What’s new at Fresno Unified as they prepare for back to school

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Fresno Unified heads back to school next week.

On Wednesday, the district laid out everything parents need to know for the first day.

This school year, the CTE building at Edison High, the CTE space at Sunnyside High, and the new Esports and Technology Arena at Tehipite Middle are officially open.

“It is amazing. I’m getting lots of great pictures about it where students are going to be building skills, technology skills. We’re going to have lots of tournaments there,” said Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her.

Over the summer, Del Mar Elementary’s classrooms were modernized, and Roosevelt High received accessibility upgrades.

Fresno Unified Board Clerk Veve Islas reminds families that everyone is welcome.

“We are in a politically heated political climate. I don’t want that to be a reason for our children’s future to be robbed.”

While a lot of Wednesday’s messages were geared towards parents, she had one for the teachers.

“Please make sure that your children have an opportunity to speak to you about anything that may be going on in their lives, any anxieties they may have. Please know that we have resources for you to refer them to. One of the best investments we made is in our social-emotional supports,” Islas said.

Two new tools launching this year are the ‘Fresno Jo’ chatbot and the Zum bus tracker. Students and parents can find ‘Fresno Jo’ on the district’s website, available 24/7, and ask Jo any questions, including things regarding schedules, enrollment, or even transportation.

“I’m going to put a disclaimer out there. It’s not perfect yet because the more people use Fresno Joe, the smarter it gets,” Her explained. 

The app Zum allows parents to track their child’s school bus and receive updates on their pickup and drop-off status.

“It’s an investment that we have poured into our Transportation Department,” Her said.

Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto also shared a few safety reminders: drivers need to stay alert, follow school zone speed limits, and allow extra time for traffic congestion. For parents dropping kids off, “do not stop on the roadway to allow passengers to exit the vehicle. We’ve seen a number of collisions that happen this way. It endangers your children significantly,” Chief Casto said. 

The first day of school starts Monday, Aug. 18.