The November 1, 2011 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting was attended by a number of Principals from schools throughout the District. The goal of the collaboration of faculty and administration was teamwork with an effort to attain a new standard that will leave behind a system that is failing. Today’s challenge for educators and administrators are the profound changes that are essential to assess 21st Century skills.

The major change being developed for FUSD is the Task Force Program (TFP). The TFP is a district wide nine member team that began gathering data at the beginning of the school year to analyze the relationship between cause variables, such as teaching practices, curriculum and assessments. The goal is to address the needs of students throughout the district and the factors that are most strongly associated with improved student achievement; and getting ready for the Common Core Standards (CCS) that will be implemented in all states throughout the country within the next 2 to 4 years.

Each member’s recommendations have been researched with updates on effective instruction through the use of collected data. The end result is gaining a system that supports school improvement with a goal of implementing high-impact educational strategies.

Assistant Superintendent Michael Johnson referred to the work being applied as an online report card, stating, “It’s a major change that impacts what we do in the classroom…measures the students by what they’re required to know and our students will be prepared to graduate high school.” Johnson went on to say, “Some might ask, ‘Why do all these changes?’ because the old way isn’t working.”

Scott Carroll, Principal of Sespe Elementary, is the head of the Essential Standards and Benchmark Task Force. Carroll is tasked with completing field testing of the third trimester assessment for English Language Arts and the three trimester benchmark assessments for Mathematics. Carroll presented the Board with examples of the new TFP’s exam and assessments. Using strategies developed by Dr. Douglas Reeves, Carroll explained that these changes will allow teachers and administrators to take effective action now that will both improve performance on current state assessments and help prepare students and teachers for the CCS. Carroll stated that the questions one must ask when forming such tests and assessments is, “Does it have endurance? Does it have leverage? Does it develop student readiness for the next level?” He went on to say that subjects such as Algebra are started way before the 6th grade and is built upon each preceding year.

Sespe Elementary is 45% English as a second language (ESL) students, so it presents some great challenges to the schools teachers. Carroll stated that Sespe is five years behind where it should be and there’s a lot that needs to be accomplished to catch up, adding that methods are only part of the equation. “It’s the teachers that make the difference.”

FUSD Superintendent Dr. Alan Nishino believes that what was administered 50 years ago is outdated today and that assessments must be open, not secret. Students must be given what they need to know and have it reinforced; not have to question what they need to know to take a test. He went on to state, “We need to question all ways of teaching…there is more than one way, and in the end the whole system benefits.”

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Michael Bush informed the Board that the building of Rio Vista School is now being framed on the west and east sides and that the problem with the unwanted “residents” has been resolved and they have vacated.

Fillmore High School’s (FHS) Student Body President Sammy Martinez informed the Board that the blood drive for United Blood Services held on Tuesday was a great success with 55 participating; which include both adults and students.

Martinez also added the many activities coming up; Santa Paula Week celebrating the rival football game on Friday and a rally on Wednesday October 9th in the FHS gym; Noontime Activities everyday next week; Sophomore class Carwash fundraiser for the Sadie Hawkins Dance; Class officers are doing a fundraiser by selling blankets they’ve made for $25; Carrier Day at the Memorial Building Friday November 4th; Junior Class will be planning the Junior or Senior Prom to be held at the Saticoy Country Club and Seniors are ordering the announcements for graduation.

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