2015-2016 Student of the Year, Misael Ponce.

Once again it was standing room only as the teachers of the Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) addressed both the Board and staff regarding their contract negotiations. During Public Comments all the teachers stood in solidarity as Brian Ricards read a statement written by Jennifer Beal, Fillmore Unified Teachers Association President. Beal could not attend due to a medical requirement.

The statement began, "Since December during the public comments time you've been hearing from the hard-working teachers of Fillmore. These teachers who work directly with the [students are the] reason we are all here, the children of Fillmore. Teachers who on their own wrote statements and read statements, trying to inform and shine a light on their desire for competitive salaries in Fillmore." He went on to state that after the last Board meeting negotiations continued but the "District still refused to increase its salary offer....by handing over the same proposal from the previous meeting....it was very apparent the District was not going to offer anything higher than their previous offers." Beal's statement continued with calls of monies that were directed toward repairing the Middle School roof coming from the General Fund ($1.7 million) to be used to raise teachers pay "this year to pay off the roof loan, (the District used General Funds) so that money could be freed up next year. Plenty of money to give teachers a competitive raise.....Another example, perhaps take a little bit out (of) the millions sitting in textbooks and supplies." Beal suggested the District let the reserves dip down closer to the legally State mandated 3% and that even during the recession FUSD's reserves were above it. Beal wrote that this year the reserves are projected to be 6.97% which is 3.97% above legal requirements. "(I)f you take the new district approved sports medicine position and add that cost to the newly recommended district level position for purchasing that equals over a 1% raise? Doesn't it? Priorities, you feel you need to spend money on administration positions and not to the teachers salary schedule to create competitive salaries with other districts in the county." At the conclusion of Ricards reading of the statement all the teachers in the room gave a loud and extended applause.

There were two others who addressed the Board during Public Comments, John Scoles and Cindy Blatt, both speaking of their concern with access to the all-weather running track at Fillmore High School. Scoles asked the Board to consider extending the public access hours from 5p.m.-8p.m. when there is no school activity. Blatt reminded the Board that the Rotary Club had raised the money for the access gate, but at that time they did not expect such limited access.

The meeting began with two recognitions. The first went to the 2015-2016 Student of the Year, Misael Ponce. Ponce, who has had to overcome a number of personal challenges, has never received a grade less than an A and is in the lead for valedictorian. As Board President Virginia de la Piedra handed Ponce his plaque she commented, "This is really outstanding....tell your mom and dad we're really proud of them too." When asked where he planned to continue his education, Ponce replied "Berkley" to which everyone in the room stood and applauded as Ponce stood humbly and smiled.

The second recognition went to the boys soccer team. Both the Board and Staff agreed to putting the teams accomplishments in a documented resolution which reads; The Fillmore High School 2015-2016 Boys Soccer Team achieved an overall record of 21 wins, 4 losses, and 3 ties, thereby winning the Frontier League Championship and a 1st seed in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division VII playoffs and it was a district accomplishment to win the CIF Soccer Region Championship; and whereas the players, manager and coaches have shown great talent, sportsmanship, determination and hard work; and whereas the coaches deserve special thanks for having willingly donated their time to this activity; and whereas the record of achievement of the person listed below deserves commendation from the entire community.

The players and coaches all received an Award of Recognition Certificate. Players: Angel Acosta, Kevyn Garibay, Everardo Magana, Jose Luis Ruiz, Jaime Zarate, Jesus Ballesteros, Joel Garza, Emilio Martinez, Fernando Trujillo, Marko Zavala, Cristian Candelario, Alejandro Gutierrez, Miguel Martinez, Jose Manuel Valdez, Salvador Zepeda, Kevin Galvan, Enrique Gutierrez, Alejandro Rodriquez, Jorge Valdovinos, Juan Garcia, Onofre Jauregui, Ruben Rodriguez, Andy Vargas. Head Coach, Jose Luis Lomeli. Assistant Coaches; Javier Alcaraz, Luis Cisneros, Emerio Manzano, Cipriano Martinez, Alfonso Martinez, Eric SantaRosa. Manager; Austin Contreras. Statistician; Emilio Manzano.