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

George Negrete was honored as Classified Employee of the Year.
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The Teacher of the Year award went to Esperanza “Hope” Chavez, who teaches kindergarten at San Cayetano Elementary.
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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.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

During the early morning hours of February 7, 2014, the Fillmore and Western Railway Company was burglarized. The suspect got away with thousands of dollar’s worth of tools and equipment.

Video surveillance captured one suspect in the act. Fillmore detectives provided a still photo from the video to the law enforcement community seeking the identity of the suspect. Within hours, deputies from the Moorpark Police Department identified the suspect as Leonard Hatcher who has a long history of similar crimes.

It was discovered Hatcher had been arrested two days after the burglary on unrelated charges. Detectives interviewed Hatcher regarding the burglary and subsequently booked him for second degree commercial burglary.

Nature of Incident: Burglary Suspect Arrested
Report Number: 14-2986
Location: 351 Santa Clara Street, Fillmore, CA
Date & Time: February 7, 2014 / Early Morning Hours
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol / Investigations Unit
Prepared by: Detective John Fox
Media Release Date: February 19, 2014
Follow-Up Contact: Detective John Fox (805) 524-2233. John.fox@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Melissa Smith

City of Fillmore

02/18/14
Disturbance Music/Noise
400 Blk. 1st St.
Search Warrant
200 Blk. Central Ave
Abandoned Vehicle
200 Blk. Main St.
Keep the Peace
El Paso St./Rhodes Ct.
02/19/14
Fight
500 Blk. Central Ave.
Vandalism
N. C St./Old Telegraph Rd
Drunk in Public
200 Blk. Sespe Ave.
Search Warrant
900 Blk. Lewis Lane
02/20/14
ADW
200 Blk. 4th St.
Threats
400 Blk. Arborwood St.
Theft Vehicle
Oliver St./Wileman St.
Narcotics Violation
600 Blk. Clay St.
02/21/14
Vandalism
200 Blk. Rhodes Ct.
500 Blk. Central Ave.
Abandoned Vehicle
Orange Grove Ave./Santa Clara Ave.
Balden Lane/Del Valle Dr.
Hit & Run Non – Non - Injury
300 Central Ave.
Theft
600 Blk. Ventura St.
Accident – Non – Injury
A St./Ventura St.
Disturbance Music/Noise
300 Blk. Edison Lane
Threats
200 Blk. Orange Grove Ave.
Disturbance Fireworks
3rd St./A St.
02/22/14
Disturbance Party
100 Blk. Oakdale Lane
900 Blk. Blaine Ave.
100 Blk. Surrey Way
700 Blk. 4th Party
Stolen Vehicle – Recovered
100 Blk. Main St.
Shooters
Ash Cir./ Goodenough Rd.
Disturbance Party
700 Blk. 4th St.
100 Blk. Dunton Lane
Surveillance
100 Blk. Cook Dr.
Search Warrant
400 Blk. 4th St.
Disturbance Noise
River St./Surrey way
02/23/14
Theft
800 Blk. 4th St.
600 Blk. Ventura St.
Vandalism
900 4th St.
Search Warrant
700 Blk. Santa Clara St.
02/24/14
Search Warrant
700 Blk. 4th St.
Fight
4th St./A St.
Theft Identity
700 Blk. B St.
Dead Body
200 Blk. East Telegraph Rd.
Theft
500 Blk. Sespe Ave.

Karen Ashim reads her statement.
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Over seventy faculty, parents and concerned citizens attended the first half of the February 18, 2014 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting which was held in the auditorium. Most had come to support those who spoke during the Public Comments. They addressed the Board on a variety of issues from concern over lack of leadership, questionable funding, English translators and teacher salary increases. During the second half of the meeting there were two presentations on the Common Core State Standards.

Site Council Members addressed the Board stating no confidence in the Fillmore High School (FHS) Principal Russom Mesfun. There were complaints that during Site Council Meetings Mesfun showed little interest and would often leave early having stayed less than 15 minutes.

Site Councils are a group of teachers, parents, classified employees and students (at the high school level) that work with the principals to develop, review and evaluate school improvement program and school budgets. They have an obligation to make decisions that will best serve the whole school community and advise the principal on the school’s academic or school improvement plan and evaluate the school’s progress.

There were accusations of Mesfun not following legal requirements and distorting information on funding that was available while also leaving meetings early therefore not being available to discuss the budget. One of those that addressed the Board was Karen Ashim, who worked as head counselor at FHS and the Site Council for two years. Ashim stated, "Mr. Mesfun either lied or misled the Site Council" adding that Mesfun, after being asked about funding, sent an email six weeks later dated February 18, 2014 stating; "This is to ask you to get a wish list from team members for individual and/or departmental use. I would like to request the School Site Council to fund much needed materials and resources for classroom use. Please send me your items by Friday (2/28)." [See Letter to the Editor www.fillmoregazette.com/letters/february-20-2014 ]

These concerns about Mesfun are CONTINUED »

Wesley Brecheen

Wesley Brecheen, a Fillmore High School Junior, has won the 77th Annual Fillmore Lions Club Student Speaker Contest. The contest was held on Monday, February 3rd at the Scout House at the end of Sespe Avenue, as part of the Fillmore Lions regular meeting. There were around 60 people in attendance. The topic this year was "Community Service-What Does it Mean and Why Does it Matter?" There were six speakers this year; they were Rachael Pace, Wesley Brecheen, Jacob Brooks, Misael Ponce, Hope Wilcox, and Jovanny Bravo. Wesley received $75 for winning the contest and will go on to compete March 13 at the Lions Zone #8 speak-off in Camarillo at the Camarillo Boys and girls Club. If Wesley keeps winning he will have won over $21,000 in college scholarships. The judges for this year's contest were Mrs. Sue Cuttriss, a former Sespe School teacher, Dr. Cynthia King, a Cal State Channel Islands Professor, and the Rev. Dr. Harvey Guthrie a retired Episcopal Priest and Seminary Dean. Ms. Jennifer Fitzpatrick, a Fillmore High English teacher was the high school liaison and speech coach. Lion Bill Edmonds is the Lions student speaker chairman.