Aleksandra Appleton
The Fresno Bee
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Past articles by Aleksandra:
Ever thought elected officials are all wet? They truly were at Roosevelt High fundraiser
Fresno Unified and City Council officials made a splash at Roosevelt High’s new pool on May 17 as part of a fundraiser for the school, as well as an official inauguration for the new aquatics complex. → Read More
Fresno State students often wait weeks for mental health therapy. Advocates want change
Fresno State University needs more mental health counselors, advocates say. Long wait times for therapy appointments at the Student Health and Counseling Center create a risk for students dealing with a crisis. → Read More
Not playing with fire: Clovis Unified students learn how to battle blazes
Clovis Unified students take ROP Firefighting classes on the Clovis East campus in order to prepare for the Fire Academy at Fresno City College, as well as careers at fire agencies and emergency services. → Read More
Fear and favoritism at Fresno Unified is ‘devastating to morale,’ teachers say
Some Fresno, California teachers and their Fresno Unified union leader say there is a longstanding culture of fear in the school district. Superintendent Bob Nelson gave voice to the matter in an email to staff. → Read More
Black students face barriers to enrollment, graduation at community colleges, speakers say
During town hall in Fresno, California, Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley hears State Center district lacks educational support for African American students from enrollment through graduation. → Read More
They didn’t have a prayer. Is Clovis Unified trying to stay out of legal trouble?
A 9th Circuit Court ruling banning prayer at school meetings may impact Clovis Unified in California. The district did not open a meeting with an invocation. A Chino Valley prayer case led to the court ruling. → Read More
Panhandling signs may be seen around Fresno, after all. But businesses would pay for them
Fresno, California, Mayor Lee Brand and City Councilman Garry Bredefeld want businesses and private property owners to put up signs that discourage panhandling but encourage supporting Fresno Rescue Mission. → Read More
Amid poverty, gangs and deportation fears, students at a small California school keep succeeding
Students at Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified have a high graduation rate and college prep despite being one of California’s poorest school districts. Leaders explain their recipe for educational success. → Read More
Fresno students went to Washington DC to sing in a national competition. They came back winners
Middle school students in Bullard Talent K8 School’s choir traveled to Washington, D.C., to compete in the WorldStrides OnStage Music Festival, where they received the Sweepstakes Award and Outstanding Group. → Read More
Gyms vs. a new school: Fresno Unified trustees debate how to spend $250 million bond
Fresno CA Unified trustees discussed Friday how to spend a $250 million facilities bond, a meeting that turned tense at times over auxiliary gyms, special education and a new elementary school for Sunnyside area. → Read More
Is a longer school day the answer to better math and reading scores? Fresno Unified says yes
A study by Educational Resource Strategies shows some Fresno, California, Unified School District elementary schools saw improved math and reading scores for low-income students by adding time to the learning day. → Read More
Madera teachers reach a contract agreement after talks of strike. Here’s how union voted
Madera Unified has reached an agreement with the Madera Unified Teachers Association, the district announced Wednesday, averting the threat of a strike. The union says 98.5 percent voted in favor of contract deal. → Read More
Fresno Unified says the situation for its African American students is a state of emergency
The achievement gap between black students and their peers in FUSD in Fresno, California, is an emergency, the school district board decided during a presentation on recommendations from a task force March 6. → Read More
FUSD trustees Islas and Thomas want colleague Slatic to apologize for altercation at Bullard
Fresno (CA) Unified trustees Veva Islas and Keshia Thomas want colleague Terry Slatic to apologize for a Jan. 11 altercation with a student at Bullard High. They’re also concerned with an April 4 statement by Slatic. → Read More
FUSD will look into Bullard campus incidents that trustee says posed a safety risk
Trustee Terry Slatic seen on video in an altercation with a Bullard High student alleges prior on campus incidents with the child so Fresno, California, Unified School District has opened an investigation. → Read More
Fresno Unified hired a PI to examine Slatic incident at Bullard. The report is now public
Fresno Unified released an internal report into the incident on the Bullard High campus Jan. 11 involving Trustee Terry Slatic and a student. The report includes an investigator’s account of what likely happened. → Read More
Fresno Unified board member fined nearly $1,000 for campaign contribution violations
Fresno Unified trustee Valerie Davis has been fined $968 by the California Fair Political Practices Commission for failing to report large contributions to her 2018 campaign. → Read More
FUSD will investigate claims that it overpaid for produce by hundreds of thousands of dollars
Fresno Unified hired accountants Price Paige & Company to determine whether the California school district overpaid for produce in the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program. → Read More
One Fresno family has two county spelling bee champs. Can he match his sister’s national title?
Achuth Vinay, the younger brother of 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Ananya Vinay, won the Fresno County Spelling Bee Tuesday to earn a trip to the 2019 national bee. His winning word was “bowstave.” → Read More
Fresno County will have to turn away foster parent hopefuls until a backlog is cleared
Fresno County has halted processing applications for potential foster parents. The backlog stems from the provisions of the 2017 Continuum of Care Reform Act California law. Fresno focusing on emergency approvals. → Read More