City of Fillmore

About five people, besides the council and city staff, attended Tuesday's Fillmore City Council meeting, which was completed by 7:00 p.m. There were a number of items approved; a reward for information leading to the conviction of a crime, and another to ensure continued train service and filming in Fillmore. Also discussed was the problem intersection at Santa Clara and B Street, and a settlement agreement on the tax sharing contract.

Ventura Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the shooting death of Adrian Moreno on January 11, 2014. To date no one has been arrested in connection with the shooting. The Fillmore City Council discussed also offering a one thousand dollar reward for the convictions of those involved to which Council Member Rick Neal responded, "I think one thousand is low, I'd like to see it bumped to ten thousand." Council Member Diane McCall added, "I think whatever we need to do to get people talking." City Manager David W. Rowlands informed the Council that if the person convicted is a minor, the parent or guardian shall be liable and levied for the amount of the reward. The reward will be paid within 30 days of a conviction. Councilman Steve Conaway then offered the $2,000 he has in Council Travel Expense Money be moved to the reward fund. All members agreed and the measure for a Fillmore City $10,000 Reward was passed.

The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and Fillmore and Western Railroad are currently in a legal dispute which may lead to Fillmore and Western Railroad no longer providing tourist and filming operations. Rowlands reminded the Council how important the trains are to the economy of the City, drawing people to the area from all over the state. "The tourist train draws film and production companies .....television, commercials, movies are filmed using the tourist train," Rowlands told the Council. Neal responded, "I'm in support of this....the people of Fillmore like having the train." Conaway added, "It's incumbent on us to lobby for this." McCall agreed, "This is very important for filming." A resolution was agreed upon and sent to VTCT.
Planning and Community Development Director Kevin McSweeney addressed the Council about the Intersection Study for Santa Clara and "B" Street. He asked the Council to approve a traffic engineer study to determine if a stop sign is advisable. The cost of the study is $2,500 with an additional $1,500 if a 24 hour traffic count and 4-way warrant study is needed. The funding for the study would come from the Street & Drains Fund (Street and Maintenance) which has $30,000 remaining. The pedestrian study would count how many students are passing through to cross the street and what time is needed to safely cross.

City Manager Rowlands CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On March 25, 2014, an 8-year veteran deputy of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, assigned to the Fillmore patrol station, was involved in a use of force incident. The male deputy fired his weapon at two large attacking dogs while on foot patrol on the bike path under the A Street bridge at the Santa Clara River in Fillmore, injuring both dogs.

The deputy was checking for graffiti in the area, when he was aggressively approached by two large unleashed dogs. The deputy, in defense of his own safety, fired his handgun at the dogs, hitting both. The dogs retreated from the deputy and ran into the river bottom brush. One dog was located and taken to a veterinarian for medical treatment, where it was later pronounced deceased. The second dog has not been located as of yet. The owner was contacted at the scene. The deputy sustained no injuries.

This incident was initially treated as an officer involved shooting, but later was determined to be a use of force incident. The case was turned over to the Fillmore Police Detectives Bureau for follow-up investigation.

The Fillmore Police Department reminds citizens to keep their dogs leashed in public areas for their pets’ safety and the safety of others.

Nature of Incident: Deputy Shoots at Dogs During Attack
Report Number: 14-6700
Location: Under the A Street Bridge (SR 23) at Santa Clara River, Fillmore
Date & Time: March 25, 2014 @ 1100 hours
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Police Department
Prepared by: Sergeant Mario Aguilar
Media Release Date: March 25, 2014
Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Mario Aguilar (805) 524-2233
mario.aguilar@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Don Aguilar

City of Fillmore

03/11/14
Theft Vehicle
400 Blk. Cook Dr.
400 Blk. River St.
Search Warrant
800 Blk. Union Pacific
800 Blk. Burlington St.
300 Blk. Blaine Ave.
Theft Residential
600 Blk. Shiells Dr.
Vandalism
1st St. / Price St.
Lost Property
500 Blk. Sespe Ave.
Keep the Peace
200 Blk. Blaine Ave.
Violation Restraining Order
1000 Blk. B St.
03/12/14
Theft Vehicle
400 Blk. River St.
Accident Non – Injury
Santa Clara St. / Ventura St.
Search warrant
700 Blk. A St.
Shots Fired
800 Blk. Hume Dr.
3rd St. / B St.
03/13/14
Abandoned Vehicle CONTINUED »

Fireman 3rd Class Petty Officer Ryan Calderon

Eighteen year old, 2013 Fillmore High School Graduate, Ryan Calderon, recently completed Naval Basic Training at Naval Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois. Ryan enlisted in the United States Navy on November 19, 2013 for a six year enlistment. Ryan graduated as a Fireman 3rd Class Petty Officer and he is currently assigned at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, in Goose Creek, South Carolina. In addition to Fillmore High School, Ryan attended Sespe Elementary and Fillmore Middle School. Ryan was active with football, basketball, 4-H and Future Farmers of America where he held a position of leadership as an FFA Officer with the position of Sentinel. Ryan was also active in his church.

Ryan is the son of Baltazar and Martha Calderon of Fillmore. His siblings are Arlene Morales, 29 years of Santa Paula and Michael Calderon, 25 years of Fillmore. His Paternal Grandparents are Baltazar Sr. and Lucila Calderon of Santa Paula and Maternal Grandparents, Rafael and Ramona Sandoval of Santa Paula. In addition to Ryan's serving with the Navy, his uncles, Anthony Pineda II, served with the United States Army and Joe Edward Garcia with the United States Marine Corps.

Navy Fireman Third Class Ryan Calderon has earned the National Defense Ribbon and the Pistol Marksman Medal. A new recruit qualifying for the Fireman Rate at time of enlistment will find that he/she has achieved selection into a very historic group of Naval personnel. This enlistment program option enables men and women to qualify for one of several Navy engineering or mechanical skill specialties (ratings) through on-the-job apprentice training. The training received as a Fireman or in the related engineering skill specialties is equivalent to that received as an electrician, electrical or power plant/co-generation plant operator or supervisor, diesel mechanic, or electronics repair technician. Equipment associated with Fireman training includes propulsion and electrical generation gas turbines, and diesel engines; electronic machinery plant control systems and networks; and intricate electrical wiring and distribution systems.

The rate of Fireman enjoys a proud and storied history. The name originated in the days when the Fireman was responsible for keeping the fires burning in the ship’s boilers which were used to make steam. The steam powered large turbines then produced the ship’s electricity and turned the ship’s propellers.

After completion of recruit training, enlistees in the Fireman Apprenticeship Training program attend a three-week course on naval engineering fundamental skills in shipboard operations and evolutions. After successful completion of this training, Firemen are usually assigned to shipboard duties where the Navy needs them the most.

Although Fireman Third Class Petty Officer Calderon has just begun his Naval Career all of us living in the Santa Clara Valley thank him for his service and wish wish him smooth seas as he proceeds through his Naval experience. We thank him and his family for their sacrifices already made and for the future sacrifices that they will make throughout his military service. Fireman Third Class Petty Officer Ryan Calderon is truly an American Hero!

The second year team consisting of seven seniors, five juniors, and five sophomores, all but one returning from a successful run in 2013, made major strides during the Ventura County Mock Trial competition on February 24th and 25th . At the awards ceremony held at the Oxnard Civic Center, junior Wesley Brecheen won Ventura County Second Place for portraying Defendant Rae Concha, sophomore Hai Tran won Ventura County Second Place as expert witness Dr. Ricki Sanchez, and sophomore Nicholas Bartels won Ventura County third place as a defense attorney presenting the pre-trial motion.

The Mock Trial program, sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, is designed to introduce students to our legal system. Students prepare both the prosecution and defense sides of a fictional case. This year’s case, People v. Rae Concha, involves the felony charges of second degree murder and drug possession for sale of the prescriptive medication Adderall. From research to role-playing, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the pertinent legal and factual issues.

The students portrayed each principal of the cast in a courtroom, including attorneys, witnesses, defendant, court clerk, bailiff, courtroom journalist, and artist. The trial played out in real courtrooms at the Ventura Superior Court before actual judges and is scored by Ventura County practicing attorneys.

Two students began by CONTINUED »

Student of the Year Nick Johnson with Joann Dobbs

At the March 18, 2014 Fillmore Unified School Board Meeting (FUSD) Attorney Aaron V. O'Donnell gave a presentation on a new California Law which requires all public school consider alternative methods when expelling a student for the first time and Superintendent Dr. Alan Nishino again spoke of the difficulties preparing for the upcoming Common Core State Standards Testing. Also, Student of the Year Nick Johnson was recognized for his accomplishments.

The California legislature, in an attempt to provide equal access to education and stop what they consider the overuse of suspensions and expulsions, have written into law an alternatives to "immediate" suspensions and expulsions. O'Donnell explained the new California law (Cal Ed Code 48900.5(a) which states expulsion or suspension can only be used when other means of correction have been utilized and failed. The legislature introduced the law due to what they say are gross disparities in the manner in which suspensions and expulsion are being applied to students of color and those with disabilities. Schools must have a clear and consistently applied system for providing interventions prior to suspension or expulsion and ensure that students are not receiving different punishment for the same conduct.

According to the California Department of Education (CDE) the total number of expulsions decreased by 12.3% along with a drop in suspensions by 14.1% from school years 2011-12 to 2012-13. "Gender can play a role in whether a student is suspended. Nationwide, more suspensions are given out to males than females. Male and female students each represent about half of the student population, however , males make up 66% of the students receiving a single out-of-school suspension and 74% of students expelled."

The alternative methods CONTINUED »

Investigation shows that the Fillmore Unified School District Board allegedly improperly hired Fillmore High School Principal Russom Mesfun, relying upon cronyism instead of due diligence. Personal friendships concealed serious flaws. Karen Ashim’s letter (below) reveals possible scandal of fiduciary failure of the school board:

Dear Fillmore Unified School Board members,

I want to inform you about the results of my recent and continuing investigation into the background of Russom Mesfun as it relates to his conduct at Fillmore High School. Note that I uncovered this information in only a few days and with limited resources. I suspect this information is only the tip of the iceberg. A more thorough investigation, given more time, more resources, and conducted by a trained investigator will no doubt expose far more than I have.

I have found a consistent pattern of unacceptable behavior at each of the last four schools where Mesfun has been employed. The pattern has been one of harassment, retribution, incompetency, disrespect, and destruction of staff morale.

I have received emails from teachers who worked at Britton Middle School at Morgan Hill and found articles in the Morgan Hill Times. One Morgan Hill teacher writes, “The one time I really got angry about Russom was when he used parent volunteers to spy on me in my classroom.” Another Morgan Hill teacher writes, “He used to use students to spy on teachers and report back to him! He was out to get every woman! You should talk to (teacher name not for publication) who was out on medical leave, and he tortured her…. The stories are endless. ”

The Lodi lawsuit and deposition by Mesfun speak for themselves. When Mesfun was under consideration for his job in Lodi the assistant superintendent of LUSD, Dr. Brown, met with Nishino and Mesfun at Starbucks in Morgan Hill.

A reasonable supposition is that Nishino used this opportunity to gloss over Mesfun’s inappropriate behavior and performance at Britton Middle School. This likely was one of the reasons for the statement in the law suit, “they should have known.”

I have received email from teachers with documents from Montero Middle School in Oakland which I include with this letter. Rachel Uthman, a former vice principal writes, “I left my position at Montera because Russom Mesfun, the new principal wrote the position out of the budget. This was a deliberate act of revenge. He wrote my position out of the budget because I voiced concerns about him consuming all of my work time with his countless demands for me to witness him harass and bully others throughout each work day. Mr. Mesfun took a personal grudge against anyone who questioned his unscrupulous management practices.”

Finally, you have heard from many teachers and other people of the harassment, retribution, and incompetency of Mesfun at Fillmore High School. This individual is batting four for four with unacceptable behavior.

Several times I have stood before you at school board meetings and warned you that poorly thought out changes in school policies will have negative consequences for Fillmore students. In each of those cases my predictions have come true.

I pray, for the sake of the school district, that my next prediction will not come true. I expect that, as the information about Mesfun’s previous conduct comes out, some FHS teachers and staff will begin to file lawsuits against Mesfun, Nishino, and FUSD if they have not already. The financial impact on the school district could be great. In Lodi the settlement was $250,000.

Two of the allegations in the Lodi lawsuit against the school district were that the board members should have known and they should have acted. They should have known Mesfun was unsuited for the position of principal. They should have acted when they were told of the unacceptable actions of Mesfun. In agreeing to the settlement of the lawsuit the Lodi school board in essence acknowledged these statements are true.

The same claims can be made regarding FUSD but this time with far more evidence to back them up. Mesfun’s conduct at Morgan Hill is now coming out in the open. The Lodi lawsuit documents his conduct at Christa McAuliffe Middle School. The documents I am including with this letter tell some of what he did at Montera Middle School. Finally, you have heard, both in private and in public, of Mesfun’s unacceptable performance at FHS. You must ask yourselves what a good lawyer could do with this information.

Why you have chosen not to believe people who are your friends, neighbors, and even former colleagues is a mystery. You have trusted the teachers at FHS and other FUSD schools to educate and care for your children and grandchildren. Yet now you choose to believe outsiders with bad track records and turn your back on your constituents.

Taking action to end a personnel problem of the magnitude that exists at FHS is not micro management. It is good sense and one of the reasons a school board exists is to provide citizen oversight. It is also your fiduciary duty to ensure FUSD uses all financial resources appropriately, and paying for a lawsuit is not the appropriate use of limited funds. Stop the bleeding at FHS. If you know Mesfun has chosen to leave Fillmore, let the FHS staff know so they can move on knowing there is light at the end of a very dark tunnel. If he is not leaving, do all that is necessary to ensure he will not return to FUSD next year. If and when lawsuits happen, you will at least be able to say you took action.

Sincerely yours,
Karen Ashim
Recently retired Fillmore High School Head Counselor
Teacher & librarian 1986-1998
Assistant principal 1998-2002
Counselor 2002-2013

Superior Court Legal Complaint against Mesfun

Juanita White Statement (Redacted)

OUSD Witt Response

Lodi Settlement Amount From Lodi Business Services (Redacted)

Faculty Concerns

Case Information Summary Lodi Case CV034869

More documents will be posted here as they become available.