Three years ago, before I got into journalism (I know, I am a baby at this), I had no clue Fresno County even had a superintendent of schools.

Honestly, I’m still not convinced the office isn’t layered with a little too much bureaucracy for a position that pays $463,000 a year in salary and benefits.

But if taxpayers are footing that bill for a $254 million budget, then people should at least understand what the job actually does — especially millennials like me who don’t have kids in the school system but pay into it.

Because here’s the thing: even if you’re childless, this race affects your life more than you think.

Most people hear “schools” and immediately tune out if they don’t have children. I get it. Property taxes go up, school board drama pops off on Facebook, and it feels like somebody else’s issue. But the Fresno County Superintendent isn’t just dealing with report cards and cafeteria pizza.

The office oversees programs that directly shape Fresno County’s workforce, crime prevention efforts, mental health resources, and economic future. They also take care of the smaller, rural districts that do not have as much support as Fresno and Clovis.

And honestly, investing in education early usually pays off for everybody later.

The Educational Payoff

Better schools and stronger youth programs generally mean a better-trained workforce, higher earning potential, and fewer people falling through the cracks. Communities with stronger educational outcomes tend to see lower crime rates, less dependency on public assistance, and more economic stability long term.

That doesn’t just help families with kids — it affects housing values, business growth, public safety, and whether young professionals actually want to stay in Fresno instead of leaving for somewhere else.

Take Career Technical Education and Fresno ROP programs. These are the classes training future nurses, welders, mechanics, construction workers, coders, and medical assistants. They’re helping kids who may not want a four-year degree still build actual careers.

In a region constantly talking about workforce shortages and economic growth, that matters to every employer, taxpayer, and resident — whether you have kids or not.

Then there’s juvenile court schools and community schools run by the county office of education. That’s the system educating kids already inside the juvenile justice system or referred through probation and social services. You want lower crime rates? You want fewer repeat offenders? You should care whether these programs actually work.

Same goes for behavioral health services. Fresno County schools have increasingly become ground zero for youth mental health intervention because families can’t always access care elsewhere. Programs like All 4 Youth connect students and families with mental health support, counseling, and community resources.

Again, that’s not just a “parent issue.” That’s a public safety issue, an economic issue, and frankly a quality-of-life issue for the entire county.

And, if you care at all about equity or government accountability, special education oversight is a massive responsibility. The county office helps coordinate services across dozens of districts for students with disabilities. Those programs are federally mandated, expensive, complicated, and critically important for families navigating a system that often feels impossible.

We Complain, but We Do It Right

Here’s where millennials should especially pay attention: we’re the generation constantly complaining, sometimes correctly, that government feels disconnected from regular people. Yet local races like this routinely get ignored because they don’t come with the hype of presidential elections or viral culture-war moments.

Meanwhile, these offices quietly control hundreds of millions of dollars, shape local policy, and influence the future workforce of the region we live in.

If Fresno and the surrounding area want to grow economically, reduce poverty, improve public safety, and retain young professionals, education infrastructure matters. Even if you never plan on packing a lunchbox or attending a PTA meeting.

Do I still think it’s fair to question whether the office is too bloated? Absolutely. Taxpayers should question every government position making executive-level money. But that’s exactly why this race deserves attention. If candidates want the title and paycheck, voters should demand real leadership, measurable outcomes, and transparency about where the money is going.

Because whether you have kids or not, you’re already paying for the system.

The least we can do is care who’s running it.

GV Wire Forum With Fresno County Superintendent Candidates

To learn more about the candidates, watch their forum with GV Wire here.

About the Author

Anthony W. Haddad is a Fresno-based reporter and columnist best known for the award-winning Millennial View column series. He overs a wide range of topics, from pressing local issues and community concerns to the everyday challenges and experiences facing millennials today.

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