What’s at stake:

Members of SEIU Local 521 filled the board room to urge the board against layoffs and hiring freezes for classified workers. The district currently faces a deficit of over $70 million.

At Fresno Unified’s board of education meeting on Wednesday, community members and leaders criticized the district’s response to student protests and looming job cuts for classified workers.

Members of SEIU Local 521, a labor union which represents classified workers for FUSD, filled the board room to urge the district against layoffs and hiring freezes for classified employees.

Manuel Bonilla, president of the Fresno Teachers Association, attended in solidarity with the union. When addressing the board, Bonilla said the district projects reserve levels over 10% and argued that layoffs aren’t inevitable.

“They are the backbone of our schools, they are people who work hard, really hard, and they shouldn’t have anybody minimize their opportunities,” said Bonilla.

Kristina Holmes-McIntyre, a community member, urged the board to embrace the ongoing student walkouts as an opportunity to teach students about civic engagement.

“What we are witnessing is community becoming village and we ask that this board and this district join in the village,” Holmes-McIntyre said.

The recent surge of walkouts by students in Fresno County school districts has led to safety concerns among school leaders.

New response to immigration enforcement and phone policies

Wednesday’s board agenda lists two new proposed policies regarding the district’s response to immigration enforcement and, additionally, student phone use on campus and in classrooms.

Fresno Unified Board Policy 1445 says the district won’t share personal information with immigration enforcement authorities, unless otherwise required by law.

Additionally, the proposed policy notes that the superintendent may provide training or procedures for staff on interacting with immigration enforcement authorities.

The district’s new proposed phone policy, BP 5131.8, is the first new phone policy in the district in over two decades. It identifies devices like headphones and Apple Air Pods as items that can be prohibited or limited in classrooms.

While the policy notes multiple exceptions that allow students to use their phones, the policy language also notes that schools may establish stricter rules as long as they infringe on the stated exceptions.

The new proposed policies will return and be voted on by the board at a later date.

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