‘Lack of transparency’: Fresno schools superintendent search sparks debate

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – As the search for a new Fresno Unified Superintendent continues, the Fresno Teachers Association and the Fresno Unified School District have hit a crossroads over what the FTA says is the district’s “lack of transparency.”

After a year of searching for a new Fresno Unified Superintendent, candidates are finally being interviewed for the position. But leaders with the Fresno Teachers Association (FTA) say they have been left out of the process to help choose the next superintendent.

“The broader concern is just the public transparency and involvement,” FTA President Manuel Bonilla said.

FUSD Chief Communications Officer Nikki Henry says the district has made attempts to involve the FTA and has been transparent throughout the entire superintendent search.

“If transparency was the real concern, FTA and President Bonilla would have shown up to the many meetings where this process was laid out,” Henry said. “This particular superintendent search has been incredibly transparent.”

According to Bonilla, the FTA has publicly announced its willingness to pay for and host a public town hall instead of a private listening session.

“It’s one thing to say you’re going to have a listening session. It’s a whole other thing to bring the finalists before the public and to be involved,” Bonilla said. “That way, the community, not just our educators, but the community could be involved in understanding who these finalists are.”

But Henry says she is not sure the FTA’s call for a town meeting is not about community understanding or involvement.

“It’s very hard for me to believe that this is about transparency. It seems to be more about FTA’s political agenda,” Henry said. “Their executive director, Lewis Jamerson, publicly announced his own interest in the role— for me, this is about personal ambition, not students.”

But Bonilla is adamant that the FTA is committed to transparency and he believes a town hall is the best way to encourage transparency and trust between the FTA and FUSD.

“We don’t even know who applied [or] who the finalists are,” Bonilla said. “We know that we’re not choosing the person… but we want to talk about the qualities, the vision and the process that this, is happening in.”

Interviews for the new superintendent are currently underway, but whether the district will grant the FTA’s request for a public town hall remains to be seen.