FRESNO - Saying the Fresno Unified school board election is a clear choice between the mayor's 'clone slate' of four candidates or the three who support students, parents and educators, teachers will spell out why they back Valerie Davis, Patricia Barr and incumbent Bill Riddlesprigger in a news conference Friday morning.
"A vote for the people's candidates instead of the politicians' candidates is a vote for a brighter future for our students," said Sherry Wood, president of the 4,600-member Fresno Teachers Association, which represents teachers, librarians, nurses and speech therapists. "Mayor Alan Autry and his clone slate of hand-picked candidates is an obvious power grab that's destructive for schools and the community. Citizens want school board members who are accountable to the community that elected them, not a slate that is beholden to politicians."
When the Legislature killed the mayor's bill to allow him to appoint Fresno Unified trustees, Autry backed four candidates and demanded they sign a radical anti-teacher contract for school reform. The contract, among other things, calls for mandatory teacher and student dress codes, weakening teacher discipline rights, and attacks on bilingual curriculum.
Teachers and parents back incumbent Riddlesprigger, a proven voice for our students and schools; Davis, a parent leader who is active in the schools and has teaching experience; and Barr, an award-winning, retired Fresno educator.
- WHAT: Teachers' news conference to back school board candidates
- WHEN: 9 a.m. Friday, November 1
- WHERE: Fresno Teachers Association office, 5334 North Fresno St.
- VISUALS: Parents, teachers, FTA leaders with signs and three candidates