The Fresno Unified School Board is divided over the city of Fresno’s decades-old Southeast Development Area plan, causing tensions between trustees to rise.

During the board meeting Wednesday night, disagreements arose over the role and jurisdiction of the board’s legislative subcommittee. The dispute appeared to focus on the board’s ability to take a formal stance against SEDA.

A proposed bylaw amendment would allow the legislative committee, comprised of three trustees, to “advocate and support legislation that aligns and improves student outcomes, goals, and guardrails.”

Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas made a motion to change what she called some “strong” language. She proposed to allow the subcommittee to “recommend” support for items “under the purview” of the district, while recognizing that ultimate authority “lies with the board.”

The adjustment passed in a 5-2 vote after a tense back-and-forth between trustees. Board President Veva Islas and Trustee Andy Levine labeled the new language “restrictive” and voted against the motion.

Both Islas and Levine are members of the bylaw subcommittee that first proposed the change in language.

“I don’t think what we can discuss, what we choose to advocate for, what we hope to bring forward to the broader board support should be restricted in any way,” Islas said.

Trustees have weighed in on items that aren’t exclusively seen as education, such as immigration and safe routes to school, Levine said.

But Jonasson Rosas asserted that she wanted to ensure the board remain focused on student outcomes. And, she said, the board should not delegate its advocacy authority to a subcommittee.

Trustee Valerie Davis felt that the language proposed by Jonasson Rosas was not limiting.

Fresno Unified Trustees Political Aspirations Questioned

In late February, the School Board tabled a resolution to oppose SEDA on a narrow 4-3 vote, sparking a mixed reaction from the community.

The majority — Jonasson Rosas, Susan Wittrup, Keshia Thomas, and Claudia Cazares — felt land zoning decisions were outside of the board’s purview.

Those in favor of the opposition — Islas, Levine, and Davis — asserted that the 9,000-acre project would have detrimental effects on district enrollment and resources.

During the previous meeting, Islas issued a warning: “Threats from the mayor do not deter me.”

A recent Fresnoland report revealed that Mayor Jerry Dyer, a staunch supporter of the development plan, texted trustees in February urging them to reject the proposed SEDA opposition.

Now, some trustees’ political ambitions are being questioned. Student trustee Jonaven Souksamlane was the first to directly mention SEDA. And he aimed a pointed question at Jonasson Rosas: “Would this amendment be because of political interests?”

Jonasson Rosas, who previously ran for City Council District 5, denied that she was being motivated by politics. Meanwhile, Thomas is running for the District 3 seat.

“To put in some limiting factor that restricts the legislative committee at a time where there is a potential to bring back up a resolution that would allow us to oppose (SEDA) publicly, I think is a strategy that is very blatant,” Islas said.