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Central Unified board meeting, Aug 25, 2026

3 h 21 min · 3 public speakers

Chronic absenteeism ▶ 2:29:04Phones in school ▶ 1:36:03Reading and test scores ▶ 1:57:19

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 3 h 21 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
What happened

What happened at this meeting

Central Unified board approves reading program contract, hears Herndon-Barstow modernization plan 1:57:07

  • Student trustees were sworn in at the start of the meeting. 7:34
  • The board approved an out-of-state travel request for 3 staff members to attend the National News Literacy Conference. 2:01:53
  • The board approved an authorized signature and mailing permit. 2:04:30
  • The board heard an informational presentation on the scope of the Herndon-Barstow Elementary School modernization project, including a new multipurpose building and the demolition of a 5-classroom building. 2:05:02

Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →

Item by item (15)
  1. Opening and closed session report 7:06
    • Yesenia Z. Carrillo called the meeting to order at 5:38 PM. 7:06
    • Yesenia Z. Carrillo reported that in closed session the board approved the certificated personnel report 5⁠-⁠0 with 2 absent and approved the classified personnel report unanimously with one absent. 59:34
    • The board adopted the agenda. ~7:34
  2. Student trustee oath of office 7:34
    • Yesenia Z. Carrillo said all 4 student trustees were being sworn in, with each serving one semester. 7:34
    • Yesenia Z. Carrillo explained that student trustees may make motions and cast a provisional vote before the rest of the board. 1:05:18
  3. Foundation for Central Schools update 1:05:18
    • The foundation's executive director said its board approved a $352,000 operating budget, a 14% increase from last year, and expects to award 30 scholarships. 1:09:30
    • The executive director said every first-year teacher will receive a $300 grant and the foundation will award $45,000 to classrooms. 1:09:30
    • Karla Kirk asked how the $352,000 budget is allocated, and the executive director said educational impact is the bulk of it. 1:14:54
  4. Ethnic studies course update 1:18:37
    • A district director said the course launched in '25-'26 with 10 teachers at the comprehensive high schools and about 1,200 students participating. 1:20:10
    • A teacher of the course said students connected with local lessons such as redlining in Fresno. 1:23:35
    • Karla Kirk encouraged outreach to local community colleges and Fresno State. 1:28:39
  5. Superintendent, subcommittee and student reports 1:31:18
    • The superintendent said the implementation of the cell phone policy had a smooth start. 1:31:18
    • Joshua Sellers reported the district's graduation rate at 94.1 and said the rate for students with disabilities increased from 73.6% to 93.1%. 1:34:16
    • The student trustee report focused on the results of using the Yonder pouch, including ways students bypass the pouches. 1:35:46
  6. Public comment 1:44:50
    • At public comment, a speaker said the change in the meeting start time caught the speaker off guard and asked the board to reconsider, and another speaker asked the board to start public session at the time allocated. 1:45:52
    • A speaker at public comment raised concerns about prep minutes being used for TK coverage and the cut in TK aide hours. 1:47:25
    • Yesenia Z. Carrillo said the agenda provides that open session begins immediately following closed session. 1:51:59
  7. Consent agenda resolutions 1:51:59
    • The consent agenda included a resolution proclaiming September 13th through the 19th as National Arts and Education Week. 1:52:20
    • One board member said the student trustee properly abstained. 1:54:40
    • The consent agenda was approved. ~1:54:50
  8. Gifts and surplus property 1:54:50
    • An assistant superintendent said Central High School received a donation of $20.07 for associated student body accounts. 1:55:02
    • The assistant superintendent recommended approving the sale and disposal of surplus obsolete district property. 1:56:01
    • The board accepted the gift unanimously and approved the surplus property disposal. 1:55:43
  9. Renaissance Accelerated Reader contract 1:56:46
    • A district director said the contract for the 26⁠-⁠27 school year costs a little over $25,000 and will be funded through site Title I. 1:57:12
    • One board member said the program has been pretty beneficial for students. 1:58:38
    • Joshua Sellers asked what Title I funds are, and the director said they are federal grant funds to supplement core programs. 1:59:09
    • The motion carried. ~2:01:34
  10. Out-of-state travel request 2:01:53
    • A district director requested approval for 3 staff members to attend the National News Literacy Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, from October 8th to October 10th, funded through a fellowship. 2:02:04
    • The motion carried unanimously. 2:03:21
  11. Authorized signature and mailing permit 2:03:21
    • An assistant superintendent said the authorization lets purchasing managers approve purchase orders up to $35,000 and said it does not involve paying vendors. 2:03:33
    • The motion carried with one trustee absent. 2:04:44
  12. Herndon-Barstow modernization scope 2:04:44
    • A presenter from the architecture firm described modernization of several buildings, remodels of the administration and multipurpose buildings and a new multipurpose building. 2:05:02
    • The presenter said demolition is anticipated to begin in early June after the last day of school in '27. 2:15:24
    • One board member recommended an information item updating the board after state approval of the plans. 2:24:27
  13. School plans for student achievement 2:27:06
    • A district director presented school plans for student achievement as an information item and asked that the item return for board approval at the next board meeting. 2:27:06
    • Karla Kirk asked whether sites evaluate how the plans worked, and the director said not officially. 2:29:04
    • Joshua Sellers asked whether there is a better way to track the effectiveness of the plans' goals. 2:32:40
  14. Finance placeholders and playground shade 2:36:56
    • An assistant superintendent said the 25⁠-⁠26 unaudited actual report and the appropriations limit resolution will be presented at the next board meeting. 2:37:20
    • A district director presented a proposal from Park Planet to buy kindergarten playground shade equipment for McKinley Elementary School. 2:37:56
    • One board member asked that the item return under consent. ~2:39:17
  15. Closing comments and adjournment 2:39:30
    • Joshua Sellers asked for an update on clocks available to students, since many used phones to keep time. 2:39:51
    • Yesenia Z. Carrillo said the start time was changed so student trustees are not at meetings so late, and said the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8th, 2026. 2:41:30
    • The motion to adjourn carried. 2:42:58

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “Central Unified Board of Trustees Meeting August 25th , 2026”