The September 6, 2015 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting began with Assistant Superintendent Martha Hernandez presenting awards honoring the First Fillmore High School Academic Decathlon Team winners. This accomplishment was a result of teacher Kelsey McClain who, after working with the Academic Decathlon Team at Moorpark High School, brought the challenge to Fillmore. The students studied over 1,000 printed pages of material on 10 subjects that required many hours of dedicated work. "The students are extremely motivated," McClain told the Board.

The students honored were: Connie Quintana-Music and Literature, Jene Tarango-Art, Naythan Martinez-Music and Literature, Dillon Galarza-Science, Jon Menjivar-Social Science, Emma Couse-Art, Miguel Ponce-Economics and Mathematics, Jessica Manginelli-Economics and Mathematics.

An item that required quick Board attention was deciding what to do regarding the vacancy left by John Garnica. Garnica resigned the Board due to a possible conflict of interest over a position his wife had applied for. Beverly Garnica, who had been Assistant Principal at Fillmore Middle School, had applied for a school principal position and is now the principal of Rio Vista Elementary School.

This left the Board with a decision on how to fill the vacancy. Education Code requires that within 60 days of a vacancy the Board must either order a special election or make a provisional appointment. The cost of a special election would be $34,000 and whomever would be elected would hold office for the remainder of Garnica's term. Due to the cost and the short time left on Garnica's term as a Board Member, it was decided to go with a provisional appointee who will then hold office until the next regular scheduled Board election in November 2016.

The position will be advertised for candidate applications. A committee of two Board Members (Lucy Rangel and Scott Beylik) will then vet the applicants eligibility and the Board will interview the candidates at a public meeting and select an appointee.

The meeting had a number of purchases, projects and future projects approved.

Due to the age and condition of the current bus fleet, new buses are needed. The current bus fleet has a 55-65 capacity and do not meet State Certification standards. The district reserved $400,000 for the new purchase of two new 2016 Thomas 82 passenger school buses from BusWest. Both buses will have air conditioning and WiFi.

There was also a request to approve the purchase of two portable classrooms, one for San Cayetano Elementary School and one for Piru Elementary School. They will be installed this winter. Both were specified in the Emergency Repair Program (ERP) funding which was applied for in 2008 and approved. FUSD has been waiting for the funds to become available in Sacramento.

The ERP funding will also upgrade the fire alarm systems and communication systems at both Piru and San Cayetano. The total grant monies to be spent on Piru Elementary is $1,327,349 and at San Cayetano $1,764,393.

The FUSD Deferred Maintenance Fund balance is being used to turn the dirt parking lot area at the Fillmore High School stadium into 80 paved parking spots at a cost of $350,095.

Other upgrades being done are at Rio Vista Elementary School with purchases of furniture, equipment and technology from monies left available ($230,000) after the school was built. This includes flooring which is being repaired under a warranty.

Future projects at Fillmore Middle School will be a counter replacement in the Band Room and termite abatement for Building D& I. Fillmore High School with receive a new quieter air conditioning unit system. The District Office will have upgraded rooms and the School Farm will have the Cattle Barn roofing repaired.

Student Representative/Speaker of the House Hannah Wishart informed the Board of the Associated Student Body's Blood Drive on October 23rd at 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Fillmore High School and that the cheerleaders are selling Breast Cancer Awareness T-Shirts for $14 S-XL, $15 for a 2X and $16 for a 3X. Contact Fillmore High School for more information.