Fresno Unified cuts $2.2 million in district-wide field trips, sparking parent outrage

Fresno Unified School District announced the removal of $2.2 million in centrally funded field trips for roughly 40,000 students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade for the upcoming school year. Planned outings such as a local pumpkin patch, the Big Fresno Fair, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the cherished sixth-grade camp were cancelled, igniting anger among parents and teachers who stress the educational value of such experiences.

The district said schools could use site-specific budgets to fund trips, but union leaders warn this may create disparities between wealthier and poorer schools. Teachers also face added workload to organize and raise money for outings. Manuel Bonilla, president of the Fresno Teachers Association, highlighted that the district spent $1.5 million on central-office travel last year, a sum that could nearly cover the lost field-trip budget. The union intends to hold a virtual community forum to press the district to reconsider the decision.