Fillmore Unified School District

The October 21, 2014 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting contained a presentation on the District's Program Improvement status along with a debrief by the Superintendent on campus projects and an enrollment report.

Assistant Superintendent Martha Hernandez gave a presentation on where FUSD stands with its Program Improvement Corrective Actions. Program Improvement is what the California Department of Education designates schools or districts that do not make Adequate Yearly Progress is educating their students. Program Improvement (PI) began at FUSD with three schools: Piru Elementary, San Cayetano and Fillmore Middle School (FMS). In 2011 an Alternative Governance Board (AGB), a subcommittee of the Board, was created with the purpose of working with school sites that are in their third year of PI. AGB is one of the interventions under No Child Left Behind and is responsible for monitoring and planning of corrective actions and restructuring plans. AGB visit classrooms, review student work and teacher lesson plans, interview staff, review agendas and minutes of meetings along with other duties.

In January of this year FUSD was notified the whole District had been identified as PI. In March of this year FUSD was assigned a State Board of Education Corrective Action and told that it must continue to set aside 10% of its Title I allocation to provide professional development for teachers and administrators to strengthen academic achievement. This also includes the implementation of Common Core State Standards (CCSS). There are quite a few changes in both testing and curriculum that CCSS requires. One of those is a new assessment called Smarter Balance. Last spring semester there was pilot testing of Smarter Balance to make sure the technology used would work properly. This is the first year Smarter Balance test scores will be counted at FUSD and will give a clearer idea of where the District stands.

On October 29th all FHS sophomores and juniors will be taking the PSAT and on November 4th the CAHSEE will be given.

FUSD Superintendent Dr. Palazuelos informed the Board that he had just been informed that very day of new changes being made regarding the influence of the PSAT and its impact on college entry to the University California system. Palazuelos seemed quite pleased with this change and feels it is a good move for students.

Palazuelos updated the Board on the improvements made during October to some of FUSD's school campuses. For safety reasons dead trees were removed from both the Junior Varsity Field and Sespe Elementary along with removal of exposed fence footings at San Cayetano. Trees were removed and replaced due to their improper growth at Mountain Vista and FMS and FMS's pavement received a good pressure wash to remove the years of students’ gum along with the gym floor being in the process of resurfacing. Fillmore High School had debris and pine needles cleared that had collected on its roof. But what Palazuelos spoke of with great pride was that Sierra High School is in progress of a pilot project to install wireless internet. Sierra was chosen to be first with wifi because of its size.

Palazuelos ended his debriefing with stating, "In the future we need to develop a Facility Master Plan for the District which provides a priority list."

Gary Hobelman, Assistant Superintendent Business Services, gave a presentation on the District's enrollment and average daily attendance. The elementary schools have not had a great change in enrollment in the past four years going from 1,808 students in 2010 to 1,831 in 2014. FMS had 840 students in 2010 and now has 867 students. Fillmore High School did see a drop from 1,159 students in 2011 to 1,075 students today. The good news Hobelman reported is FUSD has a higher daily attendance rate than the State average.

Student Representative Irma Torres reported on a great deal of student activities; girls' soccer tryouts and boys' JV soccer will be held throughout the week, there's a Blood Drive next Monday, next Thursday is College and Career Day held in the gym. Also; Future Farmers of America is having a dance at the School Farm, Red Ribbon Week will be held October 27-31. FHS football team won 27-0 against Rio Hondo Prep bring the winning streak to 6-1 and the last football game of the year will be on November 7th followed by a dance. The FHS Marching Band will have their first competition this Saturday at Simi Valley High School and on November 22nd seniors will have their Annual Senior Ball.