We are calling on the Central Unified School District Board to formally commit, at its next board meeting, to correcting the inequities it created at Central High by committing to upgrading Central High as soon as possible, including committing to the construction of an on-campus pool.

Why This Matters

The City of Fresno proclaimed December 4 as “Central High School Men's Water Polo Team Day,” yet Central High remains the only high school in Fresno without an on-campus swimming pool and suffers from outdated facilities across the campus. Celebrating champions while denying them the basic resources that every other high school in the district has is unacceptable.

Central Unified created a glaring inequity by building the most state-of-the-art high school in Fresno (Justin Garza High) while leaving Central High, one of the city’s oldest, as the most outdated school. This disparity is ongoing, visible, and entirely the result of the District’s planning choices.

Despite these obstacles, Central High athletes won a championship. One player, the league MVP, broke the district's single-season and single-game scoring records. Their goalie was voted league goalie of the year. Both ranked in the top 50 in the nation. Their success comes from grit, not resources, but grit should never justify inequity.

Every school day without a pool or upgraded facilities costs students nearly an hour lost to off-campus travel and waiting, time taken from academics, recovery, and family life. No other high school in the district carries this burden.

Momentum and Opportunity
Central High is actively working to build an aquatics program beginning at the elementary level. Without upgraded facilities and an on-campus pool, this effort is stalled. Every year of delay denies current and future students access to opportunities their peers already have. The coaches are ready. Student interest is strong. Momentum is real, but it cannot move forward without district action.

Other districts invest in facilities because they understand that equity requires more than praise, it requires commitment. Central Unified has delayed long enough.

Parent Perspective 
As a parent of a student-athlete in Central Unified, I see daily how tired my son is after practice. He barely has enough time to complete homework before bedtime.

Upgrading Central High, including adding a pool, would:

Eliminate daily lost academic time
Improve student safety and recovery
Strengthen both athletic and academic outcomes
Ensure all facilities meet the standard of a modern high school
Demonstrate that Central Unified truly values equity, access, and academic excellence

Imagine what these students could achieve if they were supported not only in spirit, but in infrastructure.

Call to Action (Urgent)
By signing this petition, you are demanding immediate action, not more studies, not more excuses, and not more delays.

Central Unified must:

Approve funding
Select a builder
Publish a construction timeline
…for upgrading Central High and building an on-campus pool before the start of next school year.

Central High students have already proven they deserve better. Now the District must live up to its own principles.