Moderator: Bill Herrera
Timekeeper: Douglas Tucker

Candidates: Michael Saviors, Sean Morris, Scott Beylik

Incumbent Candidates: Lucy Rangel, Dave Wilde, Tony Prado

(7) The School Distinct has been identified as being in Program Improvement. What does this mean to you as a school board member/candidate and how do you intend to address this reality if you are elected?

Sean Morris; All our schools are in Program Improvement. We lost students as a result. How do we go from where we are to where we need to go? The answer is we set the bar high.

Scott Beylik; If I was a School Board Member it means I failed at my job. As a future Board Member it means I have a far way to go. We need our students to excel.

Lucy Rangel; Everyone needs to held accountable. We're looking forward to the Spring (semester). The Superintendent needs to make sure teachers are doing their jobs. Parents need to know a student in kindergarten is equal to what a 1st grader (kindergarten now teaches what used to be taught in 1st grade).

Tony Prado; If teachers motivate the students, they (the students) will learn. Part of the problem is the Principals.

Dave Wilde; Our teachers are in class every day they know what is happening. Those kids that are missing out, the teachers need to come up with solutions. When a kid falls behind the teachers need to focus on them.

Michael Saviors; We as a Board should be embarrassed. We need to provide the teachers with what ever they need. As a Board we need to be receptive to them, provide the extra help.

(8) Fillmore, as do other schools throughout the State of California, struggle with the challenge of keeping talented, high performing teachers and holding low performing teachers accountable. How should teacher performance be measured? What ideas do you have to address these issues?

Scott Beylik; Business is based on performance. With education it's a challenge if you're a teacher and have students that are not excelling...the teacher is stuck.

Lucy Rangel; High performing teachers could teach anywhere. We could lover class size. Low performing teachers need more oversight.

Tony Prado; If you had a child with a low performing teacher you'd be angry....Nishino (previous Superintendent) tried with the lesson plans and was successful in many things and not so with other things like the High School Principal.

Dave Wilde; I think the responsibility should fall on the Principals to provide oversight. I think the new Superintendent will do that.

Michael Saviors; We need to address poor teachers with yearly evaluations....Ask them to leave if they're failing as a teacher.

Sean Morris; There needs to be clearly outlined expectations. We have great teachers...we need to agree to hold people accountable.

(9) What specific steps would you take as a School Board Member to improve transparency and make school district information and policy changes more widely available? Would you consider televising/live streaming School Board meetings? Why or why not?

Lucy Rangel; With technology we could live stream the meetings. Transparency is very important. It would be an advantage to parents.

Tony Prado; Trying to be transparent shouldn't be that difficult....mailing notices is very expensive...we should strongly encourage parents to attend school board meetings.

Dave Wilde; I wouldn't mind our board meetings being videotaped or televised. Sometime we race through items. Maybe we should discuss things more in depth.

Michael Saviors; While on the School Board I was surprised how few people showed up. We should work with the City to have them televised. If parents can't go to the meetings they could still have an opportunity to watch it.

Sean Morris; I think it's important to make sure the public understands what's being discussed.

Scott Beylik; Absolutely, the City has offered the space. I'd like to see the board meetings moved to City Hall if possible Brown Act violations can be dealt with.

(10) How will you build consensus, moral and support in the community around the work of the school district?

Tony Prado; The Board needs to communicate with the community. Try to bring the stakeholders together. The School Site Council doesn't always suffice.

Dave Wilde; Moral is terribly low. I don't think money is always the answer. We need to make everyone part of the process.

Michael Saviors; Give others a part....allow everybody to take part in what we do. Even it you don't agree it's right that you're allowed to be part of the discussion.

Sean Morris; Everyone needs to work together, be supportive, community support...public use of the schools...parents support.

Scott Beylik; Build consensus and support for the community. We should, as a Board, be at every event. We need to all be on the same page and out in the community.

Lucy Rangel; We don't showcase our schools....we need to communicate with the community. We could have a booth and festivities. We have great programs...let the parents know about them.

(11) The Fillmore City Council is working toward economic stability and self-sustaining tax base. What role in this process do you see the School Board playing to assist with the city's economic development goals?

Dave Wilde; We need to ensure that we provide better instruction, that our students are progressing....that they feel a part of our community.

Michael Saviers; We need to showcase our schools...not see damage at the schools...viewers need to see improvements...to impress.

Sean Morris; We need to work with the community. Marking sure we have a capitol improvement fund.

Scott Beylik; The improvement challenge is to 'build a better product'. We need to raise student achievement. You've got to have a product that will sell.

Lucy Rangel; Our student achievement needs to improve. I think the new Superintendent has improved teachers.

Tony Prado; Raising student achievement will go a long way. We need to build higher income homes.

(12) What Ideas do you have that will entice parents to keep their children enrolled in FUSD schools and stem the flood of students transferring to neighboring school districts?

Michael Saviors; We have to be attractive...we have to have a reason for people to want to stay here. We need to change the way people look at us.

Sean Morris; We need to stop the 'brain drain'. Fillmore does provide a good education, but you have to fight for it.

Scott Beylik; That's the number one question I'm asked when I'm out there talking to people. 105 students have transferred to Moorpark, a total of 150 outside of the District. Some did so because of academics and others it was sports. Other schools are offering more class opportunities. We need to offer more.

Lucy Rangel; Some leave for religious reasons...a lot leave because of our sports programs and scholarships. We need a good quality sports program.

Tony Prado; We teach well to the college bound, but not to the lower academic level. We need to lower the K-3 class size.

Dave Wilde; We need more choices for the parents. We're working with the community colleges to offer more.

(13) Given the complexity of a school district budget, what skills do you bring to the table to ensure the budget is balanced while meeting the needs of the district?

Sean Morris; The State doesn't have a budget for capital improvements, we need a capital improvement fund. I'd like to reduce the need to barrow money.

Scott Beylik; I understand business and learn quickly.

Lucy Rangel; I don't have a business background. I rely on the administrators. I'm going to ask for more training.

Tony Prado; The budget is set in stone. We had to go from $30 million to $24 million...we had to look at millions of dollars in cuts. It's not easy. I didn't want to cut peoples' salary. I want to cut the K-3 class size.

Dave Wilde; I compare our District to others and if they're similar I feel okay. Now we're dealing with the LCAP and must make sure the money goes to the right programs.

Michael Saviors; Budgets are not my skill set, but I will make sure it is explained to me in terms I will understand.

Closing Statements

Sean Morris; What's our priority? We're a service. We need a creative environment. We will have to be creative with our funding. You will know what I'm doing and why.

Scott Beylik; A key issue for school boards is to create a long-term vision...students need to reach their full potential...the Board must provide leadership....with my background and knowledge of the community I can provide the necessary leadership to keep the district on an even keel...we must re-establish morale with employees and work together. It's hard when a District goes from crisis to crisis.

Lucy Rangel; In 2010 I ran for the position, I'm coming again to ask for your support. I believe in our teachers and our students.

Tony Prado; I want to lower the K-3 class size, increase our technology and eliminate text books which can be done with an increase in funding. I want to see a promotion to Distinguished School status.

Dave Wilde; We have some of the best kids in the county. I want an opportunity to do a better job.

Michael Saviors; Our goal is to provide a good education. I don't have all the answers, but I ask a lot of questions and as a community we can improve. I want to be a voice.