The June 16, 2015 Fillmore Unified School District Board (FUSD) Meeting began with a heartfelt goodbye to a number of staff and faculty who are retiring. First to be acknowledged was Carol Barringer. Barringer's career in education spans well over 30 years, most recently assisting in the transition to a new administration, providing guidance and historical background along with providing leadership in the afterschool program and obtaining an After School Grant.

Others retiring are John Schaper, a long term FUSD teacher. During his 36 years, mostly as a 3rd grade teacher at Piru Elementary, Schaper was appointed as the Fillmore Unified Teachers Association (FUTA) President and Vice President.

Maureen Speakman served the district as a Special Education teacher for nearly 19 years at Fillmore Middle School and served as an executive Board Member with FUTA.

Pricilla Anderson worked with the district as an elementary teacher for over 16 years at various schools and most recently at San Cayetano Elementary School.

Wayne Bauer taught both elementary and secondary levels along with English and Advanced Placement English at Fillmore High School the majority of the 15 years he was with FUSD.

Ellen Dewey is retiring after many years as a school nurse, six of those years at FUSD. Dewey assisted in the creation of FUSD's Severely Handicapped program implemented a few years ago.

Joanna Michel (could not attend due to illness) provided new teacher support for many years.

Tim Golson has worked for FUSD for 38 years as a custodian, bus driver, grounds keeper and Lead Groundsman. He was known as the historian of utility lines due to his experience on so many projects over the years.

Tony Vega served the district as custodian at various sites for over 9 years.

Patsy Torres served as Migrant Instructional Assistant, Teachers Aide, and Community Liaison with the majority of her time as a clerk typist at both Sespe and Rio Vista Elementary Schools.

Susan Leon has covered many positions during her 21 years with FUSD. She began as a Copy Clerk and Instructional Assistant, then Office Manager of Sespe Elementary and for the past 16 years as Administrative Secretary in the Human Resource Office where she worked with every FUSD employee at least once.

On the agenda was the purchase of a new Spanish 1 textbook. The previous Spanish 1 texts were considered in the poorest of condition of all the schools' books and will be replaced with Holt McDougal's Avancemos! at a cost of $98.70 per book. Each of the 220 books to be purchased is expected to provide ten years of educational material. It will be on display for the public to review August 4, 2015 at the FUSD Administration Office.

This will be the first of numerous textbooks needs for the District with the goal of being fully supplied by 2020. Next year Fillmore Middle School grades 6-8 will be the pilot for new math texts. Then it will be English Language Arts textbooks, science, history and social sciences. Half the textbooks purchased are expected to be E-textbooks, which can be upgraded with new information daily, but they come with a yearly online service charge.

Another Board agenda item, pending approval at the next meeting, will be the hiring of 11 new faculty and staff. Include are four new teachers on special assignment, two counselors, seven Family School Liaisons, two Para-Educators for Bus Special Needs, two band instruction at elementary and high school, one athletic trainer and one more IT for the District.

The new hires are to comply with the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) required by Sacramento. The findings of the LCAP consultants (students, parents, community and employees) felt that LCAP funds were needed in those areas where new staff and faculty will be hired.

Assistant Superintendent Martha Hernandez presented the Board with the LCAP findings which had three common themes; the implementation of a strong early literacy program, professional learning to support the Common Core State Standards and English Language Development, prioritize the needs of English learners and focus on academic intervention.

To comply with the LCAP findings comes with a hefty price tag and there no way to avoid it; developing the district's technology infrastructure and technology integration with the installation of classroom devices and increase students opportunities to study areas of technology and technology integration.

With a two-year implementation time frame, FUSD plans to upgrade, support and maintain infrastructure, hardware, various devices and security equipment. Install computer, portable projector, document camera, speaker and interactive board/screen in every district classroom.

Parents consulted during LCAP discussions wanted increased parent/family engagement and expanded parent classes offered. In response FUSD will have additional English as a Second Language classes for parents, computer classes and bilingual family/school liaisons at each school site.

The students consulted expressed the need for more electives and support for athletics. FUSD will be adding the two new band teachers and one athletic trainer along with repairing or replacing band instruments and sports equipment.

Hernandez explained the three LCAP goals; (1) To raise student achievement for all students by raising the quality of teaching and learning to ensure that all student graduate with the 21st century skills necessary for college or career, (2) Family and community engagement in the learning process to empower them to support their child's preparation for current and future success, (3) Ensure all school sites have safe welcoming climates for all student and their families.