Community Advisory Committee for Special Education Meeting

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Location: Adult Transition Program, 3132 E. Fairmont Ave., Fresno, CA 93726

MINUTES

Welcome (Chair Wong)

CAC stands for the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education, a volunteer group composed predominantly of parents of children with special needs who attend school within the Fresno Unified School District.  CAC is a group of parents, school personnel, and other community members who work together to ensure that children with special needs receive the best education available.  CAC meets once a month to identify the needs of students with special needs in our district and advises the district on issues relating to special education.  CAC works to provide information to parents and also listens to parents’ concerns.  CAC’s ultimate purpose is to participate in a partnership with the school district that enhances the education of each child with special needs.  Fresno Unified is required by law to have a CAC.

CAC Respect Agreement:

·       Recognize and respect differences of perspective and style of the CAC among members, staff, students, parents/guardians and the community.

·       Act with dignity and understand the implications of demeanor and behavior.

·       When speaking of your concerns, please do not use your student’s name or the school location.  Please respect the confidentiality and needs of your student.

Introduce FUSD administration in attendance.

Roll Call (Vice-Chair Aoki)

12 members were present; quorum was met.

Agenda Approval (Chair Wong)

Motion to accept: 1^st Eileen G., 2^nd Patricia C. – 11 Yeas/0 Nays

Membership (Vice-Chair Aoki)

None present and voted in.

Old Business/New Business (Chair Wong)

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Fresno Unified (presented by Carlos Castillo, DEI)

FUSD does not collect immigration information, is committed to fostering success, and will not respond to ICE unless officer presents official documents.  FUSD’s primary goals are to teach and educate (BP & AR 5145.13).  

Question – Substitute asked status of a student.

Carlos – This violates district policy and HR will intervene.

Question – Do students know they don’t have to answer?

Carlos – No, students have not been told they do not need to answer, only indirectly.

So far ICE has yet to visit a school site.  Asking your school is the best way to go.  Trying to get families to create Family Readiness Plans and make them available to schools in case of emergency.  Make sure student’s emergency contacts are updated.

FUSD expectations are that teachers really don’t have knowledge of student statuses.  A teacher calling ICE would be a violation of district policy.  Teachers and staff must respect student privacy laws.

There are resources and supports available.  Parent University has workshops and information.  ELF & CVIIC may provide legal support and rights.

Question – Students are scared and stressed.

Carlos – I have noticed many students with increased stress since the election in January.  We are working on getting students more access to mental health.  Currently there are not enough providers.  Simple Therapy app will be going out.

Question – Who is responsible for mental health at school?

Carlos – The principal.

Question – Parent access to Atlas cannot see the student portfolio.

Patrick – There may be a legal reason, but parent can request access.  Start with the principal.  Only staff (teacher and principal/vice principal) have access to student records in Atlas.

California has not made DEI illegal.  Most money that FUSD receives is from state not federal funding.  Regardless what happens in Washington, D.C., DEI will still continue.  We may have to change the name, but not the approach.

School Safety (presented by David Ray, DPI)

FUSD has 70,000 students and 10,000 employees.  Now there are 198 campus assistants, at least one at every site.  There are 27 resource officers (one sheriff), 7 safety specialists (one per region) and two managers.  FUSD provides training for campus safety assistants on restrictive procedures, support for students, training for emergencies, and how to support perimeter on lockdown.

Steven V. – Is there training for dealing with students with autism?

David - Yes.

Mike – The IEPs may have behavior plans.  Psychologists also do campus safety.  Try to have the best interactions with students.

Question – Is there onboarding for campus assistants?

David – It is required, 3 days of training.  Every school site is different, but also introduced to supports at specific campus.  Safety is first, but also customer service based.

Question – What is the protocol for elopement?

David – Generally redirection by whichever person has relationship with the student.  Can be complex if student has a behavior plan in their IEP.

Question – Are campus security trained in intervention?

David – Verbal judo/redirecting, de-escalation.  Most were formally paras.  Try to lean on supports on campus.  Can radio for extra support.

Question – Do you do traffic safety?

David – Safe to School and the City of Fresno are mostly in charge of traffic.

Question – Signs need to be repainted.

David – Use FresGo to submit requests.

Question – Do emergency plans include Special Education?

David – Safety Coordinator at site in conjunction with School Site Council makes the school emergency plans.

Question – My son is a runner (in the road and in the parking lot).  Campus security doesn’t have the capacity to do her job.

David – Please leave your contact information.

Educational Partners Forum

Ran out of time.

Announcements

Next Upcoming CAC Meeting: Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

Closing & Adjournment (Chair Wong)