Meet two of the three candidates running for Central Unified's Area 3 - Fresnoland

Fresnoland profiles candidates for Trustee Area 3 on the Central Unified school board. The district serves northwest Fresno and parts of western Fresno County, with 28 schools and nearly 16,000 students. Three people are running: incumbent Harman Singh, who was appointed in March after the previous trustee moved out of California, and newcomers Erica Gonzalez Piedra and LaVera Smith, a childcare program director. Smith did not respond to an interview request, so the article covers only two candidates. The election is Nov. 3.

Piedra has worked in education for 27 years as a bilingual teacher, assistant principal and principal, and says she helped Fresno Unified expand dual-language programs. She wants a finished facilities master plan before deciding how bond money is prioritized. She doubts that the SEDA project would benefit the district, and she wants a review of walking and biking routes near busy roads. She also supports creating a dual-language program in Central Unified. She filed a form saying she does not expect to raise or spend at least 2,000 on her campaign.

Singh says the board should center students' experience and tie spending to student outcomes. He wants more transparency about Measure X bond spending, which he says is going to older schools' roofs, electrical, plumbing and HVAC. He opposes SEDA in any form. He supports early outreach on absences, including home visits after a first absence, and wants Spanish and Punjabi dual-immersion programs. The article text ends before covering all of his answers.