(Update: Ketti Davis' contract is added to the bottom of this story.) The Central Unified School Board voted Tuesday night to appoint one of the district's own to the top job of superintendent. Ketti Davis, a former assistant superintendent who has been acting superintendent since last June, is the...
What’s the Buzz? Fresno Spelling Champ Headed to National Event
Fresno County crowned its new Spelling Bee champion on Tuesday. Japleen Dhillon, an eighth grader from Central Unified School District, will represent Fresno County at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in June in Maryland. Japleen was one of four students — the top two elementary and top two middle...
Central Unified Pays $121K in Severance to Former Schools Chief
Former Central Unified Superintendent Andy Alvarado will get a lump sum salary payment of $110,378.50 and remain on the district's health insurance plan through next February under a severance agreement with the district made public on Tuesday. The lump sum payment is the equivalent of six month's pay for Alvarado,...
Fresno’s Central Schools Chief Resigns Following Leave, Investigations
Andy Alvarado, who was placed on paid leave as Central Unified School District's superintendent earlier this summer after his arrest in a domestic violence case, resigned Tuesday, board president Yesenia Carrillo announced at Tuesday evening's board meeting. Alvarado's resignation and a settlement agreement were unanimously approved by the board in...
Should Fresno Schools Honoring Men with Racist Histories be Renamed?
One elementary school in Fresno is named after a racist, slave-owning U.S. president. A few miles away is an elementary school named for a longtime Fresno developer whose race-based deed restrictions kept Armenians and others from buying homes in certain neighborhoods. The Central and Fresno Unified School Boards are being...
Valley Schools Scramble After State Hands Down New Vaccine, Testing Mandate
Valley school districts scrambled Wednesday to determine how best to implement the new state public health order announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom that will require staff in public and private schools across California to either provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or undergo testing at least once weekly. Newsom's announcement comes...
Fresno’s Newest High School Opens Wednesday. It’s Still an Active Construction Zone.
Students at Justin Garza High School will be sharing their new campus with construction workers for the next four months, and possibly longer. The unfinished school will open for classes on Wednesday, the first day of school for all Central Unified students. On Monday evening, crowds of Justin Garza High...
Trustees Launch Internal Investigation After Central Superintendent’s Arrest
The Central Unified School Board on Tuesday placed Superintendent Andy Alvarado on paid administrative leave after he was arrested last week on a charge of domestic violence. Central Unified also has launched an administrative investigation into the "off-duty alleged misconduct that has come to the district's attention," board President Yesenia...
Central Unified Campuses Will Stay Closed Until January
Update: The Central Unified School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to keep students on distance learning through the end of the semester and bring elementary school students back to campus starting in January. Middle and high school students would return to school possibly in the spring under Option D. That option,...
Central’s Measure D Is Key to Finishing Garza High, Building New Elementary
Nineteen votes. That's how close Central Unified School District's $120 million bond measure came in the March primary to passing with 55% voter approval. And that squeaker of a loss came as the COVID-19 pandemic loomed on the horizon but had not yet landed. Since then, the region has reeled...