FRESNO (KMJ) — A Fresno Unified parent is calling for the school district to publish a breakdown of everything they spend – so the public know exactly where each dollar is being spent.
“Where is the money going?”, asks Bullard Talent parent Casey Lamonski. “That’s what the bottom line is, where is the money going?”.
“I as a parent am buying pencils, paper, tissues, hand sanitizer. Plus the donation for the classroom supply fund that I had to write a check for yesterday. But we can’t get the bare necessities for classrooms…where are those dollars going?
“We have very high salaries at the administrative level”.
She adds that the first thing bosses at Fresno Unified School District need is transparency.
“I want to see project plans detailed, I want to see budget details, I want to see exactly where each dollar is going…I want answers, that’s what it comes down to.
“Why are we going to go after another bond, asking me as a taxpayer to vote ‘yes’ on it…to pay for what?”.
In a statement, Fresno Unified School District say they take “great pride” in their level of communication.
“Any person seeking information regarding our annual budget can visit our website, follow our budget discussions online or on television, or obtain copies through Constituent Services”.
They also reveal that school supply lists are voluntary, and that this year they allocated $315 per teacher to purchase necessary items.
A link to Fresno Unified’s budget can be found clicking here.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired: