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.

City of Fillmore

The Mid-year Financial Report presented at the March 11, 2014 Fillmore City Council Meeting was very positive, along with news on the Sespe Creek Levy. Other items covered were purchase of an emergency generator, zoning ordinance amendment and modification to a Tentative Track Map.

Gaylynn Brien, who began as Financial Director in January, reported Fillmore is standing on solid ground financially. Expenditures have increased 15% while revenue is up 40%. This leaves a 35% increase on the positive side. This good news is specifically due to winning the Sales Tax Revenue Sharing Contract with Owens & Minor that Fillmore grappled with in court for years. On October 4, 2013 the Board of Equalization issued a payment of $13.5 million to the City with portions of it paid out to those involved in the litigation and generated $1.26 million for Fillmore.

"We're tracking positive.....our expenditures are under budget" reported Brien. Comparing the fiscal year 2012-13 revenue ($1.9 million) to fiscal year 2013-14 ($2.85 million) shows the General Fund is up $.9 million. Brien also presented five pages of accomplishments that have occurred recently throughout the City; they included new businesses in town, $500,000 Cal-Grip Grant, purchase of fire protection safety equipment, extended hours for the Planning Department, installation of new water meters and increase of maintenance of street trees along with numerous other improvements.

Kevin McSweeney addressed the Council regarding the proposed 45 houses to be built by Williams Homes. The project has been done in phases and this addresses phase 3 and 4 which contain three home styles: American Farm House, Santa Barbara and Craftsman. Changes the City asked for were complied with such as wrap around porches on the corner lot homes, 16 homes with RV storage and specific colors on some homes along with other conditions. The developers plan to start dredging for 13 models next week on Mountain Vista and Edgewood.

There was concern CONTINUED »

City of Fillmore

03/04/14
Search Warrant
400 Blk. Clay St.
400 Blk. Saratoga St.
700 Blk. Santa Clara St.
Theft
600 Blk. Ventura St.
Disturbance Music/Noise
100 Blk. Surrey Way
600 Blk. Santa Clara St.
03/05/14
Teft
500 Blk. Sespe Ave.
Drunk in Public
N. C St./ Ventura St.
Hit & Run Non – Injury
600 Blk. Central Ave.
Burglary Residential
800 Blk. Hinckley Lane
Disturbance Noise
200 Blk. East Telegraph Rd.
Keep the Peace
800 Blk. 2nd St.
03/06/14
Burglary Other CONTINUED »

Los Padres National Forest, Sespe River/Tar Creek Falls
Sheriff’s Aviation Unit – Search & Rescue

The Sheriff’s Aviation Unit conducted a rescue of 15 hikers near the Sespe River after receiving distress calls/signals from the Sespe River/Tar Creek Falls area. The hikers were airlifted to safety after the river became impassable to cross. None of the hikers were injured.

On Friday, February 28 at about 12:40 p.m., a Ventura County Sheriff’s Office helicopter was dispatched for a group of 12 hikers stranded by high waters in the Los Padres National Forest. The group was on the fourth day of a five-day backpacking trip near the Sespe River and Tar Creek Falls. The group attempted to return to their vehicles when they encountered dangerously fast moving water at the swollen Tar Creek. One of the hikers called 9-1-1 and a Sheriff’s helicopter was immediately dispatched to the area, but was unable to continue the search due to unsafe visibility in the canyon.

At about 5 p.m., a second request for a rescue helicopter was received for the same area. A separate group of three hikers activated their personal emergency satellite beacon and based on the satellite coordinates, this group was about one mile apart from the previously stranded twelve hikers.

The Sheriff’s helicopter again responded where the original 12 hikers were located on the east bank of the Sespe River, near Tar Creek. The group appeared to be in a safe location. The Sheriff’s helicopter continued north along the river where the second group of three hikers was located on the west bank of the Sespe River, near the west fork. The three men were in an unsafe location on a rock shelf above the rising river. Hoist operations were conducted to contact and lift the three men from the area. Each person was evaluated for injuries and they were flown to a safe location where County Fire Department and Sheriff’s personnel awaited them.

The Sheriff’s helicopter returned to the Sespe River in an attempt to make contact with the original 12 hikers. After locating them, a rescuer was hoisted from the helicopter to contact the group. None of the 12 was injured and they requested to remain for the evening. Based on their current location and condition, the determination was made that the group was in a safe location and the Sheriff’s helicopter returned to its home base in Camarillo.

Due to the water flow across Tar Creek, it was decided that the Sheriff’s helicopter would return the following day to recover all 12 hikers from the location. On Saturday morning, the 12 hikers were hoisted from the area by the Sheriff’s helicopter and flown to Fillmore. No medical attention was required for any of the hikers.

Both groups were prepared with the appropriate level of food, water, and personal survival gear. A cell phone and an emergency satellite beacon were key communication devices that were helpful in locating the backpackers. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit reminds all individuals who enter the backcountry that weather conditions, including waterways, can change rapidly.

Prepared by: Senior Deputy Don White

Nick Johnson, who was not in attendance, was awarded Student of the Year

George Negrete was honored as Classified Employee of the Year.
Enlarge Photo

The Teacher of the Year award went to Esperanza “Hope” Chavez, who teaches kindergarten at San Cayetano Elementary.
Enlarge Photo

The March 4, 2014 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board once again began the first half of the meeting in the auditorium due to the size of those attending. Over 70 attendees had come to address the Board and/or observe the honors presented to Teacher of the Year, Classified Employee of the Year, Administrator of the Year and Student of the Year. The second half of the meeting was conducted in the Board Room where the Annual Budget was explained along with this year’s new student testing program.

The Teacher of the Year award went to Esperanza "Hope" Chavez, who teaches kindergarten at San Cayetano Elementary. She was nominated by San Cayetano Principal Trisha Gradias. Assistant Superintendent Michael Johnson announced Chavez's name will be submitted for consideration as Ventura County Teacher of the Year by the Ventura County Office of Education.

Administrator of the Year was awarded to Sierra High School Principal Cynthia Frutos. Sierra High has received numerous rewards and honors the past school year which included the Golden Bell Award. Frutos responded to her success by stating, "It wouldn't have happened without the support of the Board and staff."

George Negrete was honored as Classified Employee of the Year and nominated by Mountain Vista Principal John Wilber. Nick Johnson, who was not in attendance, was awarded Student of the Year.

During the Public Comments, just as they did during the last board meeting, many FUSD teachers addressed the Board concerning salary increases. Mountain Vista Elementary Teacher Sandy Butts addressed the Board stating, ".....the negotiating process is not working. At the last board meeting members described dates that the FUSD team had rescheduled, was unprepared to negotiate, or did not provide requested specific information. These delays continue....Are you aware that this is a repeated pattern of what occurred in Morgan Hill under (FUSD Supervisor) Dr. Nishino's leadership?" Butts provided several newspaper articles regarding prior problems at school districts, including Morgan Hill, under Nashino's supervision. Donna Wojciechowski, who has taught for 23 years and is now a 4th grade teacher at Rio Vista Elementary, spoke to the Board adding, "There was a time when teachers were compensated for making the effort to become bilingual, to the tune of $1,500 per year. There was a time when 20, 25, 30-plus years of service were recognized and celebrated, but these things have fallen by the wayside." San Cayetano 3rd Grade Teacher Tammy Ferguson addressed the salary increase stating, "Although we are not at the bottom, we are not at the top."

Rebecca Ruskin, a senior member on CONTINUED »

City of Fillmore

02/25/14
Search Warrant
700 Blk. 4th St.
700 Blk. Del Valle Dr.
400 Blk. Blaine Ave
400 Blk. Saratoga
Alarm Audible Residence
500 Blk. Kensington Dr.
Vandalism
300 Blk. Main St.
Drunk in Public
200 Blk. Sespe Ave.
Hit & Run Non – Injury
400 Blk. B St.
Disturbance Party
500 Blk. Kensington Dr.
02/06/14
Warrant Arrest CONTINUED »

The Ventura County Transportation Commission is seeking to shut down the Fillmore & Western Railway due to a lease dispute. The Commission has given the railway until the first week of March to halt operations. Dave Wilkerson, the railroad’s president, claims the lease is still valid. The VCTC claims the railroad has not fulfilled its maintenance obligations. The VCTC owns the rail corridor which runs 32 miles from Ventura to the Los Angeles County line. Wilkerson hopes to reach an equitable compromise to assure that the trains continue to run. The train is said to bring in up to 50,000 tourists per year. A more complete up-date will follow next week.