Hot Topic: (N) a subject that many people are talking about right now, often because it causes strong feelings or disagreement.

Do you think the FUSD School Board should have given its members a raise?

Fresno Unified School District is facing an estimated $88 million budget deficit driven by declining student enrollment and surging special education costs. In December of 2025, 573 Fresno Unified employees took an early retirement incentive, saving the district roughly $56 million over a five-year period (about $13 million in the first year.) The incentive was used to help address declining student enrollment and close budget gaps while attempting to minimize further staff impacts. However, The Fresno Unified School District board voted on January 14, 2026, to approve a pay raise for themselves. In a 6–1 vote, the sole dissenting vote being Andy Levine, monthly stipends more than doubled from $2,111 to $4,500, leaving the public to scrutinize the appropriateness and timing of the decision.

What are your thoughts on FUSD cutting the funds for TK-6th grade fieldtrips?

In late August 2026, Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) announced it was slashing $2.2 million from its central budget to cut costs, which effectively eliminated district-wide funding for transitional kindergarten through sixth-grade enrichment trips. The district faced a $55 million deficit fueled by declining student enrollment, which severely reduced state attendance funding. The burden of paying for field trips shifted entirely onto individual schools and families. This sparked heavy equity concerns from parents who pointed out that lower-income families would completely miss out. The announcement drew swift backlash from parents, educators, and the community, leading the Fresno Teachers Association to launch a massive petition that gathered thousands of signatures within days. On September 3, 2026, FUSD Superintendent Misty Her officially announced the restoration of the trips. The nonprofit Foundation for Fresno Unified Students stepped forward with $1.5 million to fully fund the centralized programs for one year. Superintendent Her apologized publicly for the district's failure to communicate the initial cuts directly to families before the school year began. Because the donation only guarantees funding for this school year, the district is forming a Community Budget Advisory Group. This panel of parents, teachers, and staff will review district spending to prevent sudden cuts during future budget cycles.

What is your understanding of the Fresno High restroom policy?

In recent years, high school restroom use has increasingly shifted away from traditional paper logs and plastic lanyards toward automated tracking software such as 5-Star Students and SmartPass. These digital hall pass systems require students to request a bathroom break via a smartphone app or a classroom Chromebook kiosk, triggering a real-time countdown timer that typically limits their time outside the classroom to seven or eight minutes. Administrators adopt these platforms to enhance campus safety, maximize instructional time, and prevent student meetups or loitering in restrooms. However, the automated approach has generated considerable controversy among students and privacy advocates. While proponents celebrate the data-driven accountability and reduced classroom disruption, critics argue that constant digital surveillance creates an overly restrictive environment that penalizes a basic human need.

Is the Fresno High School dress code fair/equitable for females?

School dress codes are often unequitable to female students because 90% of school districts ban clothing items typically worn by girls, such as tank tops, crop tops, and short skirts. Rules often ban specific body parts or use subjective terms like "distracting," which places the burden on female students instead of teaching appropriate behavior. Punishments for violations—such as public shaming, sending students home, or forcing them to wear cover-ups—lead to missed class time and hurt academic progress.

Are you hopeful that the new football coach will turn Fresno High School football around with wins?

Mr. Steve Daniel has been named the new head football coach for Fresno High School, hired with the specific mission of reversing years of program decline. The Warriors have endured a multi-year drought, specifically no winning seasons since 2017. Coach Daniel took over the program in July 2026 after serving as an assistant coach at Torres High School. The hiring leans heavily on Mr. Daniel's deep history and past success as an assistant at Fresno High under former head coach Ray Reyes. Coach Daniel was on the staff when the Warriors famously went from a 3-7 record to an 8-5 record, capturing a North Yosemite League title. He assisted Reyes again in 2014, leading to back-to-back winning seasons of 7-5 and 9-2.