Former Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Larry Powell says stronger schools and housing development can work together to improve communities and student performance.

Speaking Tuesday on the “Unfiltered” show hosted by GV Wire’s Publisher Darius Assemi, Powell pointed to past collaboration in the Central Unified area, saying stable leadership and housing growth helped create affordable neighborhoods and successful schools.

“Good schools keep students and parents,” said Powell, who also was Central Unified superintendent from 2001 to 20025. “It does make a difference when you have leadership and you have housing working together to make something happen.”

Determination Is Key to Better Academic Results

Powell also argued California schools should achieve stronger academic results given the amount of education funding available. He said California spends about $27,000 per student, while Mississippi spends about $13,000 per student and has dramatically improved reading and math outcomes over two decades.

“Money isn’t the issue,” Powell said. “The issue is determination.”

Powell said teacher preparation and science-of-reading instruction are key factors in student success. He added that Fresno Unified School District has recently shown progress in those areas.

He also defended former Clovis Unified Superintendent Eimear O’Brien from criticism that the district serves fewer disadvantaged students thus it has an easier time producing higher test scores.

Powell said that more than 20,000 disadvantaged students attend Clovis schools and argued the district has improved outcomes without receiving the same level of targeted funding as Fresno Unified and other area districts.

“We’ve known for years what we should be doing,” Powell said. “We just haven’t had the political will to do it.”

O’Brien and another veteran educator, Johnny Alvarado, are challenging incumbent Michelle Cantwell-Copher for the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools post on the June 2 ballot.