The Fresno Unified School Board will discuss charter oversight Wednesday night, after months of back-and-forth discussions between the district and a parent seeking public accountability and action.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, you have to publicly shame these people to bring them to tables that they should be sitting at anyway, because they\u2019re avoiding doing their job.\u201d \u2014 Kristina Holmes-McIntyre, a Fresno parent <\/p>\n
Kristina Holmes-McIntyre has raised concerns since spring about Golden Charter Academy, a charter school authorized by the district.<\/p>\n
Her grievances included a lack of access to student records, disciplinary measures, retaliation by staff, and unqualified staff \u2014 all reiterated by Fresno Unified. Now, she has filed formal complaints against the district and the board for failing their oversight duties.<\/p>\n
She requested that the board address Golden Charter, parent grievances, and district concerns in a public meeting. This would prompt public accountability and create a space for parents to share concerns, Holmes-McIntyre said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, you have to publicly shame these people to bring them to tables that they should be sitting at anyway, because they\u2019re avoiding doing their job,\u201d Holmes-McIntyre told GV Wire.<\/p>\n
The district has met these grievances with closed door meetings \u2014 declining to agendize and publicly address issues found at the charter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe district has formally communicated those concerns in writing to Golden Charter and provided the charter school a reasonable opportunity to respond.\u201d \u2014 Fresno Unified spokesperson AJ Kato<\/p>\n
\u201cThe district has formally communicated those concerns in writing to Golden Charter and provided the charter school a reasonable opportunity to respond,\u201d said district spokesperson AJ Kato.<\/p>\n
District personnel will share a presentation<\/a> on oversight, the charter renewal process, a timeline, and performance categories at Wednesday\u2019s trustees meeting. However, the agenda does not directly address Golden Charter Academy.<\/p>\n Related Story: Golden Charter Isn\u2019t a Nurturing Educational Haven, Parents of Former …<\/a><\/p>\n Private Meeting Instead of Public Address<\/p>\n In lieu of a public item, the district previously scheduled a meeting between Superintendent Misty Her, Deputy Superintendent Ben Drati, and Holmes-McIntyre.<\/p>\n \u201cThe district believes the arrangement of a meeting between Superintendent Her and the parent was an appropriate means of responding to our understanding of her request and needs,\u201d Kato said.<\/p>\n But Fresno Unified never notified Holmes-McIntyre that the meeting was in place of publicly addressing parent grievances, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cMy concern is that this is not what their board policies require that they do,\u201d Holmes-McIntyre told GV Wire. \u201cWhat they\u2019re required to do is send an official report to the board, letting them know that they have material violation of California Education Code policy. And then, the board is supposed to agendize Golden Charter formally, and then they can make decisions or direct administration.\u201d<\/p>\n She points to board policy 0420.41, which states, \u201cAny violations of law by a charter school shall be reported to the Board.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c(The district found) concerns with GCA\u2019s student discipline processes, including concerns related to inconsistencies with law,\u201d Board President Valerie Davis said in a September email to Holmes-McIntyre.<\/p>\n However, the district never presented these findings publicly to the School Board.<\/p>\n Davis and Superintendent Her determined that the issue did not need to be placed on a meeting agenda, according to Kato.<\/p>\n Related Story: Letter to the Editor: Attacks on Golden Charter Are \u2018Baseless\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Who is Responsible for Keeping Charters in Check?<\/p>\n Holmes-McIntyre asserts that Fresno Unified is failing its oversight duties by not directly interfering, investigating complaints, and issuing a Notice of Concern or a corrective action plan.<\/p>\n Fresno Unified is not responsible for Golden Charter\u2019s daily operations and strives to maintain a fair process for charter schools to address concerns, Kato said. The district encourages parents to communicate to the district but direct complaints to the school site, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cBy failing to establish or exercise a process for addressing (complaints), FUSD is shirking its statutory oversight duty, effectively insulating (Golden Charter Academy) from accountability and allowing systemic harm to continue unchecked.,\u201d Holmes-McIntyre said.<\/p>\n However, the School Board will weigh in on the charter\u2019s renewal in spring 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cThe board\u2019s jurisdiction will increase as we get closer to the time for charter renewal\u2026 All information will be taken into consideration as we approach the renewal period,\u201d Fresno Unified Chief of Staff Ambra O\u2019Connor said in an email to Holmes-McIntyre.<\/p>\n Holmes-McIntyre is worried that parent concerns will be minimized or swept under the rug if the district waits until the charter is up for renewal to address grievances.<\/p>\n She has filed formal complaints against the board with CDE, Fresno County Office of Education, and the Fresno Unified Office of General Counsel alleging that district has failed its oversight duties.<\/p>\n