Fillmore Unified School District

Since the filing of a petition on September 16th with the Fillmore Unified School District to convert Piru Elementary into an independent charter school, there have been a series of incidents in which certain FUSD employees and other individuals have distributed information about the proposed charter school which is either misleading or false, according to Richard Durborow and Chris Pavik, two of the charter petitioners.

In what is apparently an escalation by those opposed to the charter, this past Friday, says Chris Pavik, two of the teachers at Piru School who signed the petition were approached separately by another teacher with close personal ties to the District Office. They were both told by this well-connected teacher that the School Board will not rehire any person who goes to work at the charter school and later decides to return to the District. In addition, one signer was told that the County Office of Education has the list of the signers’ names, and that no other school district in the county will hire them because they signed the charter petition, and the other was told that the Superintendent had said that any teacher who signed the petition, but now withdrew their name, would suffer no repercussions from the District. Says Chris Pavik, “these seem like not-so-veiled threats of intimidation, and they cross the line. As far as the School Board telling Piru staff that there will be no ‘right of return’, I have heard from several sources that such a statement was made at a District administrator’s meeting on last Thursday, that principals were directed by one of the Assistant Superintendents to verbally give this warning to their staffs. Such a statement is tantamount to bargaining away from the table, because that issue is bargainable, and it is illegal for the District to go around the unions and try to negotiate with individual members. I have informed the FUTA President and a CTA organizer of what I heard, and discussed the fact that this is an unfair labor practice, and that the District must stop doing this.” At this time, the petitioners plan to turn over the name of the teacher involved, and the names of those whom the teacher implicated, to legal counsel for possible litigation.

The petitioners first became aware of this apparent misinformation campaign when CONTINUED »

Pictured above Bert Rapp shows how high the levee should be when it is finished.
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On Thursday October 22nd FEMA and Ventura County Watershed Protection District representatives will update Fillmore residents on the status of the FEMA Flood Insurance update for Fillmore. The meeting will be held at 6:30 P.M. at the Memorial Building at 511 Second Street.

With the new update approximately 1,500 homes and businesses will have to purchase flood insurance by January 20, 2010. The insurance will cost about $50 to $100 per month. See the attached map for the affected properties. You can see more detailed maps on the City of Fillmore web site at www.fillmoreca.com

FEMA is updating the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for Fillmore and other communities in Ventura County. All properties that will be in a Flood Zone A on the new maps will have to purchase flood insurance when the maps become effective on January 20, 2010. If you purchase your flood insurance before the map becomes effective you can be grandfathered in at a lower rate saving about 50% on your flood insurance. FEMA will have their insurance specialists at the October 22nd meeting to fully explain the insurance options.

The new flood insurance requirements are result of the FEMA policy to CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

An overflow crowd filled the Fillmore School Board meeting Tuesday night October 5, 2009. Before the regular session began at 6:oo pm, more chairs were set up to accommodate all waiting community members as they streamed into the room. Fillmore Middle School Principal Todd Schieferle introduced his team of staff members responsible for the new Response to Intervention Model program for student success to board members David Dollar, Virginia De La Piedra, Liz Wilde, and meeting leader Tony Prado. Board President John Garnica was absent. Schieferle stated that he explored advisory programs at De Anza Middle School in Ventura, and Pioneer Middle School in Orange County. Assistant Principal Tricia Godfrey, Anna Morielli, and Scott Carroll and he attended a Response to Intervention workshop.

As a team, each member discussed the strategies for student success by implementing the three level-tiered program structure.

Ms. Morielli explained that Level 3 is the Intensive Core. The focus is directed in grades 6-8 history and Language Arts. For students with math deficiencies, An Intense Math Program is provided. This program also includes ELD level newcomers. Intensive Reading Instruction involves comprehension and decoding. There are also classes for Intense Responsibility Support. Evaluation of student progress with common assessment is every three weeks.

Morielli went on to say that homework is tied to the California State CONTINUED »

On November 28, 2008 Lucia Cardoza, 25 of Fillmore, was driving east on Highway 126, west of 10th Street at 2:36 a.m. when she swerved from the left lane to the right shoulder. Her car hit the metal guardrail and spun back into traffic lanes, where it was struck by an eastbound van. In the car were Cardoza’s two sons, ages 4-years and 1-year. Ricardo Nuno Jr., 4, was thrown from the car and pronounced dead at the scene. Cardoza was intoxicated.

She was sentenced on September 30th in Superior Court by Judge Edward Brodie to a year in jail and five years probation. Cardoza is nine months pregnant. She will begin her sentence in December.
The driver of the van, Maria Rangel, 46 of Ventura, and her three adult passengers suffered minor injuries and were treated at Santa Paula Hospital.

At its regularly scheduled board meeting on Wednesday, October 14, the United Water Conservation District will consider banning alcohol at Lake Piru. Over the past several years, a large number of boating and camping incidents have occurred in which alcohol was involved. In an effort to ensure that the public has a safe and enjoyable time at the lake, District’s Board asked its staff to prepare a policy banning alcohol throughout the park, including the campgrounds, day use areas, and on the lake. The Board also requested that an exemption to the alcohol ban be developed that would allow special events, such as wedding receptions, festivals, and fishing tournaments to apply for and receive an alcohol permit provided they agree to follow certain procedures.

Lake Piru Reservoir was created in 1955 when the Santa Felicia Dam was CONTINUED »

Alex Estrada and David Joseph Garcia.

David Joseph Garcia, 34, a Fillmore native, and Alex Estrada, 33, of Ventura were killed early Sunday morning by an alleged drunk driver on Highway 118, after leaving the American Cancer Society Relay for Life event in Fillmore. Garcia’s wife, Sonia Garcia, 26, was critically injured in the crash.

The suspected drunk driver, Jorge Hernandez, 24, of Oxnard was also seriously injured.

Garcia and Estrada were well-known DJ’s in Ventura County, and had DJ’ed the Relay into Sunday morning. The cause was close to Garcia’s heart, his mother survived cancer and his father died of the disease.

David was a Fillmore High 1994 graduate, a big man known for his gentle ways.

David was also known as DJ Gorilla, a nickname he picked up when he played junior varsity football at Fillmore High School. He was also known as DJ Bibi. Estrada was known professionally as DJ Alex E.

David was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision. Estrada was pronounced dead several hours later at Ventura County Medical Center.

Hernandez was driving a pickup truck westbound in the eastbound lane of the roadway when he crashed into the car, apparently without headlights.

A dinner fundraiser will be held Thursday, October 1st, from 6pm-10pm at Ruby's Cafe in Oxnard for the families of DJ Alex E and DJ Gorilla.

MEstrada's family is accepting donations at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, account # 122220593, Alex Estrada Memorial Account. The Garcia Family is also accepting donations at Bank of America acct. # 0912130005.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Christian Giusti
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Location: 800 Block Edison Lane Fillmore, Ca. 93015
Date & Time/ RB#: September 26, 2009 @ 3:20 P.M. / 09-23791
Unit Responsible: Fillmore Police Gang Unit / Sheriff’s Gang Unit

Suspects Address Age

Christian Giusti Fillmore 23
Minor (Male) Fillmore 17

On the afternoon of September 26, 2009, members of the Fillmore Police and Sheriff’s Gang Units went to a residence located in the 800 Block of Edison Lane in the City of Fillmore in search of a known Fillmore gang member wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant.

The officers located and arrested a seventeen year-old Fillmore gang member wanted on a juvenile arrest warrant without incident. The minor was not the intended focus of the search. The officers entered the home in search of the wanted subject and found Christian Giusti, another Fillmore gang member who is on probation. Officers searched Giusti and found him in possession of bullets and a handgun.

The minor was lodged in Juvenile Hall pending his appearance in court. Giusti was booked in county jail facing charges of being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition and a firearm; both are felony charges.

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Joanathon “Jon” Gerlach, 20 years, a 2008 graduate of Fillmore High School is stationed in Germany and was recently promoted to Private First Class (PFC) in the United States Army. Jon's entire education was within the Fillmore Unified School District where he also attended San Cayetano Elementary School and Fillmore Middle School.

Jon enlisted in the United States Army in June 2008 right after graduation from FHS. When Jon enlisted in the Army he knew he wanted to make the Army a career and he enlisted for 4 years. PFC Joanathan Gerlach is married to wife, Carmen (Barocio), and they have a daughter Addison 8 months. His mother is Barbara Gerlach of Piru and his siblings are brother Niles Gerlach 31, of Piru and sister, Andrea Rodriguez 28, of Fillmore. Maternal Grandparents are Jack Sivils of Lake Isabella, California and the late Bonnie Sivils. Grandfather Sivils worked most of his life on the Vanonni Ranch in Saticoy. Jon’s Paternal Grandparents are the late Rudolph and Doris Gerlach of Ventura.

United States Army PFC Joanathan Gerlach attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South. Carolina. While he was in Basic Training he was CONTINUED »