Carmen Alessandro

The regular meeting commenced with an announcement of an agenda update, scheduling action on item 9.02 (adoption of the district's 2026 to 2028 initial bargaining proposal to CSEA) following the public hearing on item 8.01. A significant portion of the discussion focused on Board Resolution 2026.06, supporting Fresno City College's proposed bachelor's degree in radiologic technology, which aligns with State Chancellor's Office Vision 2030 goals for increasing community college bachelor's degrees. Guest speakers detailed the extensive groundwork and collaboration supporting this historic resolution, emphasizing its importance for local workforce needs in imaging supervision and leadership roles. During public comments, concerns were raised regarding the servicing and replacement of printers in the humanities department, the need to maintain access to printing resources for students, and ongoing issues with institutional morale and the onboarding/evaluation of newer staff. Additionally, a commenter strongly urged the district not to renew the contract with the current bookstore vendor, Flet, citing non-compliance with state law regarding mandatory XB12 data reporting for zero textbook cost courses and excessive markups on textbooks.

The board meeting covered multiple resolutions and reports, focusing significantly on recognitions. Key discussions included the commemoration of Black History Month and the commemoration of the Day of Remembrance of Japanese American incarceration during World War II, both emphasizing the importance of these histories. A college highlight from Clovis Community College featured a presentation on a science and art collaboration where students translated climate science research into a widely downloaded comic book about the changing Arctic, titled 'Penny's Adventure in Navigating the New Arctic.' Reports were also delivered by the Academic Senate, highlighting innovative faculty work and student focus, and the Classified Senate, detailing progress on goals at various colleges (Madera, Reedley, Fresno City/District Office), emphasizing the essential support provided by classified professionals.

The meeting agenda was approved without corrections. Key informational items included a review of the Form 1095C issuance for tax filing year 2025, updates on the Spring Health Fair scheduled for March 2026, and the launch of two surveys to gather feedback on the October Fall Painting Event and Baskets of Fun Fundraiser. Updates were provided regarding Classified Professional of the Year nominations and the upcoming Classified Mega Conference. The Senate discussed committee vacancies and the process for the Classified Senate Secretary nominations. Committee reports highlighted ongoing HR Staffing in its second phase, the submission of Budget Requests, and the Governor's Budget projections, noting potential allocations for classified staff. Furthermore, the committee reported receiving additional one-time funding via the Student Support Block Grant. Commencement plans were discussed, including a venue change to the Save Mart Center and associated accessibility concerns. The Treasurer's Report indicated a Foundation account balance of $5,146.58 as of January 20th.

The meeting included public comment periods covering several significant topics. Faculty members expressed deep concerns regarding the planned implementation of Grammarly software, citing potential negative impacts on student critical thinking, academic integrity, and the risk of promoting mediocrity. Concerns were also raised about ecological degradation connected to AI testing and AI's complicity in bias. Furthermore, public comments highlighted issues of faculty compensation not keeping pace with inflation, struggles with healthcare access, and disparities in how administrative and faculty safety concerns are addressed, evidenced by contrasting responses to restraining order requests. Another segment addressed faculty governance structure, emphasizing the distinct roles of the Academic Senate (focused on curriculum, grading, etc., under the 10+1) and the faculty union (focused on working conditions and grievances).

The special meeting included a pledge of allegiance and roll call. Public comments were accepted on the two items listed on the special meeting agenda. Speakers expressed support for Chancellor Carroll Goldsmith, highlighting her leadership, community involvement, and positive impact on the district and the Central Valley. They also emphasized the importance of a smooth leadership transition in September 2026.