To the Editor:
I’m writing in support of the Fillmore teachers as they struggle to reach a salary settlement with the school district. I retired from the district just before the recession but I’ve been aware of how the staff helped the district get through those hard times through mandatory furlough days and slow increases in class size. The teachers were working harder and making less. Many times I thought to myself that I’d retired at the right time! In fact, hard as it is to believe, I recall the superintendent in my time, Mario Contini, starting a new school year (2002?) with the announcement that our teachers were falling behind other districts and we had to make an all out effort to move our salary schedule to at least the middle of the pack if we were to remain competitive. So he tightened the budget in other areas to put that money into teachers’ salaries.
We felt valued and had a renewed sense of pride in our profession.
California is in a much better position as the recession has receded and Proposition 30 has pumped more money into our schools. We’re not completely recovered but have enough money to begin to address a lot of issues that have been simmering under the surface. It’s time to say thank you to those who haven’t had a decent raise since I’m not sure when - only a gradual slippage backwards. I recognize the school board’s responsibility to adequately fund many competing interests in the overall functioning of our educational system. However, I also know that employees cannot be our lowest priority as they are the heart of a quality education for our children.
Sincerely,
Susan M. Cuttriss

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To the Editor:
I would like to take the opportunity to thank all of those who contributed to the success of Fillmore High School's eighteenth annual arts show “Facets: the many faces of art”. It takes a lot of people and a lot of hard work, dedication and talent to coordinate an event such as this. Thank you to Fillmore Lions Club, Fillmore Women’s Service Club, Soroptomist International of Fillmore, and Fillmore Rotary Club for your donations which help to make this event possible. Thank you to Lucy for being a patron of this event. Thank you to Mr. Ito, Mrs. Dabbs and Ms. Morielli for your support of this event… To the staff and teachers at FHS who supported the student’s efforts and allowed students to take part in hanging the show…To the custodial staff Baldo, Sam, Jose and Johnny- thanks for your help. Thank you to Max and Susan Pina .Thank you to the students who stayed late to break down the show and clean up after the event. I am so appreciative of your help.
Special thanks to Greg Godfrey and the fantastic members of the Fillmore High School Concert Band and Jazz Band who played at the event, members of the chorus who sang and the Fillmore High School Drum Line- the musical concert helped to make the evening a resounding success….To Josh Overton and the drama department for their outstanding performances… and to Ms. Juarez and the Ballet Folklorico dancers-your participation brought added excitement to the show. Thank you to the parents and the community who attended the show and helped to make this a special night for the students. Last, but not least, to all the student artists, dancers, actors, and musicians who put in numerous hours preparing for this event, hosting and cleaning up after a long day and night- especially my Art students and former students who came back to help- thank you- without you there couldn't be a show. I am very proud of all of you.
Rosalind Mitzenmacher
Fillmore High School
Visual & Performing Arts Department