© 2024 KVPR | Valley Public Radio - White Ash Broadcasting, Inc. :: 89.3 Fresno / 89.1 Bakersfield
89.3 Fresno | 89.1 Bakersfield
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
76 new monthly members to go to reach our March goal! Start a new monthly gift today, or increase your existing monthly donation to help us reach the goal.

FUSD Interim Superintendent Working On LGBT Inclusion Plan

FUSD website
Bob Nelson

The interim Superintendent of the Fresno Unified School district says they are developing a comprehensive plan to respond to the needs of LGBT students.

Interim Superintendent Bob Nelson says he is working on a plan that will include specially trained staff to help LGBT students navigate the world and graduate from school.

Nelson says concerns from some in the community about the treatment of those students, including those as young as 11 years old, pushed him to take steps to make sure they are included and safe at school.

“I am committed to making certain that we are doing right by all kids we serve. All of our kids, regardless of their demographic nature, deserve to feel safe, respected, and connected at school,” Nelson says.

Nelson says he hopes to have a complete plan within 30 days.

The reaction comes after school board president Brooke Ashjian told the Fresno Bee that he is concerned that teaching about LGBT issues in sex education would negatively impact students and cause them to choose to be gay.

Nelson denied that there was any connection between this move and those statements. He also declined to comment on calls by school board member Christopher De La Cerda for Ashjian to resign. 

Jeffrey Hess is a reporter and Morning Edition news host for Valley Public Radio. Jeffrey was born and raised in a small town in rural southeast Ohio. After graduating from Otterbein University in Columbus, Ohio with a communications degree, Jeffrey embarked on a radio career. After brief stops at stations in Ohio and Texas, and not so brief stops in Florida and Mississippi, Jeffrey and his new wife Shivon are happy to be part Valley Public Radio.