Lynda Miller

Tuesday's Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting began with recognition of Lynda Miller, President and Founder of Support for the Kids. Miller has dedicated 20 years to charitable organization work helping children and families. Superintendent Dr. Adrian Palazuelos introduced Miller stating, "Lynda Miller has touched a lot of lives here in Fillmore." Fillmore Middle School Principal Scott Carroll referred to her as an angel saying, "She's been a model for giving." Other statements were equally praising Miller's dedication saying, "It is wonderful to know there's someone out there so giving and supportive to kids and families time and time again." Testimonies were given of the wide range of support and offerings Miller has given to the community such as stoves, beds, clothes and more for those in need.

Miller responded stating, "Thank you for the recognition. There is nothing greater than giving someone a helping hand." She continued stating that it would not have been possible without the support of her husband Gary Miller, "Without him nothing could have happened."

The first item discussed was a grant presented by Assistant Superintendent Andrea McNeill. FUSD received $287,513 in grant money which is part of the $500 million in one-time monies called the "Educator Effectiveness Block Grant. School districts may use the funding for specific professional development activities such as beginning teacher and administrator support, coaching, support for improvement, professional development, promoting teacher quality and effectiveness. $137,200 equates to $700 per teacher for preparedness for Common Core, Cooperative Learning, English Language Development and other needs, with the remaining $150,313 being used for Literacy Coaches.

The next item discussed was the AVID Program (Advancement Via Individual Determination) presented by Director Charice Guerra. AVID is a 501c3 nonprofit established in 1980 that provides strategies for encouraging and promoting a path to college for underrepresented students. Fillmore High School, with 122 students in the program, has had the program for a number of years and Fillmore Middle School, with 64 students in the program, recently reinstated it on its campus.

Fillmore High School senior Luis Landeros, who is part of the program, spoke of his future goals of studying engineering in college through grants and scholarships. Destiny Zavala, an 11th grader and also part of the program, spoke of her college goals majoring in either the medical field or journalism.

The last item discussed was Core/Basic Materials presented by Assistant Superintendent Martha Hernandez. The materials discussed was the need for new textbooks. "We are really very behind," Hernandez told the Board. There are a number of new AP classes that need new textbook and other classes that have outdated textbooks. For the new classes; AP Statistics will be issued "The Practice of Statistics," AP Environmental Science will be issued "Living in the Environment" and AP Psychology will be issued.

Other textbooks that are being replaced; AP US History will be issued (new) "American Pageant," AP European History will be issued "Western Civilization" and Native Speakers 2 will be issued "!Ven conmigo! Nuevas Vistas Curso Dos." The new textbooks will be on display for public viewing in the FUSD Boardroom for 30 days.

In final discussions Palazuelos informed everyone that there are presently three new math programs being piloted at Fillmore Middle School.

An action taken and approved was Board Members Sean Morris and Scott Beylik were appointed to the Long-Range Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee for a term of one year.