Graduation and further layoffs were on everyone’s mind at the May 3, 2011 meeting of the Fillmore Unified School Board of Education. All action items were approved including the use of tickets for graduation ceremonies this year at Fillmore High School. A handful of seniors were in attendance listening to the discussion and when asked what they thought of the final plan one senior replied “I like it…that everyone will be able to attend.” Following last weeks meeting, Fillmore High School Principal John Wilber sent a form home with all 231graduating seniors asking how many tickets their family would need. As of the meeting he had received 200 forms back with requests ranging from 4 to 64 tickets. “[I keep thinking of the song] ‘We Are Family’…One third of the seniors requested 15 or more tickets…3000 [seats] could accommodate all requests” Wilber informed the Board. After a presentation from Assistant Superintendent Michael Bush the Board voted to direct staff to move ahead with a plan for 3044 attendees and numbered seats on the bleachers. According to Bush the standard width of a seat is determined by safety officials and “Chief Landeros measured my [backside] and said we could get by with 18 inches.” Using that measurement 2324 “choice seats” will be available in the stadium seats, “Butt to butt, we are going to be cozy” Bush commented. Portable bleachers will be brought in on either side of the stadium seats and some standing room only areas can be used along the fence. Bush’s report reminded the Board that occupancy cannot be exceeded for safety reasons, aisles must be clear; four-foot walkways around bleachers must be maintained and when capacity is reached the gates will be closed. He informed the Board regarding the restrictions regarding putting additional seating on the track and field. This option is not viable due to emergency evacuation requirements and the need to keep students separate from the public in the case of an emergency. There can be no additional seating on the field or track. Only those participating in the graduation ceremony will be on the field. The Board directed Wilber and staff to work with parents and students to come up with a fair plan for distributing tickets that deal with various issues such as handicap access, fairness in seating location and so on and instructed them to use “numbered tickets” with assigned seats, meaning no more saving seats or disagreements about who sits where. The plan is likely to include volunteer ushers to seat attendees. Wilber informed the Board that there is a meeting scheduled for the evening of Thursday, May 5 (today) with parents and seniors to begin this process. The Board rejected staff’s recommendation to broadcast the ceremony live on Channel 10 mainly due to the $3000 estimate to pay for it. Total costs are not determined yet for the plan; there will be ticket printing prices, cost for security and it will likely take one week to set up where usually set up is about three days. Board Member Tony Prado emphasized the need to inform families of the graduation procedures as early as possible for next year. Following the meeting Wilber stated, “As soon as the School Board meets in August and approves a graduation plan the information will be sent to senior families with the senior contract.” In other news related to graduation it was decided that Board Members Lucy Rangel and Prado will be handing out diplomas at Graduation this year. Rangel commented that this year’s class was the last class she taught when they were in 6th grade.

Public Comment: Fillmore resident Noel Villa for 11 years and a parent spoke of the “daunting task” which school boards have of involving the community. He spoke of his own experience working as a school based social worker in Oxnard and applying philosophies based on the “understanding that parents and children see things differently and asking them to give us that perspective…there was a value that all kids can learn, no matter what.” He spoke of “working with the Spanish speaking community and bringing the parents together, addressing the themes of parental involvement, school attendance, school behavior and academics” and the importance of parents feeling welcomed in the community. “Teacher conferences were packed…parents were embraced, [made to feel] like familia.” He went on to state that Sespe School Principal Rosemarie Hibler “has brought [this philosophy] to Sespe School. That confianza, that trust.” He believes that Sespe School needs “this type of foundation in order for kids to learn, to engage parents, to raise academics, and improve student behavior.” Next the Board heard from Sespe student Valerie Villa who spoke eloquently regarding her support for her principal. “Changes can be good or bad like the one when Ms. Hibler came to Sespe school, that was one of the best changes…but letting her go is exactly the opposite.” Villa explained that Hibler brought a program to the school “that taught me how to know what a word means by its Greek or Latin roots.” She went on to state “But the thing I love most about Ms. Hibler is she always wears a beautiful smile every minute of every day, and again letting her go would not do any of us any good.” Hibler is among the many FUSD staff members to have received a layoff notice due to budget cuts in the District. Maria Hernandez joined with the Villa Family in speaking in support of their principal at Sespe School. Her son had previously attended Piru Elementary but this year she chose to move him to Sespe. “I don’t think I could have made a better decision.” She spoke of the group of parents she has met and the work they do for the school with Hiblers support. The school will be hosting a Cinco de Mayo celebration today from 5 to 7pm with food, and games, including a “Ballet de Cueca” a performance of Mexican folk dancing. The public is encouraged to dress in Mexican attire for a costume contest as well. Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday celebrated by communities all over the world to commemorate this day in 1862 when nearly 2,000 untrained Mexican peasants commanded by General Ignacio Zaragoza bravely fought and won the Battle at Puebla against 6,000 French soldiers under the command of Napoleon III. Hernandez spoke of the support that Hibler provides in helping the children learn about their heritage and background she added, “She has offered my son the best of the resources available for him to succeed.” She commented that he has made tremendous progress with the tutoring and after school programs available at Sespe School. Lastly the Board heard from Karen Ashim, a counselor at Fillmore High and former assistant principal about her objection to the proposed plan of cutting an assistant principal position at the school, and creating a part-time Dean position. This proposal has been made and was accepted by the Board at the last meeting as a measure that will take place even if no further reductions are required when the State budget is released. Ashim told the history of the assistant principal positions at the high school and explained that the District had already tried the proposed configuration but it does not work. “[This plan] is unfair to the teachers, students and administrators. We tried it. It didn’t work. We need to learn from history and our own history [demonstrates] that this proposal did not work then and it will not work now.” She stated, “It may save a few dollars…its not very cost effective decision [in the long run].” She asked that the Board think about it carefully.

Superintendent Jeff Sweeney spoke about Ventura County Sheriff Captain Tim Hagel “[He] is one of those gifts that this community has had now for over three years.” He went on to describe how Hagel came and connected with the Community and thanked him for serving the students. The sheriffs department rotates their chiefs through different assignments and Hagel has now been reassigned to Thousand Oaks. It is clear many in Fillmore will miss him. Board President Virginia De La Piedra presented Hagel with a Students First award. Hagel explained that the Sheriffs department has been based on the military model for 120 years, “So every four years, whether you like it or not you’re moved.” He’s had “15 assignments in the 27 years [he’s served]” with one stint behind a desk in the budget office “I turned in my gun for a calculator… I got out of that job in two years.” He went on to assure the Community that he is not going anywhere and we can expect to see him still running in town, working with the Fillmore Rotarians and substituting in the schools.

One Action item before the Board was moved to closed session for discussion then brought back into open session for a vote, with a result of 4-1 in favor of “Resolution No. 1-11-20 Resolution Implementing Certificated Layoff.” The document was handed to all in attendance. Prado opposed passage of the item. Approval was made with one minor change on Resolution item 1.3 changing the word “projects” to “populations”. The item was moved to closed session following a request by Rangel “I am having trouble saying that I want to approve this without having a little bit more discussion on some of the employees that are on [the list] I have some questions and concerns but I know we can’t address them right now…I know we have deadlines.” Human Resources Director Todd Schieferle responded “We have to give a final notice of [certificated] layoff on May 14.” Board Member John Garnica stated, “Now is the time to discuss [it].” Rangel stated, “Yeah, but it is [about] personnel things…you can’t discuss [that].” Bush offered, “You go into closed and discuss it and come back out and pass it.” Rangel stated “I have some questions and I’d like to discuss that in closed session.” No Board members objected to discussing this open meeting action item in closed session. Garnica retracted his motion “we have a chance to discuss it in closed session.” He then made a motion to table the item until after a closed session discussion on the Resolution. The Brown Act governs School Board meetings. This State Law is based on the idea that public bodies, such as School Boards and City Councils do not have the authority to decide what information the public can and cannot hear. Only very specific items are allowed in closed session. Common issues addressed by School Boards in closed session include expulsions, real estate matters, litigation discussions, and particular personnel matters dealing with disciplinary action, evaluation of an employee and other topics that may include sensitive information about that staff member. One can assume that when the item pertains to the public interest and welfare, and the subject will not violate the right to privacy when warranted it must be vetted in open session. For example in a San Diego court case involving a school district the Court found that “except in the context of labor negotiations” the salaries of all staff members, including the Superintendent must be discussed in open session. In a meeting early this year Board members inquired about whether or not discussions relating to layoffs as a result of budget cuts would take place in closed or open session. They were told that it would need to be a “very public discussion.” A handful of staff and parents waited outside the District office until just before 10:00 pm to hear the result of the closed session discussion with many having the same response as Board Member Dave Wilde when he stated prior to entering closed session “I’m interested to hear what they have to say” regarding his fellow Board members reservations and questions about this Resolution. School Boards in other areas have found themselves in hot water when they pick and choose what items to discuss in closed session. The Brown Act holds each member of the public body that is present responsible for adhering to the law. The Resolution that was on the agenda is a matter of public record and all the names of certificated staff affected by the Resolution are listed on the document.

The Board adjourned to future meetings on May 17, May 24th (Study Session on “AR-Accelerated Reading program. The public’s opportunity to weigh in on this program), June 7 and June 21. Open Sessions beginning at 6:30 on all dates.