Former Bullard High football coach Don Arax, left, and FUSD trustee Keshia Thomas, right.
Fresno Bee File
Attorneys for Fresno Unified, Trustee Keshia Thomas and former Bullard High School football coach Don Arax will meet in Los Angeles for mediation on Monday. Could the result produce a settlement in the four-year old defamation case?
Arax sued the district and Thomas, after the trustee went on a local podcast in 2022, alleging the coach used a racial slur years ago, directed at her son. Arax denied the incident, which allegedly happened at a football camp in 2013 when Thomas’ son was in middle school.
Retired California Supreme Court Justice Carlos R. Moreno, now a mediator, will hold the meeting at his southern California office. Representatives for neither the district nor Arax would reveal to The Bee whether a settlement offer has been made.
In recent court revelations, Albert Alford Jr., now an adult, said he never told anyone — including his mother — that Arax used a racial slur. In a follow-up statement to the media, Alford said that he was not completely truthful with Thomas when recounting the incident.
Thomas since issued a public apology. That came on the heels of the teachers’ union, the Fresno Teachers Association, calling for Thomas to resign. She is also running for Fresno City Council District 3 in November. She has refused to step down now, or drop out of the city council race.
At the school board meeting on Aug. 26, several community members sat in the audience at the start of the meeting in support of Thomas.
Arax now coaches at Central Valley Christian, in Visalia.
Fresno Unified trustee Keisha Thomas, seen at the start of an FUSD school board meeting Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026 in Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com Where do trustees stand?
The school district is covering Thomas’ legal fees, but recent public comments indicated they may pull the plug. It could be moot if Monday’s mediation talks produce a settlement. The board did not discuss the item either in open or closed session at its last meeting on Aug. 26.
Through June 9, the district has paid $235,330 in defense fees for itself. It has also paid Thomas’ defense costs of $134,421.
School board president Veva Islas offered limited comment when asked about the status of the case.
“I am waiting to be debriefed, and I would rather not make any public comment until all the facts of the matter are shared with us as a board. I don’t have the latest update,” Islas told The Bee.
Trustee Valerie Davis said: “Student achievement is all what I’m all about, and we’ll have to do what we’ll have to do for our per the state’s recommendations,” Davis said.
Other trustees — Susan Wittrup, Claudia Cazares and Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas — said they could not comment on the status of the lawsuit because it is a legal matter.
Thomas declined comment about the lawsuit on Wednesday at the Fresno Unified board meeting. The Bee could not reach Trustee Andrew Levine to ask him about the lawsuit.
Central Valley Christian head coach Don Arax is seen on the sidelines in the D2 semifinal championship game against Golden West Friday night, Nov. 22, 2024 in Visalia. CVC beat Golden West 28-7 and will face Bakersfield in next week’s final. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA
Bee reporter Leqi Zhong contributed to this story.
This story was originally published August 28, 2026 at 10:25 AM.
The Fresno Bee
David joined The Fresno Bee in 2026 as Civic Watchdog Reporter. He covers elected officials from the Central Valley and the ins and outs of local elections and politics. David also keeps a sharp eye on how your local tax dollars are spent. David previously worked at GV Wire for 10 years. Born in Los Altos, California, David graduated from the University of Michigan and has lived in Fresno for two decades with his family.