Doug Davidian's seemingly boundless energy led him to own and operate several businesses in Fresno while serving for decades in leadership roles in area business and education organizations. Mr. Davidian, a graduate of Fresno High and Fresno State, died April 11 of complications from COVID-19. He was 68. He is...
College Degree in 3 Years? Fresno Pacific Creates New Fast Track
Fresno Pacific University students can shave a year off their time in college through a new university option for a degree in three years and a teaching certificate in four. But they'll have to go to summer school to get there. The university is guaranteeing a schedule that will put...
Creek Fire Book Expands into Junior Authors Literacy Project
After the Creek Fire ripped through neighborhoods in Big Creek, Auberry, and other nearby Sierra locations, Susie Harder thought immediately of the kids who had lost their homes and possessions and decided to write a book. That book project soon blossomed into an interactive publishing activity, with children from around...
Who’s a Racist? School Board Trustee and Local Conservative Honcho Square Off on Twitter
Ever wonder what a Twitter flame war looks like? Then check out the latest skirmish pitting Fresno Unified Trustee Veva Islas (tweeting not from her official trustee account but from her "Vivacious Veva" account) and longtime local conservative leader Michael Der Manouel Jr. Der Manouel, whose Twitter name now reads...
One Night, Two Meetings. FUSD Trustee Does Double Duty as Consultant
Fresno Unified Trustee Keshia Thomas displayed her multitasking skills last Wednesday when she appeared at both the School Board meeting and an overlapping meeting of the economic development organization Transform Fresno. Both were held virtually. Thomas, who is clerk of the School Board, was introduced at the Transform Fresno meeting...
Newly Appointed Deputy at FUSD Said to Be Nation’s Highest-Ranking Hmong K-12 Educator
Longtime Fresno Unified administrator Mao Misty Her was named Wednesday as the district's new deputy superintendent and second-in-command to Superintendent Bob Nelson. Fresno Unified said the appointment makes Her the highest-ranking Hmong K-12 educator in the nation. Her, whose family came as refugees to the U.S. and moved to Fresno...
Fresno Trustee Slams Board Over Review of Son-in-Law’s Charter School
Fresno Unified School Board Clerk Keshia Thomas minced no words Wednesday night in an angry, eight-minute diatribe about the School Board's review last month of the charter petition for Golden Charter Academy School, which was founded by her son-in-law Robert Golden. She called an analysis by the nonprofit group In...
Ten-hut! FUSD Student Trustee Is Nominated for Both Air Force Academy and West Point
Looks like Fresno Unified student trustee Joshua Camarillo will be heading out of state for college after he graduates this year from Edison High School. Camarillo is one of six Valley high school students to be nominated by U.S. Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) to attend one of the nation's military academies....
Ethnic Studies for High Schoolers Gets Big Push. Fresno Unified Requirement Begins in Fall.
Assembly Member Jose Medina was joined Wednesday by other California legislators, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, a couple of high schoolers and a teacher in a full-court press of advocacy for Assembly Bill 101, which would require all California high schoolers to take an ethnic studies course before...
Vote of Confidence for Fresno Schools Chief Comes with a Pay Raise
The Fresno Unified School Board gave Superintendent Bob Nelson its seal of approval Wednesday night with a 7-0 vote on a positive job evaluation that gives him a pay hike. The board vote was taken in the closed session prior to the public meeting held online. Board clerk Keshia Thomas,...