On Tuesday December 7th the Fillmore Unified School Board of Trustees met for a regularly scheduled meeting that included the required ‘Organizational Meeting’ wherein newly elected members are sworn in, outgoing members are recognized and new Officers are elected. The meeting began with the Board recognizing the service of outgoing Board Clerk Liz Wilde. Wilde was elected in 2006 and served one term. Newly re-elected Board Member Tony Prado presented her with a “Students First” award and expressed his thanks to Wilde for her involvement in and support of several actions taken by the Board during her term, which he felt, benefited the District. Prado commented that he holds Wilde as the “Ideal Board Member” because of her dedication and preparation in making decisions. San Cayetano Elementary School Principal Jan Marholin expressed her thanks to Wilde and presented her with a plaque. Marholin commented that “[she could] always count on [Wilde] to be at [all open houses and school events]”. Wilde thanked all those who voted for her and expressed her hope that she met their expectations during her term. Outgoing Board Member Mike Saviers was unable to attend and will be recognized at a future meeting.

During public comment Janet Foy spoke to the Board about the efforts of the Sespe Players to win a $50,000 grant through the “Pepsi Refresh” program. The money will be used to renovate Sespe Auditorium. She emphasized the need for the entire community to vote to make this happen. There are three ways to vote, email, facebook and by text. The same person can vote every day, voting ends on December 31. For more info call Priscilla at 805-794-6228 or www.refresheverything.com/sespeauditorium

The Organizational portion of the meeting began with Prado, the outgoing Board President, appointing Superintendent Jeff Sweeney as Chairperson Pro Tem to oversee the swearing in of the new Board Members and the election of Board Officers. Sweeney administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected Board Members, Lucy Rangel, Dave Wilde and re-elected Tony Prado. Before taking their seats at the Board table the newly sworn in Board Members thanked their family members in attendance with Rangel taking the prize for most family members in attendance. Sweeney then conducted the election of new officers on the Board: President, Virginia De La Piedra, Vice President John Garnica, Clerk Dave Wilde. Sweeney then relinquished the gavel to De La Piedra for her to conduct the remainder of the meeting.

Rangel volunteered and was approved by the Board to act as the representative on the Ventura County Committee on School District Organization (VCCSDO) . According to a letter received by all Ventura County School Districts from the California Department of Education, the Ventura County Board of Education (VCBE) has requested that the “duties and powers of the [VCCSDO] [be transferred to] the County Board [of Education]”. The California State Board of Education (SBE) will hear this request at it’s January 2011 meeting and has given Districts the opportunity to provide information “pertinent to SBE consideration of this matter.” In an accompanying letter signed by Doylenne G. Johnson Chair of VCCSDO, the committee stated it’s opposition to the transfer of powers to VCBE including a statement that “this eleven member Committee brings a high level of experience and diversity that cannot be matched by a smaller committee.” The VCCSDO is made up of eleven volunteers who are appointed by the District representatives. The Committee hears and makes recommendations to the State regarding requests for District boundary changes and unification or separation within Districts. After discussion the Board agreed to oppose the request for transfer of powers to the VCBE and approved the proposal made by Sweeney to draft a letter to send to the SBE indicating their position.

Following brief reports from the Board, each principal from the high schools and the middle school came before the Board to present an update on student achievement at their schools. Cynthia Frutos, Principal of Sierra High reported on the 88-point improvement in API scores for Sierra. She indicated that the school is continuing on that path with emphasis on tracking and charting student achievement data. Frutos reminded the Board that if they have not seen the new site to come and visit “Don’t make an appointment [just come]”. She also mentioned that they have five students graduating this semester and that the ASB has approved a new student constitution, touting the ongoing “positive… school culture” being emphasized on campus. Next Fillmore Middle School Principal John Schweller reported on the slight drop in API for the school and then presented how they are “attacking” this issue with “Collaboration”. Schweller reported on the formation of a Middle School Summit that is hosted by Fillmore Middle School. Other middles school administrators and staff come to FMS to meet, connect, share ideas and find solutions to the common issues they face. FMS Vice Principal Scott Carroll reported on the ongoing discipline plan that the school is implementing and assessing with apparent success on campus. Schweller commented on their use of “Discipline with Dignity” with students which he feels is contributing to a real improvement that can be demonstrated with a reduction in suspensions so far this year. Fillmore High School Principal John Wilbur praised the District SRO Leo Vazquez for the effective way he works with students to help solve issues that arise. He reported on the three years of API score improvement and that staff is continuing to focus on the “D and F list” (students with D’s and F’s) to target those students with specific help as needed. The high school is also preparing to pilot the “Zangle” program which is aimed at making all student information including grades, assignments assigned and completed, attendance available online to parents. The intent is to make it easier for parents to have access to information regarding their child’s progress at school. As the high school irons out the issues with the program, other schools are expected to implement the program in the spring of this school year.

The Board heard from Mike Bush Assistant Superintendent regarding the First Interim Budget Report. He reported on more delays in payments from the State, which will require more loans taken by the District to cover payroll expenses later this year. Bush indicated that depending on the new Governors budget the District, and all Districts in the State may be looking at more cuts. He emphasized the importance of planning for this, as the Board has been doing.

The Board approved Resolution 10-11-10 which includes escrow instructions for the purchase of a property located at 707 First Street in Fillmore for a purchase price of $550,000.00. In that Resolution it is indicated that the District plans to continue to lease the residence on the property to the current tenants and to perform “improvements… including general renovation, maintenance and repairs.” By press time the Business Services office of FUSD was unable to respond to requests for information regarding the purpose of the purchase of this property.

All consent items were approved, except for one item regarding Personnel Order 10-11-09, which was postponed to a future date and according to Garnica “[would be] further [discussed] in closed session.”

Bush presented a report on the building of Rio Vista Elementary School. According to Bush “[the] District has fulfilled all obligations with Hearthstone” and the ground breaking for the new school is planned for January 2011, with a planned opening date of August 2013. The school will not be built in phases, but will be built in its entirety to keep constructions costs as low as possible. Rangel inquired as to Board input on the design, and Bush indicated that the design was completed with Board input four years ago based on a school built in Irvine. It has been “tweaked” to fulfill Fillmore’s needs and it will be a “beautiful school”. Bush added a report on heater repair at Sespe elementary that was requested by new board member Wilde. The repair was complicated but has been completed, and due to the outdated system will take a few days for the classrooms to get up to temp.

The Board maintained the meeting schedule of the first and third Tuesday of each month and approved a request by Rangel to move the start time for all future meetings to 6:30 from 6:00pm. This is in an effort to accommodate members of the public who may wish to attend meetings but struggle to make it in time following work. The start time for closed session meetings was set for 5:30, which increases the length from 45 minutes to one hour for that portion of Board meetings.

The Board will participate in a training retreat on Saturday, December 11 from 8:30 am to 12:00pm in the Board Room, and will hold the next Board meeting on Tuesday January 4th 2011.