Fresno's notorious "Hall of Shame" will be transformed into a state-of-the-art alternative education site in southeast Fresno. Fresno Unified trustees voted unanimously Wednesday night to buy the old juvenile hall campus on Tenth Street, ending months of negotiations with the county of Fresno. Fresno Unified will demolish the closed campus...
Fresno Unified Launches Into eSports With Rocket League
Now that Fresno Unified has officially launched into the world of eSports, students can represent their high schools in competitive video gaming. "This is the best thing that has ever happened to me at school," Superintendent Bob Nelson quoted one student saying. Nelson announced the news at Fresno Unified's State...
Students Flock to Fresno Unified's New eSports Competitions
Bob Nelson, superintendent of Fresno Unified, spoke passionately Monday about the district's new eSports program involving video games such as "Fortnight" and "League of Legends." The competitions, which started recently, are providing a reason for students to become more actively involved in school, Nelson said at the district's annual State...
Nelson is ‘Militantly Positive’ About Fresno Unified's Future
Fresno Unified is widely known as the fourth-largest school district in the state, but many may not know that its students come from the poorest families in California. In fact, Fresno Unified is not only the most impoverished, large, urban school district in California, it is second overall in the...
Teamwork Replaces Chaos in Fresno Unified, Leaders and Union Say
One year ago, Fresno Unified teachers threatened to go out on strike over stalled contract negotiations with the district. Among the issues contributing to the impasse: a demand by teachers that the district make a commitment to reducing class sizes to help address deficiencies in student achievement. On Wednesday, the...
Bargain Warp Speed Learning Has a Name: Dual Enrollment
Education now moves at warp speed for high school students eager to put their mark on the world. Isaak Hernandez, for example, graduated from Fresno's Design Science Early College High School and Fresno City College at the same time. And now he's at one of the most prestigious universities in...
What Are Fresno Area Schools Doing To Keep Students Safe?
Student safety is top of mind for Fresno area school districts as they prepare for the return of students from summer break. Security cameras increasingly are on the front lines of defense in preventing mass shootings. But district leaders also are stepping up training for active shooter situations and strengthening...
With Hanson Ousted, It’s One and Done for Ashjian
The fact that Bob Nelson is the Fresno Unified School District superintendent might be the biggest reason that Brooke Ashjian isn't running for a second term as the Bullard High School area trustee. Ashjian supported Nelson’s ascension from assistant to full-time education chief. More than that, Ashjian made ousting Nelson’s...
Here's a First Look at Fresno City Council Campaign Donations
The Fresno city clerk’s office has released the first Form 497s, the documents that reveal who is donating to campaigns. Campaigns need to report every contribution of $1,000 or more from a single source. Full financial reports are not due until late April. Here is what the first report looks...
Fresno Council Supports Parts of Arambula's River Parkway Bill
At the request of Fresno City Councilman Steve Brandau, the council added a special meeting within Thursday’s (March 8) agenda to discuss AB 3218, a San Joaquin River Parkway bill from Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno). Arambula’s bill would turn the river parkway into a state park. One part reads, “This...