Question #2: What solutions do you propose to deal with shrinking educational budgets, shortfalls and salary issues?

November 2nd you will be able to vote for THREE candidates

Dave Wilde: If you are following how districts around the nation, state, and county are solving the growing budget issues it becomes obvious that all are using similar solutions. The most widely used are; reducing the length of the school year, increasing class size, and reduction of staff. There are no magic ideas to solve this problem. Until officials in government place a higher priority on public education this problem will continue. Our country depends on the education of our young people. It is what will allow us to continue to be the strongest in the world. With that in mind you take what ever money is available and what you can get and continue in the effort to provide the best possible education you can. Schools do produce a product and that product is young people who are prepared to lead fulfilling and successful lives. If moving monies around and adjustments in the school budget do not address the problems then cuts in staff may be necessary. It is then we must keep instruction at the highest priority.

Salaries were also part of this question. During recent budget short falls I have not heard one comment from a certificated or classified staff member concerning an increase in salary. They are all aware of the problems and working with the district to deal with this budget crisis. Salaries are important. Higher salaries allows the district and school sites to find the best staff they can to contribute to the education of our Fillmore students.

Lucy Rangel: Some of my proposed solutions to this week’s question are as follow:
1. Stop creating new management or administrative positions.
2. If a new position is needed, it should be for a grant writer whose major responsibility would be to find monies available for teacher resources and educational programs.
3. Stop funds from being spent on attorneys and consultants. We have functioned without them in the past by showing mutual respect for one another and by acting in good faith.
4. We need to focus on maintaining our ADA (average daily attendance). We do this by working with and having better communication with parents especially with those whose children are being suspended and with parents who are removing their children from our district. Irregular attendance affects the lottery money and Special Education funds we receive. Maintaining our enrollment generates more revenue for our district.
5. Everyone should know that teachers are given about $100 for classroom supplies for the entire year. They can’t do their best without supplies. Let’s start a campaign to help them!
6. Regarding salary issues, it is important to have a trusting and working relationship with certificated, classified, confidential, and management employees. It is important that all groups be a part of the solution and share in any further cuts that may need to happen.
All aspects of society are dealing with the issue of doing more with less money. In these difficult times I know that our community can come together as a “team” for our most valuable asset – our children!

Tony Prado: Regarding school Board Question #2:
In these tough economic times a school board needs to operate at its best. I believe I can contribute in building and supporting an effective school board that will keep it efforts focused on student learning. As a Board member I believe it is important to develop strategic goal planning. Working with other Board members, the Superintendent, and his staff, the board needs to identify budget priorities. Then the Board needs to develop appropriate processes for budget development and be able to adopt and if necessary, as it usually is in these tough economic times, revise the budget.

Every Board member has the responsibility to listen and gather input from teachers, classified employees, and parents regarding the finances of the district. Board members need to look at what other districts are doing and see how it might help our district. School districts across the state and the nation are experiencing educational budget cuts. When the economy recovers it is essential to restore the school days and the salaries that were reduced.

The economy in California is in bad shape. The revenue school districts receive is less every year. This school year will be the same. There is no simple or easy solution. But as a Board member I will focus the available resources in a manner least impacting our students.

As a Board member I will help establish board policy, not administer. I will be one of 5 Board members working to build a team and providing leadership.

Kim Rivers: With the cuts our District has experienced serious changes need to be made in FUSD. The Board needs to examine all costs and examine what benefit our students actually receive from those expenses. First, I would examine all consulting fees, and eliminate all ineffective expenses in that area. How much is being spent on paying consultants when that work should be done by our current administration? Then we would need to analyze and evaluate all administrative pay packages (ALL of them). Administrator compensation plans have gone up every year without any evaluation of their affect on the level of school performance. How can we give raises to administrators when our schools are failing the state minimum standards year after year? This needs to change. Salary increases for administration must be tied to improvement in our schools. If barely 30% of our students in all categories are proficient (meeting the minimum standards) the Superintendent’s contract renewal clauses should reflect this dismal performance.

Most (or as) importantly, the District must stop cutting the salaries, supply budgets and hours of our dedicated teachers and hard working classified employees. Every aspect of our economy, culture and society depends on our children receiving the best education WE can provide. Education is the key to OUR future. Therefore, our Community should not accept anything less than excellence. www.votekimrivers.com

Mark Austin: California is struggling with budget issues that have resulted in less money being provided to the Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD). So the existing FUSD school board decided what reductions to make as part of the 2010-2011 Annual Budget. Well the school board decided that the best way to balance the budget was to reduce a teacher’s ability to provide a quality education. In addition, the school board reduced important student time in the classroom. Expenses were reduced by – reducing the work year for teachers (5-day reduction in student instruction) – increasing classroom size - and reducing health care benefits for employees.
While this may not be a popular answer to some people, the school board should deal with future shrinking budgets and shortfalls by carefully examining the number of upper management and administration staff positions in the FUSD. The school board should examine the existing salaries and capabilities of each upper management and administrative position. These positions currently account for approximately $1.9 million in general fund expenditures. Since budget reductions have already been done at the teacher and student levels, common sense would dictate, that the next round of budget reductions would come at these levels. To reduce the budget, there would need to be either salary reductions and/or the elimination of some positions. In addition, the salary levels for all upper management and administrative staff should be frozen with no cost of living adjustments (COLA) until the economy has recovered.

Please visit my website at http://www.votemarkaustin.com

Left, Deputy Leo Vazquez with Captain Tim Hagel (right) review the benefits of the SRO during Tuesday night’s meeting.
Enlarge Photo

On Tuesday, September 7, 2010 the Fillmore School Board of Trustees met for a regularly scheduled meeting at their Boardroom in Fillmore. All Board members were in attendance and it was a full agenda.

Board President Tony Prado began the meeting by introducing and welcoming the new student representative Sean Chandler, a senior at Fillmore High School who holds the position of Speaker of the House for the student body. Chandler gave a summary of the make up of the student body government and of the recent events kicking off the school year, including the recent Flashes football victory over Malibu with an impressive score of 53 to zero.

Public comment was short and uneventful as no one from the public chose to address the Board on any topic. Moving on Prado announced the ten-day notice being given of a Public Hearing for the “Sufficiency of Textbooks and Instructional Materials for the 2010-2011 School Year and the Provision of Standards Aligned Instructional Materials”. The public hearing will take place at the next regular Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 21, 2010. The hearing will also cover the “Instructional Materials for the Structured English Immersion Program” for this year. This hearing allows the public to comment on the whether there are enough supplies and textbooks for each student, and whether they are aligned with the State standards.

As the Board reviewed written communication received, the first item discussed was a letter from the Ventura County Office of Education. Prado described the letter as saying, “We are OK.” Assistant Superintendent Mike Bush clarified that with the letter “they do caution that we are deficit spending”. Bush indicates that this was the plan of FUSD, but the VCOE is warning against “prolonged deficit spending”. Next item was a letter sent to all California School Districts from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Prado summarized the letter as pertaining to issues involving “meetings and being transparent in all aspects of our meetings”. In fact the letter, available online in a press release from the Governors Office states “there is still no transparent fiscal information easily available to parents who want to see how their school districts and schools are spending their tax dollars. We should be especially transparent in showing where districts spend their money: how much is spent on district administration and at each school site, and how much makes its way into the classroom. Parents deserve to know if the school district their child is attending shares their funding priorities.” the letter goes on “and this level of transparency will hopefully reinforce their confidence that their local school board is making the wisest decisions possible for their children’s education.”

During Board reports, CONTINUED »

Over the next nine (9) weeks the Gazette will be printing one question a week, which has been given to each of five Fillmore City Council candidates. They have been asked to provide one answer, 250 words or less.

Question #1: How will your inclusion make this a better city council? What personal, business or government experiences qualify you to be a good council candidate?

Patti Walker: With over 30 years experience as a legal assistant and para legal, I have a strong background in research that enables me to quickly review and understand a large amount of information. Of those 30 plus years, I was self-employed for 27, giving me a firm grasp of business needs and functions.

I have been a council member for eight years and am aware and informed on the various issues that Fillmore is facing - budget constraints, economic development challenges, storm water permitting, and FEMA levee certification, for instance. I have prided myself on striving to look for solutions and not dwell on the problem. I work hard to base my decisions on staff reports, research, and testimony at the meetings. I weigh the information keeping in mind what is best for Fillmore as a whole.

I have been a long-time volunteer in the community - First United Methodist Church, Soroptimist International, Fillmore, Friends of the Fillmore Library, Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau, AYSO, and Fillmore Planning Commission.

I am the current Council representative to Ventura Regional Sanitation District, Ventura County Transportation Commission, Vista 126, SB 375 Sustainable Ventura County Compact, Economic Development Collaborative - Ventura County, Film Commission, and Piru Fillmore Veterans Memorial Board. On many of these commissions I hold various seats on sub-committees that directly affect the citizens of Fillmore.

Brian Sipes: I will make the Fillmore City Council better by being able to conduct City business on day one of my term. I have attended more City Council meetings than any other candidate, other than Mayor Patti Walker. I have been consistently more engaged in the problems facing Fillmore and have a better understanding of the issues.

I am qualified to be a good City Council candidate for various reasons. I am a Fillmore native and a co-owner of a small local business. I feel it's important that the Fillmore City Council have representation from a business oriented individual that has the ability to provide solutions for both citizens and the business community.

Being a professional in the field of finance, I have the analytical skills that are needed, so responsible decisions can be made. For years, much of my time has been devoted to City Council meetings as well as subcommittee meetings. I've educated myself so that I am up to speed on all City issues. I am also a long time proactive community volunteer, a graduate of the "Ventura County Citizens Planning Academy", a past Board of Director for the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce (2003-2005), and a local small business owner. I have the skills, commitment and energy to be an effective City Council member.

David Lugo: My name is David Lugo and as a city council member I feel that I can get fellow city council members to think of new ways to reduce cost in the city of Fillmore rather than raising fees and taxing our residents. Other solutions are out there; it may take a fresh set of eyes to find them, I feel I’m that set of eyes. I have been with the Parks and Recreation committee for over 3 years as a commissioner and the Little League President for 4 years. With that I feel I can be a great city council member for the resident of Fillmore.

Over the next nine (9) weeks the Gazette will be printing one question a week, which has been given to each Fillmore School Board candidate. They have been asked to provide one answer, 250 words or less.

Question #1: How will you make this a better school board? What personal, business or government experiences qualify you to be on the school board?

Mark Austin: I would make the board better by providing a fresh perspective to the District. For example, my belief is that the District should be concentrating more on the vision and goals of the District. That is to focus on making the school system better. I believe this is missing with the existing board and the status quo is the mode of operation.

My local government experience has provided me with decision making skills needed to be a board member. While serving on the Fillmore Planning Commission for the past eleven years, I have been placed in the position of making difficult decisions that affect the community. I have made decisions that required independent judgment and the ability to listen carefully to the public, to ask clear questions, and to decide issues fairly. These decisions have required that I consider the pros and cons of each decision and do what I believe to be in the best interest of the community. This experience will enable me to act in the best interest of the parents and children.

My business experience has provided me with leadership skills needed to be a board member. I handle the daily operations of my firm. This includes assisting the company management team to ensure that goals are met and with long-term strategic planning. This is the role of a board member in a nutshell — to attend to the daily details while carrying out the vision of the District: that of providing a quality education.

Tony Prado: I have a commitment to public education, and I want to contribute to this community. I bring experience in public education and an awareness of the long-range issues of education in our country, state, and in Fillmore. Being a board member is not dealing with a single issue but looking at the whole picture, understanding what students, teachers, classified, and administrators need to make the district successful. Most of all, I consider myself to be a good team player and team leader.

My history and experience in Fillmore makes me the most qualified candidate for the School Board. I have a B.A. in History from California State University, Northridge, an M.S. in Education from the University of Southern California and I am a retired teacher/coach from Moorpark High School. In the 1980's and 1990's, I was chairman of the San Cayetano, Sespe, and Fillmore High School site councils and chairman of the District Advisory Committee. Also, I served 4 years on the Parks and Recreation commission ( 2 years as chairman ) and served as President of Fillmore Little League for 3 years. From 1995-2003, I had the privilege to be elected to the Fillmore Unified School District Board of Trustsee's. I was again fortunate to be elected to the Board in 2006.

All children in the Fillmore/Piru community have an opportunity to receive a good education. My goal is to continue this opportunity, to adjust, adapt and be flexible, to be accessible, open and compassionate to all people.

Lucy Rangel: I will make this a better school board by stressing the importance of “teamwork.” If we are to achieve our goals, and face more budget cuts, we must unite together in a professional, respectful manner. If we are to move forward in a positive way, we must have input from all groups concerned in the education of our children. Our district has great students, a hard-working dedicated staff, and parents who want the best for their children. We need our leaders to step up and direct everyone in a positive, motivating manner, and understand that we are all here for one thing—to give our youth the best education possible.

I feel I am qualified to be on the school board because I have personally seen our district through the eyes of a student, parent, teacher, and a school leader. As a student, I attended and am a proud graduate of Fillmore High. As a parent, my late husband, Jim, and I raised five children, Kristen, Eric, Jason, Amy and Maria. All of them received an excellent education here in Fillmore. Now I have two grandchildren in our school system. As a teacher of 37 years, I am familiar with our programs and curriculum both at the elementary and secondary levels. Finally, as a leader in our schools, I have coached, been an ASB advisor, a GATE and Mentor teacher, a Sixth Grade chairperson, a member of numerous committees, and I also had some experience as an assistant principal.

Kimberly Rivers: I was inspired to run after watching several months of the School Board showing a general lack of respect to parents, teachers and those community members who came before the Board with questions, information and concerns. I was shocked to hear the Board defend the current state of the schools as “excellent”. It is clear to me that our School Board needs to take the leadership role that the law mandates in guiding the District in a new direction.

When elected I will compel the Board to work with parents, community members, teachers, staff, County and State experts to find solutions that work. In making decisions I will ask, and demand that my fellow Board members ask, “Is this in the best interests of all our students?” We must keep our resources in the classroom.

I feel that both my professional and personal history provide me with the tools, as well as the inquisitive, independent and open mind needed to work in and turn around the culture of our District. As a parent, non-profit Board president and someone who professionally supports families I feel comfortable and confident in listening and getting to the heart of the issue in order to find an idea that works. I know the importance of being in touch with what is happening in education statewide in order to bring cutting edge programs and opportunity to ALL of our students. Parents should feel confident that their children have every possible opportunity at academic success. www.votekimrivers.com.

Dave Wilde: Schools are all about providing the best instruction for our students. We must make every effort to do what you can to support that goal. To support that goal we must insure that we do all we can to provide teachers with the materials and knowledge to help them become successful educating their students. Support staff must be in place to assist both students and teachers at all times. Facilities, both indoors and outdoors, must be in top shape to provide the right learning environment for our students. That includes the school site, classrooms and co-curricular locations.

I have 37 years of classroom experience, mostly in the area of high school science. In addition to being a classroom instructor I have served in many other roles. I have been in charge of several extracurricular programs. I have been the student government adviser, head softball coach, head football coach, head golf coach, and athletic director. I was one of two PAR teachers for four years. That program was in place to assist first year teachers to Fillmore and to provide data which a panel used to retain or let teachers go. That program was in place to insure we did what we could to provide the best instructors for our children. I have also been part of the Ventura County Office of Education's BTSA program which assists new teacher in completing steps to secure their California Clear Teaching Credential. I am currently in my seventh year in that position.

School Resource Officer Leo Vazquez

Due to a cost sharing agreement Fillmore Unified School District will continue to have a School Resource Office (SRO) on campus during the school day. Officer Leo Vasquez will serve as the SRO. His salary and costs associated with having an SRO on campus will be split up between the District, the City of Fillmore and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. FUSD and the City each will be contributing $75,000 toward the annual costs and salary for the SRO. Captain Tim Hagel confirmed that the Sheriff’s office would be contributing $39,100 plus over $6,000 annually towards the cost of maintaining the police car. Hagel pointed out that the total cost associated with the SRO includes costs over and above the officer’s salary “such as liability insurance, workman comp etc. His salary is far-less than that and no where in the ballpark of the total costs.”

When asked about where Vasquez will be based, District Superintendent Jeff Sweeney responded that he expects him to use the office on the high school campus as previous SRO’s have, but that he will go to any campus when needed. Sweeney went on to comment “The SRO responds to the needs of FUSD. That is his assignment. I know he is planning on being a presence at every campus, visiting every campus every week.”

When asked about the petition presented to the School Board in May 2010 which was signed by 181 parents supporting the position that the money spent on the SRO would be better spent on educational needs Sweeney responded “There were several conversations about the SRO and his value to the District over the past two years. The Board decided that it was in the District's best interest to maintain the safety of our students and staff, therefore the continued funding of the position.”

Hagel provided information stating that there were 269 arrests on school campuses in FUSD in 2009. Hagel commented that this is the “highest arrest rate county wide” for SRO positions. And Hagel went on to state “These statistics represent that the SRO makes more arrests per year on campus than any other police officer makes in neighborhoods in town.” In the City of Fillmore “gang membership hovers at about 150” with many school age members, and some still attending Fillmore Middle School, Fillmore High School and Sierra High School, reported Hagel. The SRO’s specifice duties range from tracking all gang members who attend school and conducting home visits of truant students and bring them back to school to supervising dances, and other school events along with administering breath tests for marijuana use and other controlled substances. In addition Hagel believes the SRO is a clear deterrent to fighting.

Officer Vasquez is surely comfortable working with and around young people as he also serves as the youth advisor for the Boys and Girls Youth Explorers and is sure to be a vital part of maintaining the safest possible environment at Fillmore area schools.

“This is an intractable conflict, there is no solution. War is coming. Roni Shaked, Commander (Ret.) of Shin Bet (Israel’s Internal Security Services)

In 1400 years there has been no inter-Arab peace, Sunni and Shiite Muslims have been at war with each other. If they cannot achieve peace with each other, what makes the world believe they can negotiate and achieve peace with others.

On June 6th, 2010, the leadership of the terrorist group Hamas publicly declared, “It is time to launch (Suicide) bombers into Israel.” In 1993 Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin entered into the Oslo Accords. Rabin formally recognized the PLO as “the representative of the Palestinian people,” Arafat officially recognized “the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and security” and renounced “the use of terrorism and other acts of violence.” The Oslo Accords led to the formation of the Palestinian Authority. Hamas leaders opposed the peace agreement; their reasons included the risk that a peace accord might actually take hold in the region. A peaceful coexistence would mean the end of Hamas. From Hamas’ point of view, their organization could not thrive in a peaceful atmosphere; they had a stake in the continuation of conflict. So the attacks on Israel continued. Ultimately Hamas refused to participate in the peace process. At this point Hamas grew into a full-blown terrorist organization. In present day Gaza, Hamas leadership was voted in to control the area, and the attacks continue.

In June of this year I had the honor of meeting the most courageous and dedicated man I have known. To this day his life and the lives of his family are in danger from Muslim extremists. This is his story.

Aashif (not his real name) is a Palestinian Muslim. He was born in Hebron in the early 1950’s. As a young man he witnessed a fellow Muslim throw a hand grenade into a Muslim holy site in Hebron. Aashif said, as he witnessed this attack he thought to himself that the hand grenade tossed by a fellow Muslim could have killed his mother, brother, other family members and friends who were visiting the holy site. That day Aashif made the decision to become a Collaborator.

A Collaborator is an undercover Palestinian Agent, who works with Shin Bet (Israeli Internal Security Services) to infiltrate the Palestinian terrorist cells. Aashif stated his decision came from the heart, and not for any other reason. The dedication he displayed over the next 25 years proved he was a man of his word. He helped stop numerous terrorist attacks that would have killed innocent Israeli’s and Muslims alike.

Much like Confidential Informants assists law enforcement in infiltrating drug dealing and organized crime operations, Aashif went into Gaza, slowly introduced himself to terrorist leadership, and eventually became trusted as a fellow terrorist by the terrorist leadership.

But this did not come without a very deep cost. When Hamas found out Aashif was a Collaborator, they placed a bomb outside of his home in Hebron, and attempted to kidnap his 7 year old son. Palestinian terrorist kidnapped Aashif’s brother, tortured him, and then cut out his internal organs and threw his mutilated body into the street as a warning to other Collaborators.

Aashif’s courage and dedication stopped so many attacks and disrupted the Palestinian terrorists operations to such a high degree, that in 1997 PLO terrorist leader Yasser Arafat sent Aashif a hand written letter asking Aashif to work with the terrorist group PLO.

Aashif became so trusted and respected throughout his career as a Collaborator, that the Israeli government granted he and his family Israeli citizenship, and gave Aashif the same pension as a Shin Bet agent. Aashif and his Shin Bet handler have created such a trusted relationship over a 25 year career that Aashif named one of his sons after his Shin Bet handler, and Aashif celebrates holidays at the home of his Shin Bet handler’s family.
Aashif told me that despite all the hardships his work as a Collaborator has caused he and his family, he would not hesitate to do the same thing again, and his wife and children feel the same way.

Aashif said he is proud to be a Muslim, and proud to be a Muslim who fights against fanatical Muslim terrorists. He stated to me, “any Muslim can interpret the Quran in his own way, and this will result in a never ending group of Radical Muslims who are determined to see a world dominated by Islam and Sharia Law.”

Mark Trimble is a retired Law Enforcement Operations/Special Operations Commander. He has spent 10 years researching and studying Radical Islam and Terrorism. He has worked as an Independent Security Contractor during which time he has trained with and interviewed members of the United States Army Special Operations Forces who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Trimble also spent time in the following locations: The West Bank; Gaza; Ofer Military Base- For the observation of the murder trial of two Hamas terrorists; Kalkilia- The Arab town which is one of the main terrorists infiltration routes into Israel; Israeli Forward Military Base at the Lebanese Border (area of the terrorist group Hezbollah’s headquarters); IDF tank unit on the Syrian border; Sderot, Israel. A city on the edge of Gaza, which is under constant mortar attacks by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza.

Beware; a home was burglarized on the 1100 Block of Riverside Ave., Bardsdale, on Tuesday, August 31st, between 11AM and noon. Apparently, a door was kicked in and items taken included a television, computer, cash, jewelry, camera, etc. Landscaping equipment was also stolen. The thieves broke into a garaged truck and stole a stereo also. Any information regarding the burglary can be called into the Fillmore Police Station, 524-2233.

Sergeant Paul Higgason and Sergeant Frank Underlin at the race start.
Enlarge Photo

Enlarge Photo

I learned a lot about myself and my country while running the great Siberian marathon in Russia.

Cops Running For Charity is our local grass roots non profit organization that uses Marathons, Ultra Marathons and continental races to raise money for such needy organizations as Juvenile Diabetes Research, ALS, Make A Wish and Ventura County Hospice. We have raised nearly $150,000 in the past 6 years and this year we raised almost $40,000.

The six of us give 100% of raised money to the people who need it right here in Ventura County.

Simply put, we are a charity of 6 Sheriff's Deputies that gives to local charities that must benefit children right here in the community we serve. Our Leader and Chief Fundraiser is prior Fillmore Police Chief Randy Pentis. Randy is our driving force and insist that we have no costly office staff, public relation firms, heck we don't even have a website. We keep it that way and grassroots so we can give every penny we collect back to the children.

What about the Siberian race?

For starters, let’s look at the country. Democracy is alive and well in Russia, but it is being tainted by high levels of crime, corruption and thugs. However, signs of increased "Joe the Plummer" kind of freedom is everywhere, Any young 20-Something Russian can log on to M T.V, Facebook, Google and even our online versions of our Fillmore papers. They can walk into a McDonalds and drive in their Ford Fusion. The problem is it is still a land without a middle class, the have and have nots. Russians tend to want to immigrate to America but they are economically challenged by an annual income rarely exceeding $8,000 a year.

Now you have a quick primer on CONTINUED »