Students press Central Unified for pool, valedictorian‑policy reform and posthumous honors; some call for trustee resignation
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Summary
Multiple student speakers urged immediate action on facilities and policies — including an on‑campus pool for Central High, revision of the valedictorian policy, and a district policy for posthumous graduation recognition. Two speakers also called for Trustee Nandeep Singh to resign because he is running a city‑council campaign.
Several students and community members used the public‑comment period on Feb. 10 to press the Central Unified Board of Trustees for near‑term action on facilities and student‑recognition policies.
Seventh grader Phoenix Waters urged the board to provide a timeline and immediate steps to build an on‑campus pool at Central High and to revise a valedictorian policy the speaker said discourages students from taking advanced courses. "We need a pool I can actually swim in ... Please stop telling us later," Phoenix told trustees.
Caller Gabriel Swaddis repeated those concerns, saying Central High remains the only high school in the city without a pool and that the district’s current valedictorian rules "punish academic risk taking." Gabriel also criticized what he called a leadership gap and urged Trustee Nandeep Singh — who the speakers said is running for Fresno City Council — to resign so the district would have a trustee "whose primary focus is this district." "If you can raise $120,000 for your campaign, I don't see why you can't raise enough money for Central Unified to build Central High a pool," Gabriel said.
Among other public commenters, student advocates from Justin Garza High School described a petition with more than 500 signatures asking the district to create a consistent, student‑led policy for posthumous recognition at graduation (cap and gown, honorary diploma, a seat with a photo). Saul Franco and Gurpertap Gural urged the district to adopt an equitable, trauma‑informed approach to honoring deceased students that supports grieving peers.
Superintendent Dr. Marshall told speakers that administration had received related emails and would follow up; trustees directed staff to return proposals on valedictorian policy and on posthumous recognition as part of the Feb. 24 agenda.
The board did not take action the evening of Feb. 10. Trustees thanked speakers and asked administration to bring back formal proposals and timelines for consideration.