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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Score: +11 (12/0/1)

Fresno County Grand Jury • 2004-2005

The Fresno CO UNT Y Rand Jury

Published: June 23, 2005 6 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings 21 findings

The candidacy requirements for election to the FUSD Board (Trustees) established by the State Education Code 35107 are that you are at least 18 years of age, a registered voter, a resident of the school district and are not disqualified by the Constitution or laws of the State from holding a civil office.

The School Governing Trustees are elected by the community to provide leadership and citizen oversight of the district’s schools.

The Superintendent works under the direction of the Trustees to fulfill their responsibilities which include: • establishing a long-term vision for the district • establishing and maintaining a basic organizational structure for the district, including employment of the Superintendent and adoption of policies, curriculum, the budget and the collective bargaining agreements 3 • ensuring accountability to the local community, including personnel, programmatic and fiscal accountability and service as a judicial and appeals body as needed • providing community leadership and advocacy at the local, state and national levels on behalf of children, district programs and public education.

FUSD is the fourth largest school district in the State with a student population of approximately 80,000 and an annual budget approaching one billion dollars.

Current FUSD Board membership consists of three former teachers, a retired college counselor, a college professor, a social service employee and an attorney.

Trustees have not always hired Superintendents with strong management skills.

FUSD has a lack of continuity in the Superintendent’s office with nine different Superintendents since 1984.

Fresno County Office of Education and FUSD offer orientation and information sessions for Trustee candidates providing them with district policies and information about school programs.

Attendance for School Board candidates is not mandatory at orientation and information sessions.

F10

FUSD Board and staff members offer newly elected Trustees training and orientation sessions on the operation of the Board office, Community Relations, the Brown Act, Public Records Act and conflicts-of-interest.

F11

Attendance for newly elected Trustees is not mandatory at training and orientation sessions.

F12

Current Trustees indicate they do not receive adequate training and information concerning FUSD issues.

F13

The California School Board Association holds an annual three-day conference and trade show for newly elected and other Trustees. Attendance for FUSD Trustees is funded and is not mandatory. 4

F14

The Eli Broad Foundation offers an expense paid five-day institute for school trustees that covers a broad range of governance issues. The Broad Institute is available to all newly elected school trustees. Attendance is not mandatory.

F15

Newly elected Trustees indicate the training on FUSD fiscal matters was only a one-hour session with the District’s Chief Financial Officer.

F16

Board history indicates prior FUSD Boards made decisions that negatively impacted District fiscal solvency.

F17

Previous Trustees did not act on repeated fiscal concerns documented and expressed by the Fresno County Office of Education.

F18

Trustees: • receive Board Meeting packets the Friday prior to the Wednesday Board meetings • may contact district staff with any questions they might have regarding the information included in the Board packet • express their desire to have more information regarding district financial matters • indicate they would like to receive a line item budget.

F19

Some Trustees: • do not review Board packets prior to scheduled meetings • have full-time jobs in addition to serving on the Board • work 20 hours or more per week on FUSD business.

F20

Trustees receive compensation of $1,500 per month for service on the Board.

F21

Trustees are eligible for health insurance benefits for themselves and their family and after four full terms or sixteen years of service are entitled to receive lifetime health benefits. CONCLUSIONS

Recommendations 5

R1

Community leaders encourage citizens who run for election to the FUSD Board of Trustees: • have experience in fiscal matters • have management skills • have a commitment for the improvement of the district.
R2

Trustees hire a Superintendent with a proven record of success who has effective management and organizational skills.
R3

FUSD provide Trustees the following: • mandatory and comprehensive orientation and training on district issues • rigorous training sessions dealing with fiscal matters • a detailed budget in order to meet fiscal responsibilities.
R4

FUSD develop leadership from within the District.
R5

Administrators from FUSD and the Fresno County Office of Education have better communication, cooperation and mutual respect.

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

Responses for 2004-2005

November 08, 2005 • 13 responses • Score: +11 (+12, 0, -1) View Details ▾

PDF

13 responses to findings and recommendations

Response: Agree Score: +1

the streets of Fresno near freeway intersections and during rush hours. The City agrees with Finding 1.

The School Governing Trustees are elected by the community to provide leadership and citizen oversight of the district’s schools.

Response: Agree Score: +1

The City agrees with Finding 2.

The Superintendent works under the direction of the Trustees to fulfill their responsibilities which include: • establishing a long-term vision for the district • establishing and maintaining a basic organizational structure for the district, including employment of the Superintendent and adoption of policies, curriculum, the budget and the collective bargaining agreements 2 • ensuring accountability to the local community, including personnel, programmatic and fiscal accountability and service ...

Response: Agree Score: +1

The City agrees with Finding 3.

FUSD is the fourth largest school district in the State with a student population of approximately 80,000 and an annual budget approaching one billion dollars.

Response: Agree Score: +1

The City agrees with Finding 4, and provides the following clarification: Fresno is currently installing infrastructure that will facilitate synchronized traffic systems on select major roadways (Herndon, Blackstone, Cedar, Willow, Kings Canyon) with lateral connections to State controlled signal at freeway interchanges adjacent to these roadways.

Current FUSD Board membership consists of three former teachers, a retired college counselor, a college professor, a social service employee and an attorney.

Response: Agree Score: +1

The first three phases are funded. The City agrees with Finding 5.

Trustees have not always hired Superintendents with strong management skills.

Response: Agree Score: +1

The City agrees with Finding 6.

FUSD has a lack of continuity in the Superintendent’s office with nine different Superintendents since 1984.

Response: Agree Score: +1

the city and maintains another 200 in other Fresno County cities. The City agrees with Finding 7.

Attendance for School Board candidates is not mandatory at orientation and information sessions.

Response: Agree Score: +1

The City agrees with Finding 9, and offers the following clarification: The majority of the signalized intersections have modern controllers that can be programmed for signal timing.

F10

Response: Agree Score: +1

The City agrees with Finding 10.

F11

Attendance for newly elected Trustees is not mandatory at training and orientation sessions.

Response: Disagree Score: -1

The City disagrees with Finding 11.

F13

The California School Board Association holds an annual three-day conference and trade show for newly elected and other Trustees. Attendance for FUSD Trustees is funded and is not mandatory. 3 14. The Eli Broad Foundation offers an expense paid five-day institute for school trustees that covers a broad range of governance issues. The Broad Institute is available to all newly elected school trustees. Attendance is not mandatory.

Response: Agree Score: +1

the Traffic Engineering Section must be-approved by the City Council The City agrees with Finding 13.

F15

Newly elected Trustees indicate the training on FUSD fiscal matters was only a one-hour session with the District’s Chief Financial Officer.

Response: Agree Score: +1

the TOC. The City agrees with Finding 15.

F20

Trustees receive compensation of $1,500 per month for service on the Board.

Response: Agree Score: +1

"The lack of adequate Career Technical courses limits the number of qualified applicants for positions in the trades." This is likely to be the case for middle and high school students in our region. At the university level, very few career technical courses are offered. When they are offered, they more often attract students planning to enter careers at mid-level or higher. In cases where technical courses are appropriate in our majors, they often provide incentive for our students because they provide hands-on experience in the student's chosen profession. Thus, technical courses at the univ...