Fresno Unified recently eliminated centralized funding for student field trips, forcing schools and families to raise thousands of dollars for experiences students had been promised. This misguided decision placed the burden of the District’s budget problems directly on children and families.

Following strong public opposition, the district reversed course, and the Foundation for Fresno Unified Students committed $1.5 million to restore field trips for this school year. While restoring field trips is welcome news, how we got there is troubling.

The Foundation reported $22.4 million in net assets in fiscal year 2025, yet it has only awarded about $1.6 million in scholarships since its inception. The $1.5 million now allocated to this year’s field trips nearly matches the Foundation’s total scholarship awards throughout its history.

This amounts to robbing Peter to pay Paul — except Peter is an Edison High graduate trying to afford college or skilled training, and Paul is a Muir Elementary sixth-grader hoping to attend a field trip. Both deserve our support.

Foundation Dollars Shouldn’t Fill District Budget Gaps

Field trips expose students to colleges, museums, science, nature, and opportunities beyond their neighborhoods. Charitable foundation dollars should not serve as an emergency backstop when Fresno Unified fails to budget adequately for important educational programs.

Consider what $1.5 million could do. At $1,000 each, it could fund scholarships for 1,500 Fresno Unified graduates pursuing college or vocational training, helping cover textbooks, laptops, tuition, or transportation.

If the Foundation had $1.5 million available for field trips, why were three of four 2026 scholarship applicants left without any assistance?

This controversy also raises concerns about the Foundation’s governance and independence. As reported, most Foundation board members have financial ties to Fresno Unified through district employment or contracts.

In addition, four years after receiving a $20 million gift for scholarships and high-impact student investments, the district and Foundation still lack a memorandum of understanding that defines their respective roles and missions. That structure needs immediate reform.

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The Foundation Needs Immediate Fixes

A charitable foundation managing more than $22 million for Fresno Unified students should have independent oversight, experienced nonprofit leadership, and a transparent
long-term strategy. A $20 million gift is an extraordinary opportunity that, if managed responsibly, can benefit Fresno students for generations.

I urge the Foundation to:

1. Replace conflicted board members with Fresno Unified parents and independent community members who have no financial or business ties to the district.
2. Appoint executive leaders with substantial nonprofit foundation experience.
3. Establish clear operational independence from Fresno Unified.
4. Adopt a public strategic plan for scholarships, grants, investments, and long-term assets.
5. Keep the MacKenzie Scott gift dedicated to benefiting all Fresno Unified students.

Budget Crisis Exposes Fresno Unified’s Shortcomings

Managing Fresno Unified’s $1.66 billion annual budget demands strong fiscal leadership. This field trip fiasco exposed the need for greater accountability and better financial management in both the District and the Foundation. District leaders cannot create a crisis, shift the burden to families, and then celebrate when charitable funds provide a temporary fix.

A one-year rescue may make a good announcement, but a district as large as Fresno Unified should have strong fiscal leadership that anticipates financial challenges before they become crises. When difficult decisions are unavoidable, the District should follow one guiding principle: do no harm to the students and families you serve.

Our sixth-graders deserve enriching educational experiences, while our graduating seniors deserve meaningful financial support as they pursue higher education. Our families and taxpayers deserve responsible, capable fiscal leadership at Fresno Unified and an independent Foundation, and priorities centered on students.

As a former school district administrator, a current Fresno State Alumni board member, and a Fresno City Councilmember, I have learned that fiscal challenges do not excuse poor planning and budgeting. As parents and taxpayers, we must hold Fresno Unified responsible for its mistakes and make sure it serves all students. Reforms are needed now, before the next crisis.

About the Author

Miguel Arias is a two-term Fresno City Councilmember representing District 3 and a candidate for Fresno Unified trustee representing the Edison High region.

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