a non-disclosure agreement to view what his child would be learning.

In addition, Gillian alleges that Thomas launched a “smear campaign” against him by spreading false narratives in an attempt to force him to withdraw his complaints. He has filed formal complaints with the school, Fresno Unified, and the state about lack of access to curriculum.

“I am here to report a severe abuse of power and systematic retaliation, which has compromised the integrity of this district,” Gillian said, addressing the Fresno Unified School Board last month.

“This demonstrates a dangerous willingness to weaponize personal identity and political position to evade accountability,” Gillian said. “A parent asks about curriculum and a school board trustee responds by using the full weight of their office, community ties, and defamation to protect family interests.”

Thomas is a founding member of Golden Charter and Golden Charter CEO Robert Golden’s mother-in-law. Thomas declined to comment to GV Wire about Gillian’s allegations. Golden Charter and Robert Golden also did not respond to requests for comment.

The Fresno Unified School Board authorized the charter, and the district acts as its overseer. The School Board will have the opportunity to renew the charter after next school year.

“If I was in (Keshia’s) shoes, I would be careful,” Trustee Veva Islas told GV Wire. “I’m trusting legal counsel is advising her to follow the law, just as they do with us.”

Gillian is a former Fresno City Council District 2 candidate. Thomas is running for the council’s District 3 seat in 2026.

Related Story: Letter to the Editor: Attacks on Golden Charter Are ‘Baseless’

Thomas Attends Golden Charter Curriculum Meeting

Gillian attended a meeting about his son’s curriculum, expecting administrative staff. Instead, he walked into a room “designed to overwhelm” — filled with powerful figures of authority, he said.

A teacher, administrator, ex-correctional officer turned administrator, former NFL player Golden, and Thomas attended, Gillian said.

Before that meeting, Gillian said, Golden Charter had met his requests to learn about the curriculum with shuffling feet and NDA requirements. The previous engagement on this issues consisted of one face-to-face meeting and email exchanges.

“Parents have a fundamental right to know what their children are being taught each day in the classroom. … Requiring parents to sign a non-disclosure agreement to view curriculum erodes that trust, undermines accountability, and creates unnecessary barriers to the partnership that is essential for student success,” Go Public Schools South Valley Director Sade Williams said.

During the second meeting, Thomas “voiced offense that I had taken my official grievance to the charter oversight department within FUSD,” Gillian said. The meeting became confrontational, and after about 20 minutes, Gillian said he calmly removed himself.

That day, Gillian said, Thomas began telling community members that he almost got in a fight with Golden Charter staff during the meeting.

Trustee Susan Wittrup told GV Wire that she has voiced concerns about the school in the past, specifically Golden Charter’s hiring process and possible conflicts of interest.

After the second meeting, Gillian said, Golden Charter sent him a PDF of the curriculum even though he didn’t sign the NDA.

Related Story: Golden Charter Isn’t a Nurturing Educational Haven, Parents of Former ...

Student Curriculum at Golden Charter

Gillian enrolled his child at the school seeking something different for a student who was becoming bored and disengaged in the classroom.

Golden Charters blends academics with environment-based learning and partners with the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

“The district may not feel that it can properly oversee this charter school due to political pressure,” Gillian said. “This is especially concerning given that GCA receives funding based on the demographic they serve, yet they do not appear to be serving that demographic to the best of their ability.”

It is amidst construction of a new $26 million campus across the street from the zoo and receives about $8.3 million annually from the Local Control Funding Formula and state, local, and federal funding.

Related Story: Don’t Tear Down the Fresno People Working to Lift Our Kids Up

Golden Charter’s Low Test Scores

Golden Charter has some of the lowest state test scores in Fresno County. In the 2024-25 school year, 19% of students met English language arts standards and almost 10% met math standards.

Compared to the year prior, the school saw a 3% bump in math, but a 4% decrease in ELA.

“The district needs to do a serious audit of the curriculum at Golden Charter Academy and how it’s implemented to ensure the children attending are receiving real equitable resources,” Gillian told the board.

Golden Charter is a member of the California Charter School Association — an organization that supports charter schools.

CCSA has only assisted Golden Charter in areas related to facilities, according to Central Valley Local Advocacy Director Jorge Franco.

All other matters are the responsibility of each school’s independent governing board and leadership team, he said.