District Invites You to Ask Us Anything, From A to Z!

Have you seen or heard something about the district that you want to know more about?  In order to assist the community by answering questions about the District, we have developed the following e-mail address:  askfusd@fusd.net.  If you are wondering about something going on in the Fontana Unified School District, this would be a great way for you to ask a question or make a suggestion.

We'll answer your questions by reply email and will post some of your questions and our answers right here!

June 5, 2009

Q

After spending millions of dollars to build football stadiums at A.B. Miller High and Kaiser High (thanks to a bond election that has raised the property taxes of ALL Fontana residents)  I was wondering why both of these schools are holding graduation at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.  With the economic crisis for schools in mind, how much is this costing?  Wouldn't this money be better reserved to help defray budgets, personnel and departments that have been cut?  Why aren't these multi-million dollar stadiums being used?  Fontana High continues to hold graduation in the Steeler Stadium.  All graduates should be treated the same.

A

The football stadiums at the high schools are built for athletic contests and not graduations.  A.B. Miller has for the last several years held their graduations off-site at Glen Helen Pavilion, now San Manuel Amphitheatre.  To hold graduations at the football stadiums requires the rental of expensive of sound systems and video systems, a large amount of District overtime in setting up and taking down the stadiums, overtime for security and additional utility costs.  Then there are the element issues of possible rain and the heat.  The potential of damage to the field turf because of chairs and shoe heels punching through the turf is a real concern.  With the football stadiums there is the issue of limited seating capacities for graduations and the principals having to limit the number of tickets given to each graduate for their parents and family.  Finally, the time involved in making the necessary arrangements and coordination of the graduation activities at the football stadiums takes a large amount of time for the school administrators. By holding the graduations at Citizens Business Bank Arena and San Manuel Amphitheater, they still need to limit the number of family members attending a student's graduation but the maximum will be higher.  No overtime for set-up and take-down, no extra security or utility costs.  The Citizens Business Bank Arena environment for graduation enhances the ceremony, there is no concern with rain or heat and the parents, family members and graduates have the opportunity to hold their graduations in a great facility.  All on-site arrangements (i.e., set-up/take-down, sound systems, video systems, security and parking) are handled by the facility.  The cost of the-off site facilities and costs involved with using the football stadiums are actually comparable.  The District is working to have all graduations treated the same.

June 3, 2009

Q	Is it true that students will have to start wearing uniforms at A.B. Miller during the next school year??
A	We went directly to A.B. Miller High School's Principal, Mrs. Heather Griggs for answer to this one.  She said, "No, we are not adopting uniforms at A.B. Miller High School.  A.B. Miller's dress code is similar to the other high school in FUSD and follows Board Policy.  The code is reviewed yearly by staff, students and parents and modified based upon their suggestions."

April 14, 2009

Q

I have two Middle School and one in Elementary.  I've heard that all schools in Fontana are going to a traditional school year calendar.  Is this true?

A

Thanks for your inquiry regarding the calendar.  We have three schools that will have a change next year:  Primrose, Citrus, and Poplar Elementary Schools.  These three schools are currently multi-track sites but next year will be single-track and operate on the calendar that the middle school and other single-track schools are on.  We don't call it "traditional," as people then assume we will have the summer months off.  There is not significant change to any other schedule for elementary, middle or high school for next year.

April 6, 2009

Q	I am wondering why all the trees in front of Date Elementary were cut down?  Will they be replaced?  What will they be replaced with?
A	Unfortunately, the trees had to be removed because their roots were uprooting the sidewalks and damaging the fences. T he good news is that they will be replaced.  On the inside of the fencing, we will be replacing with palm trees and on the outside of the fencing, we will be replacing with low shrubs.  This should be done by the end of this month.

March 31, 2009

Q	Is there going to be Summer School at any of the high schools in FUSD?
A	We will have Summer School at all four high schools but as the budget permits.  This means that low enrollment or low attendance classes will have to be closed or collapsed.  The budget from the state has been cut but we are committed to do the best we can on behalf of our students.

March 30, 2009

Q

I have searched through your school district website and can’t seem to find the school district policies.  I was wondering if you can provide me with either an attachment of the policies or instruction on how to find them.

A

Our Board Policy is available on our District's website.  Here's how to navigate to those:  From the homepage (www.fusd.net), click on "Board of Education" in the box located in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, then click on "Board Policy Online."  The next page contains the logon, password, and browser requirements to access our policies through GAMUT online, the service we utilize through the California School Boards Association.

March 26, 2009 

Q	The Chaffey Unified School District has cut all 9th and 10th grade sports for high school students.  Athletes can only play if they make JV or Varsity sports.  Will the Fontana Unified School District be impacted the same way?
A	At this time, we are not eliminating 9th and 10th grade sports.  We have asked our Athletic Directors to cut their budgets in a way that best suits their school site.  We hope that we can maintain the level of programs that we have, as they are important to our students and future scholarships, as well.
Q	I would like to know the origin (i.e. why it was given the name) for Jurupa Hills High.  I noticed that there is a similarly named school, Jurupa Vista Elementary, also in Fontana but within the Colton Joint School District.
A	The name Jurupa Hills actually came from our site near by what is now being converted into the Fontana Adult Education School.  Jurupa Hills Elementary, that became Jurupa Hills Middle School and now will be Fontana Adult School, was being honored by using the name for the new High School.  Yes, there are a few schools out there in surrounding districts that use Jurupa also, probably due to the Jurupa mountains.

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