Fontana Teachers Association (FTA) has been hard at work to challenge the longstanding inequity caused by electing all Fontana Unified School District (FUSD) trustees as at-large representatives. Under this current configuration, there is no regulation that ensures board members live in areas they represent. This is solely because no board policy requires they do so.
FTA believes that just as every child has a right to a quality education, every Fontana citizen has a right to have a voice in matters related to their neighborhood schools.
On November 3rd, scores of FTA members rallied before the FUSD board meeting to stand for democracy and support the principles asserted in the formal Letter of Demand for Compliance with the California Voting Rights Act that was mailed to the Fontana Unified School District Board Members on October 11, 2021.
Because the current structure allows for board members to live in the same neighborhood, (or even on the same street) it deprives some areas of our community of the voice they deserve under a representative democracy.
“This is an ongoing structural matter that must be addressed by FUSD administrators and trustees. By forming district areas, FUSD will hear the voices of all our education stakeholders in every neighborhood.”
–FTA President Connie Verhulst
Congratulations to Fontana educators who have successfully championed this issue. FUSD has voted to change its policy and move to the use of districts. Great job, FTA!
Good for FTA for having a say in this important matter. The people of Fontana need to be represented by someone from their area. Equity and diversity are the cornerstones of a good representation of the people, by the people and for the people. We have awesome teachers, excellent students with tremendous potential and supportive parents. They deserve leadership that more closely represents them so that their needs can be met.