How one Sierra Unified community and 600+ acres could move to Clovis Unified

PRATHER, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – On Thursday night, a petition hearing held by the Fresno County Committee on School District Organization at Foothill Elementary School in Prather saw a back-and-forth of beliefs, ideologies, and preferences.

It came after a petition was submitted by a group of residents in the Ventana Hills community off Auberry Road in Fresno County, between Clovis and Prather, who wish to fall in the Clovis Unified School District boundary instead of the Sierra Unified School District boundary.

“If you asked us what community we feel most closely aligned with, I think it would be unanimous in the neighborhood. They would all say that they consider themselves to be part of Clovis and not part of the Sierra Mountain community,” said Marc Thurston, the Ventana Hills petitioner leading the charge to change the boundaries.

Thurston, an owner of one of the now 16 occupied homes in the development, which features upscale homes and gated access, says he and most others there work in the Fresno-Clovis area. He says because of that, residents are worried about the long trip up and down to the Prather area each day, as well as access to their children in the event of an emergency.

One speaker, who petitions to send her special needs daughter to Clovis North High School, said others in the same boat required to go to Sierra Unified would be greatly impacted.

“If she were in Sierra Unified, we would have to drop her off at school, go to work, pick her up 45 minutes or so to pick her up for a doctor’s appointment, take her to the doctor’s appointment, take her back to school, go back to work,” said Enjoli Black, a Ventana Hills resident.

The property consists of over 200 acres. With the petition, it and 400 acres west of it would move into Clovis Unified territory, geographically next to its boundary.

Clovis Unified states it cannot officially comment on the matter at this time and says it will stay neutral in the matter.

However, Sierra Unified Claims the move would kill the school district’s growth and could cost millions in bond dollars over the next several years. All as it aims to pass its first bond, for nearly $25 million, in the November election.

“I think the impacts to our students and our programs would be severe. We’re a very small district. Losing so much as five or ten students would be completely detrimental to our programs,” said Sierra Unified Superintendent Lori Grace.

Others say it would hurt a community that aims to grow.

The developer of Ventana Hills is Granville Homes, which many in the district accuse of pushing the petition forward as a selling point to future buyers who wish to purchase homes in the Clovis Unified School District.

Their president and CEO Darius Assemi, took the podium during public comment to respond to those claims.

“School choice is very important to me and my company. I heard a fantastically orchestrated, choreographed presentation by Sierra Unified. Their attorneys and their consultants. I wish they would spend that much resource on the educational outcome of their kids,” Assemi said, as those in opposition vocally voiced their opinion.

The next part of the process will see Clovis Unified hold a hearing of its own on Sept. 17.

As for a decision on the matter, the county says on average it typically takes 120 days.

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