WEST FRESNO - DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

WEST FRESNO - DEMOCRACY IN ACTION
By Mike Rhodes

At a well attended community forum (held Thursday, June 5, 2003) at the Edison High School cafeteria, West Fresno residents demanded educational improvements in their community. Fresno school board members Manuel Nunez and Luisa Medina were asked how they will vote on key issues affecting West Fresno schools. Ms. Medina represents the Edison district of West Fresno and Mr. Nunez represents the Roosevelt district in South East Fresno.

On the top of the list was the need for a middle school in West Fresno. Currently, most West Fresno middle school students are bussed to North Fresno. Mary Williams, whose daughter was sent to Wawona, said that she was “tired of busing,” that they are “not convenient,” and that “we want justice for our children.” Maria Gonzalez testified that her children would “miss the bus and with me at work they would not get to school. My children could not participate in sports or stay after school to get help on homework.” Speaker after speaker demanded a middle school in West Fresno.

The organizers of this meeting, the St. Alphonsus Local Organizing Committee (LOC), said that “we will accept nothing less than what all West Fresno students are entitled to- a new, state of the art middle school in West Fresno. We want this project placed at the top of the School District’s list of priorities– this has to be the next middle school built in our school district.”

Both Ms. Medina and Mr. Nunes were asked to answer YES or NO to whether they will support West Side residents in bringing a new school to West Fresno. Medina said, without hesitation, “YES.” Nunes, to the sound of boos, said “No.” Luisa added that she “wants to work with the community” on this issue. Manual Nunes said that in order to construct a new school a bond would have to be passed.

On the issue of forced bussing, there was more agreement from the school board members. Both Nunes and Medina said they supported a “temporary,” end to busing. The speakers wanted an immediate end to the busing and were clear that a temporary plan to stop busing should not be used as an excuse not to build a new middle school.

The LOC issued a statement that said: most West Fresno middle school students have been bused out of the area to attend a middle school far away from home. This practice has been done at the expense of community in West Fresno. We want a temporary plan that will halt this busing while we wait for the construction of our new middle school. Our children are the future and we refuse to accept attempts to treat them in a second-class way.

Lupe Aquilar, speaking on behalf of the St. Alphonsus Local Organizing Committee, introduced the next issue. The LOC demanded that representatives on the Board of Education be elected by the residents of the area. They asked - is it right that people from other areas of town are able to choose the representative for the Edison High School area? This is exactly what happens every four years. Because voter participation in West Fresno is lower than other areas, voters from North Fresno currently have more say in who represents our area. West Fresno residents want self-determination and claim the sole right to choose who represents their area. Ms Aquilar said that “the current system is unjust and paternalistic. How long do you think voters in North Fresno would put up with this system?

Both Mr. Nunes and Ms. Medina were asked if they support district voting. They both said YES. Ms. Medina added that “for 25 years I have been a proponent of district elections and a strong supporter of district elections. I believe it enhances the democratic process.”

The St. Alphonsus LOC is now working with households from the Bethune, Columbia, King, Kirk, Lincoln and Sunset areas to form a stronger presence on behalf of West Fresno. This is part of their plan to link with every West Fresno neighborhood in 2003, build a powerful citizens committee, become a major factor in future elections, exercise accountability on those elected to represent West Fresno residents and further their work of ensuring the basic necessities that all human beings are entitled to! For more information about this group call (559) 442-3120.