Dinner 4pm – 6pm
Includes: Carnitas or Barbacoa, rice, beans, roll and a drink. For tickets please contact Maria Villa 521-1644 or Susan Jolley 524-2379. Tickets are $10 Dinner Catered by: El Pescador Restaurant.

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008

5:15 P.M. – BOARD STUDY SESSION

6:00 P.M. - REGULAR MEETING
627 SESPE AVENUE, FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA
The public may review or request a copy of support materials provided to the Board Members where the word materials appears.

5:15 p.m.

I. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

II. ROLL CALL CONTINUED »

San Cayetano Principal, Jan Marholin shows school librarian Michelle Anderson the signature artifacts that will have a permanent home in the San Cayetano library. The AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) 2008 Crocs Tour made a weekend stop September 6th and 7th in Santa Barbara for the Santa Barbara Open. The volleyball players on tour included the gold medal winners from Bejing. During Sunday afternoon, Marholin was able to have the Olympic Gold Medal Beach Volleyball Team of Kerri Walsh and Misty May Treanor sign both a volleyball and the front page of a Los Angeles Times Newspaper showing them celebrating their final Olympic win. The volleyball will be encased and the newspaper will be framed. What an inspiration for our students! Marholin hopes to keep adding to this collection of artifacts that will inspire our students.

Natalie Garnica
Student, Fillmore High School

The first week at Fillmore High School flew by – the students here have been experiencing a number of positive new changes. We have a new principle, Mr. Wilber, as well as a new assistant principle, Mrs. Green. All of the dirt construction zones from last year have a fresh carpet of green grass, the lunch tables have been freshly painted (thanks to the class of 2009), and the new football stadium held its first football game last Friday. All of these improvements gave the school a clean start this year.

The high school also has enrolled several foreign exchange students. All of them will graduate with the class of 2009, but some of them will continue their schooling once they return home next summer. The four students are from all over the world – Germany, China, Switzerland, and the Philippines. As we have in the past, the students of FHS hope to give them a wonderful American experience.

All of our fall sports have started up – both football teams won their first games against Channel Islands, and they will have another home game this Friday against Village Christian. The girls’ volleyball team will have their first match against Frazier Mountain this Thursday. Be sure to support our fall sports – they appreciate it.

For more information, call the student store at 524-8491.

Ventura County Office of Education

Mr. Stanley C. Mantooth is pleased to announce that, as a result of his recent appointment as Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, the following key administrators have been appointed to new assignments within the Ventura County Office of Education.

Mr. Ken Prosser, Executive Director of School Business and Advisory Services (SBAS), has been appointed to fill Mr. Mantooth’s former position as Associate Superintendent, Fiscal and Administrative Services; and Paula Driscoll, Director of Fiscal Oversight and Accountability will assume Mr. Prosser’s assignment as Executive Director of SBAS. These appointments were effective September 8, 2008. “With these two actions, I am confident that the Ventura County Office of Education will be able to preserve the continuity of business and administrative services provided to students, staff, and all other applicable constituencies in Ventura County,” said Mr. Mantooth.

Ken Prosser has worked for the Ventura County Office of Education for 25 years, 23 of which were as the Executive Director of the School Business and Advisory Services department. As part of his duties, Ken also directed the Information Technology Services department from 1994 to 2001.

Ken has served in the United States Coast Guard and is a graduate of the California State University, Northridge with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration. Ken is also a Certified Public Accountant and has been recognized as a Certified Chief Business Official by the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO).

Ken has served on a number of school business committees, including acting as chairperson of the CASBO Southern Section Management Information Systems committee, and the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association School Financial Services subcommittee.

Ken has presented at numerous conferences and workshops hosted by CASBO, the Association of California School Administrators, and the California Educational Technology Professionals Association. He also teaches the business module of the AB-430 Principals Training Program here in Ventura County. Ken is a California native and resides in Ventura with his wife and daughter.

Paula Driscoll’s 18-year career in education finance includes service as a Chief Accountant with the Conejo Valley Unified School District and as the Executive Director of Business and Administrative Services for the Santa Paula Union High School District. Paula is currently the Director of Fiscal Oversight and Accountability for the Ventura County Office of Education, where she is active in the review and oversight of school district finances. Paula is an active member of CASBO, where she currently serves as the State Chair of the Financial Services Research and Development Committee while also serving on CASBO’s Council on Professional Development.

She has also held positions in CASBO as their Ventura / Santa Barbara Counties Sub-Section Chair and as the Southern Section Financial Services Research and Development Committee Chair.

Paula earned her Bachelors degree in Business Administration from California Lutheran College and holds the distinction of being a CASBO Certified Chief Business Official since 1999.

Paula has lived in Ventura County for 28 years and resides with her husband in Moorpark.

Mr. Mantooth stated that, “Both Ken and Paula are individuals of the highest integrity, and are committed to preserving the fiscal health of our schools as well as helping ensure that adequate resources and high quality educational environments are provided for the students we serve. We welcome them to this new chapter in their respective careers!”

Ventura County Office of Education

Here are the highlights: (See attached PDF file for all charts mentioned in this report)

1. VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS 31 POINTS HIGHER THAN STATE IN MEDIAN API GROWTH [Chart 1]

2. THE MEDIAN GROWTH API SCORE OF 785 FOR VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOLS HAS RISEN 61 POINTS OVER WHAT IT WAS IN 2000. [Chart 1]

3. 86% OF VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS MADE API GROWTH

4. 83% OF ALL UNIFIED AND HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN VENTURA COUNTY MET THEIR FEDERAL GRADUATION RATE TARGET

5. 55% OF VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOLS MET THE FEDERAL ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS REQUIREMENT

“There is continued reason to be proud of our Ventura County students, teachers, administrators, and parents who are working together to continuously support improved student achievement,” stated County Superintendent of Schools, Stan Mantooth.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE INDEX (API) – [Chart 1]
The Academic Performance Index (API) is the cornerstone of California’s Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999. The API is a numeric index that measures the academic performance and growth of schools. The API is an important part of the federal measure of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) because it shows academic growth over time. Since 2000, the median API for Ventura County has shown a steady increase, rising 61 points to 785. At the present time, 76% of all schools have an API above 700, 43% have an API above the State target of 800, including 19 schools that have a 900 API or higher. CONTINUED »

Mrs. Walker's 4th grade students working with robotics.
Enlarge Photo

Mrs. Walker's 4th grade students working with robotics.
Enlarge Photo

Most 4th and 5th grade students will have an opportunity to work with robotics this year. The students will need to use various math skills including reasoning and deduction in order to program the computer to make the robots move certain directions and pick up items. Upper grade teachers will rotate teaching their students in the robotics lab (Which is also the Waterford lab). In early 2009 two robotics teams will be chosen to compete at Jet Propulsion Laborotory with other NASA Explorer Schools. The robotics were purchased with NASA funds.

At the first “Meet and Greet” of the Year, over 40 parents gathered this past Friday morning in the emerging Parent Center on the middle school campus. Principal Todd Schieferle and Assistant Principal Tricia Godfrey met and greeted parents with coffee and pan dulce along with the middle school counselors Dena Wyand and Ronda Reyes-Deutsch and Parent Liaison-Martha Quiroz. One parent commented, “This year’s discipline is stricter and our children feel safer.” Fillmore Middle School will host a monthly “Meet and Greet” the last Friday of each month. Working together, we are the change…

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2008

5:15 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
6:00 P.M. - REGULAR MEETING
627 SESPE AVENUE, FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA

The public may review or request a copy of support materials provided to the Board Members where the word materials appears.

5:15 p.m.

I. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

II. ROLL CALL

III. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NONAGENDA ITEMS, PETITIONS
This is the time and place to address the Board. State law prohibits the Board from acting on issues not included on the agenda; however, requests may be made for discussion of specific topics at subsequent meetings. CONTINUED »

All of us at Piru School Principal Richard Durborow, Teachers, Staff, The Children, dedicated Parents and especially the dedicated Friends of Piru School Board Members Maria Villa, Katharine Warring Ponce, Patty Alonzo, Laura Ortega, Jolene Walsh, J"nell Campos, Charo Gerlach &Wendy Monroe again would like to say Thank You so much. All of you remarkable, kind and caring people who gave any monetary donations to our organization in the 2007/2008 school year. We are so over appreciative and very grateful. With the high cost of expenses you all were able to give and support us. This enabled us to give more to the children at Piru School. It was so wonderful and yet rewarding.

Laura Orozco and William Alferez, both of Fillmore, have been awarded 2008/09 California Grocers Association Educational Foundation's Super A Foods Scholarships in the amount of $2,000.
Laura will attend University of California: San Diego this fall and major in Engineering. Her accomplishments include being the class valedictorian and a California Scholarship Federation member. William will attend California State University: Northridge this fall and major in Finance.
Annual Foundation scholarships are awarded to college students who are either employees or dependents of employees of CGA member companies, such as Super A Foods.
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit, evidence of outstanding character and leadership potential. Applicants must be planning to enroll as full-time college students in the fall of 2008 at an accredited, nonprofit college or university in the United States.
This year, the CGA Educational Foundation awarded 260 scholarships, totaling a record $314,000.
"We are proud to award college scholarships to these deserving students," said CGAEF President Ronald Fong. "We are encouraged by their desire, drive and determination to obtain a higher education and are grateful to assist in that cause."
Formed in 1992 as a 501(c)3 corporation, the CGA Educational Foundation is dedicated to providing educational opportunities and research programs that will benefit all segments of California's food industry. For more information regarding the Foundation and its programs, log onto www.cagrocers.com or contact Brianne Korte, Manager, at (916) 448-3545.

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2008

6:00 p.m. – SPECIAL MEETING
627 SESPE AVENUE, FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA

The public may review or request a copy of support materials provided to the Board Members where the word materials appears.

6:00 p.m.

I. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

II. ROLL CALL

III. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NONAGENDA ITEMS, PETITIONS
This is the time and place to address the school board. State law prohibits the board from acting on issues not included on the agenda; however, requests may be made for discussion of specific topics at subsequent meetings.

IV. CLOSED SESSION
The Board of Education will meet at 6:00 p.m. to consider matters appropriate for Closed Session in accordance with Government Code Sections 3549.1, 54956.7 through 54957.7 and Education Code Section 35146.
• DISCLOSURE OF ITEM(S) TO BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION
o Superintendent’s Evaluation

V. RECONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION
• Any Action From Closed Session

VII. CLOSING COMMENTS AND AGENDA BUILDING

VI. FUTURE MEETINGS
September 2 5:15 p.m. Closed Session – Board Room
6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting – Board room
September 16 5:15 p.m. Closed Session – Board Room
6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting – Board Room

VIII. ADJOURNMENT

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Superintendent's Office at (805) 524-6038. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the district to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [In accordance with Government Code 54961 and Board Bylaw 9320(a).]

Last week, nine boys and one girl from the Fillmore High School Cross Country team spent a week of their summer training in Mammoth Lakes, California. The runners trained in the upper elevations that were as high as 8,500 feet. Each morning and evening the ten high school runners and coaches would lace up their shoes and experience the many trails that Mammoth Lakes has to offer. Each trail was different in level, some were strenuous which included a never ending up hill workout, others were moderate with steady inclines and declines throughout the run and others that were longer in distance, 10 miles one day were easy runs. Some of the trails were right along a creek, Lower Rock Creek near Convict Lake, while others were in a never-ending forest, Inyo Crater Trail near the Mammoth Scenic Loop. Each and every trail was unique in level and scenery. By the end of the trip all ten participants came back stronger and ready to begin the 2008 Cross Country Season. The Mammoth participants included, two seniors, Miguel Ochoa and Jose Sillas, both of whom were name co-captains for the season, Juniors, Paul Gonzalez, Anthony Chavez, Anthony Rodriguez, Ernesto Lorenzano, and Danielle Diaz, Sophomore, Jovanni Rubio, and Freshmen, Alexander Gonzalez and Christian Rodriguez. We would like to thank the following for their donations and support of our 1st annual Mammoth Training, The Fillmore Water Store, William and Esperanza Chavez, thanks for the movie night!, and lastly the parents.

Dr. Mark Lisagor

Camarillo – Dr. Mark Lisagor, one of Ventura County’s most widely respected and highly honored community leaders, announced today that he will seek election to the Ventura County School Board. Dr. Lisagor is an internationally recognized Pediatric Dentist, who has served Ventura County children for more than 30 years. He and his partners provide children’s dental services in four offices throughout Ventura County.
In his announcement, Dr. Lisagor made clear his reason for running: “Ventura County public schools are in crisis. Our kids are not getting the public education they need and deserve. And Ventura County taxpayers are not getting the sound financial management of their schools they should expect.”
“This is a serious challenge. My real world business management skills, my proven record of public education accomplishments, and my state and national child advocacy relationships will help resolve our current crisis.”
“After being approached by a wide spectrum of community leaders who have become frustrated with the incumbent Board Member’s focus on politics rather than children, I felt a genuine obligation to run for School Board. I am running for just one reason: because our School Board and our students desperately need new leadership.”
“My candidacy has already been enthusiastically endorsed by State Superintendent of Schools Jack O’Connell and Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long.” Supervisor Long said, “Mark will guide the Board to make our children’s scholastic success their highest priority. He has my full support.”
Dr. Lisagor closed his remarks saying: “As a Pediatric Dentist, I have dedicated my entire professional life to helping Ventura County’s children. I am fortunate to have served as volunteer Chair of the Camarillo Boy’s and Girl’s Club and as Chair of the Cal State University Channel Islands Foundation.”
“I deeply appreciate being honored as Camarillo “Man of the Year” and having received the Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Service, the Interface Children and Family Services “Volunteer of the Year” Award, and the Cal State University Channel Islands “Lagormarsino Award” just last year. And the support of such community leaders as former Superintendent Charles “Chuck” Weis, Camarillo Mayor Charlotte Craven, Carolyn Leavens of Santa Paula and Hank Lacayo among many others from across the district reinforces the importance of this election and our community’s desperate need for new leadership on the County School Board.”