Girls Cross Country Team - Laura Garnica, Maria Villalobos, Kiana Hope, Jordyn Vassaur, Sofia Gallardo, Alexis Tafoya, Irma Torres, Briana Segoviano and Irma Trijillo.

Coach Kimberly Tafoya received recognition from Board Member Garnica.

Recognition was given at Tuesday’s school board meeting to Robert Munoz for his effort, along with a group of volunteers, in refurbishing the memorial to 1st Lt. USMC Toby R. Gritz, killed in Vietnam in 1970, and Scott Douglas Ipswitch, a Fillmore High School student who died of Hodgkin’s Disease in 1976. Mike and Janey Munoz accepted the recognition for Robert who is attending college in Iowa.

“Fillmore is ahead of the curve” is a direct quote from Fillmore Unified School District’s Superintendent Dr. Alan Nishino speaking at the December 4, 2012 School Board Meeting. Nishino was referring to a partnership with De Vry University and Carrington College California in offering FUSD campus classes that go beyond advanced placement courses. Also on the agenda, the 2012 Audit, Student Representative’s Report and recognition of Fillmore’s CIF State Champions Division IV Boys Cross Country, Girls Cross Country and Eagle Scout Court of Honor.

Assistant Superintendent Michael Johnson gave a presentation on FUSD University which is a partnership between FUSD and De Vry University and Carrington College California. Advanced academic fully accredited and UC approved course material will be taught at two FUSD campuses, Fillmore High and Sierra Continuation, starting next month. De Vry offers Associate, Bachelor and Master’s Degree programs and has recently added more liberal arts to its technology based studies, similar to what is now offered at the University of Phoenix. Carrington offers certificate and Associate Degree programs with studies in healthcare, legal and technical fields. Except for the courses with a lab, most of the studies will be online with resource centers on campus. Nishino told the Board that the goal is to have dual enrollment which will give students college credit for classes taken at FUSD along with the possibility of students doing internships to explore their future work opportunities. The Dual Enrollment Classes include: ENG 112 Composition, ENG 135 Advanced Composition, Math 114 College Algebra, Math 190 Calculus Other classes offered include: BUSN 115 Introduction to Business, CIS 115 Logic and Design, NETW 202 Introduction to Networking, COMP 100 Computer Applications to Business, HIT 110 Basic Medical Technology, PSYC 110 Psychology WGD 201 Visual Design Fundamentals. Courses offered through Carrington College are: accounting, business, computer technology, criminal justice, dental assisting, graphic design, healthcare administration, health information technology, medical assisting, medical billing and coding, paralegal studies, pharmacy technology, renewable energy, sales and marketing, and veterinary studies. Davis said the “seed” money to fund the project will start at $50,000 and be a reimbursement of direct expenses. That amount is expected to cover about five students to start.

Also, Proposition 30 was discussed, how happy everyone in attendance was with its passage and that FUSD would not have to cut the expected $1.6 million out of its budget. But Assistant Superintendent Earl Davis reminded everyone that Proposition 30 does not guarantee one cent more toward schools or education and that the goal of Proposition 30 is to stabilize the State budget and that school funding is dictated by the State budget not Proposition 30.

“Everyone should be cautiously optimistic,” stated Davis.

Nishino informed the Board that California has the lowest credit rating of any State in the country due to the huge number of bonds that Californians have passed putting the State deep in debt and a hurdle to improving our State’s finances. Adding to that is the fact that California has both the highest rate of poverty and the highest rate of illiteracy than any other state in the country; which brings to question how many years it will take for California’s finances and schools to recover. Nishino informed the Board that payments to schools are improving but are still being deferred (postponed) by three months instead of the six months as had been in the past. On the subject of finance, FUSD’s CPA presented the 2012 Audit and FUSD received a “clean opinion” which is the highest grade a report can receive.

FUSD recognized the CIF Champions Division IV Boys Cross Country and Girls Cross Country on their great success. The Boys Cross Country included seniors: Jose Almagner, Isaac Gomez, Adrian Mejia, Anthony Rivas, Alexander Frias, Hugo Valdonnos; juniors: Justin Beach, Frank Chavez, Nicolas Frias. Girls Cross Country included seniors: Laura Garnica, Maria Villalobos; juniors: Kiana Hope, Jordyn Vassaur; sophomores: Sofia Gallardo, Alexis Tafoya, Irma Torres; freshmen: Briana Segoviano, Irma Trijillo. Students were accompanied by their Coach Kimberly Tafoya and Assistant Coaches Epi Torres and Anthony Rodriguez.

Also recognized was Robert Diego Munoz for his outstanding achievement as Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Robert’s parents, Mike and Janey Munoz, accepted the recognition due to their son being in Iowa attending his first year of college. Recognition was given to Robert for his effort, along with a group of volunteers, in refurbishing the memorial to 1st Lt. USMC Toby R. Gritz, killed in Vietnam in 1970, and Scott Douglas Ipswitch a Fillmore High School student who died of Hodgkin’s Disease in 1976.

Student Representative Mary Ortiz was pleased to announce a Certificate of Appreciation to Fillmore High School students for their November blood drive in which about 100 students participated. The successful drive tripled the amount of blood donated in the past. Ortiz said she felt a great deal of accomplishment by the drive and all the lives the drive may have saved.