On Tuesday, June 1, 2010, the Fillmore School Board of Trustees met for a regular public meeting. As usual Public comment was the first order of business, with Board reports, action and discussion items rounding out the meeting.

During public comment the Board heard from several community members about inquiries regarding how the District is assessing student progress and what programs are in place to improve student achievement. Mrs. Rita Avila, a parent from Piru, put the Board “on notice’ regarding her request of an accountability report. Avila mentioned Board President Mr. Tony Prado’s recent comments regarding his disregard of State test scores and Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) data regarding the District. Prado did respond that he did in fact believe testing to “be very important”, but that the No Child Left Behind program is currently under debate. The Board also heard from Mrs. Mary Ford who spoke in favor of having a local resident, Mrs. Cynthia King, a certified mediator, help with the issues in Piru. District Superintendent Mr. Jeff Sweeney did thank and agree with Ford regarding the help that King can bring, and Sweeney reported that King has in fact been invited to act as a mediator in the community of Piru. Sweeney provided some background on King, including that she has returned to live on the King Family Farm on Guiberson Road and has worked with many schools and with many small towns in the past, as well as large corporations and companies. King will begin the mediation process immediately by meeting first with Piru teachers and staff and then with School Board members.

Board members also heard from CONTINUED »

At the Piru School Site Council (SSC) meeting on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 Dr. Michael Babb, a director with the Ventura County Office of Education presented a brief introduction on the roles and responsibilities of School Site Council as mandated by the State of California Education Code Section 52852. This Code specifies who can serve on the Council, what the Council is responsible for, and how they shall carry out their duties. Currently a majority of the members of Piru SSC are serving for the first time. It appears timely that Dr. Babb did his presentation now, this late in the school year. Several parents and community members used their public comment time to inquire about how the Piru SSC has been operating over the past school year and the records of their decisions. No responses were provided at this meeting.

What is School Site Council?
The California Education Code (Section 52852) mandates that a School Site Council, (SSC) is a planning and advisory committee that is made up of at least ten (10) members. A SSC must include an equal number of teachers/staff and parents. For a ten-member group the make up of the group must include the principal, four teachers or staff members, and five parents. The teachers and staff at the school elect the teacher and staff members of SSC, and the parents elect the parent members. The SSC with more than ten members, can include community members that are neither parents nor employees of the District if it so chooses. Dr. Babb emphasized that the structure of the Council is important as it ensures a balance in influence over decision making, and that the “principal has one equal vote” to the parent members. And that the principal does not lead the group, but instead should provide any requested information to the SSC so that they can make decisions accordingly. Babb also reminded parent members that they are there to serve the “interests of all children” which attend the school. SSC is one of the ways that schools meet the State guidelines which mandate parental involvement in order to qualify for and receive particular (supplemental) funds.

School administrators must often take CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On May 19, 2010, four suspects were arrested for felony conspiracy to commit a crime and commercial burglary in the City of Fillmore. The suspects belonged to a theft ring, which was responsible for stealing in excess of $21,000 in cash and property. The theft ring consisted of 2 to 6 suspects who would enter a store and intentionally distract a lone or multiple employees for the purposes of stealing their purses, cash from register, or monies kept near the register. Additionally, suspects would also steal merchandise if the opportunity allowed. The theft ring targeted businesses based on their research of the store to determine sales volume and the numbers of employees. The suspects would then determine the numbers of ring members were necessary to commit the crimes.

The members of the ring would cause a distraction by luring the employee(s) toward the back of the store, usually with a request to have an item shown to them or explained to them how it worked. On one occasion, the suspects purposely broke a bottle in the back of the business, which caused the employee to respond to the spill and clean it up. Once the employee was lured to the back and distracted, the others then searched the front register area for items to steal. The group that committed the theft would then walk out of the store without being detected. The suspect(s) causing the distraction would eventually walk out of the store once the other suspects were safely out of the store. Business owners or employees would usually discover the thefts minutes or in some cases hours later.

The following businesses, in the Fillmore area, reported thefts of this nature:
99 Cent Store, 703 Ventura Street, Fillmore
Elva's Market, 3969 Center Street, Piru
All Occasions Bridal Shop,1317 Ventura Street, Fillmore

The City of Oxnard also CONTINUED »

Former Mayor Roger Campbell challenged the accuracy of statements made at the previous city council meeting regarding the Fillmore Business Park. Campbell explained the difference between residential, commercial, and industrial development which had been mistakenly misidentified earlier. He urged council to assist in ways to finance the Park and cited the need to have the site construction ready.

Announcements
Fire Chief Rigo Landeros announced that the Fire Department has updated the emergency preparedness information on the City website, where residents can now also register for reverse-911 alerts. He thanked Disaster Coordinator Patrick Maynard for his efforts in compiling the information and updating the site.

Councilwoman Laurie Hernandez urged local nonprofit groups to verify whether they should have filed IRS #99-09 forms. She also noted that Cabrillo Economic Development is looking for farm workers in need of affordable housing; there are units still open, and they are taking applications.

Fillmore Chamber of Commerce President David Crockett announced a public outreach meeting to be held Thursday, June 3, at 6:30 pm at the Senior Center. The event is meant to shed light on the project and allow citizens to hear both sides of the issue. Refreshments will be served and all Fillmore residents are invited to attend.
Citizen Norma Amaro presented her project of a large easel to be set up in front of Vintage Pleasures on Central Avenue to honor local members of the armed forces. She invites the community to bring in 2x3” photographs mounted on index cards with the branch, rank, and name of the individual listed beneath the photo.

Amaro also noted the disappointment registered by tourists who have noticed the dwindling number of vintage shops in Fillmore. She offered her experience and expertise to help individuals get such a business started. For those unsure of opening a shop of their own but still interested in a smaller venture, Amaro offers to make space in her own store.

Bruce Stenslie, president of the Economic CONTINUED »

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On Monday morning, 5/24/10, at approximately 11:35 a.m., the body of Roberto Barrios was recovered from the bottom of Lake Piru. Barrios was reported missing on Saturday after he disappeared below the surface of the water while swimming with friends during an outing after the group had graduated from nursing school.

A party of nine people rented a pontoon boat from the Lake Piru Marina and motored to Pump House Point where three members of the party decided to go for a swim. Two of the group donned life preservers, but Barrios elected not to. As the trio jumped into the water the wind became extremely strong and blew the pontoon boat away from the swimmers. Barrios was seen struggling in the choppy waves of the lake and soon disappeared below the surface. A passing boat recovered the two other swimmers.

Emergency personnel were summoned and the Ventura County Aviation Unit responded with a SCUBA equipped diver and a rescue swimmer onboard who were deployed into the lake. They were able to immediately start searching the bottom of the lake while the Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Dive Team was activated.

Upon arrival of the dive team, they CONTINUED »

On Tuesday, May 25th, at 6:00pm the Piru School Site Council met for the first time since February. School Site Council is an elected group of teachers, parents and school staff which is responsible for the creating and approving a school plan and allocating categorical funds on programs for the students, as well as ongoing assessment of student progress at the school. The meetings are open to the public and should occur throughout the school year.

Piru Resident and parent, Mr. Freddie Galan who is the current chair of the School Site Council, indicated before the meeting began that in the last “10 years” there has been little parent involvement, it has been “mostly teachers” making decisions at the school. Mr. Galan indicated that “(we) have learned from our mistakes”, and he is glad to see more parents involved and attending meetings, especially the Spanish speaking parents. Mr. Galan began the meeting by providing an official welcome to Principal, Mrs. Leticia Ramos for her first year at Piru Elementary School. This gesture was supported by enthusiastic and standing applause by many of those in attendance.

More than 30 community members attended the meeting, many for the first time.

Ms. Stephanie Acosta, a resident of Piru for CONTINUED »

Memorial Day program will be held Monday, May 31st at Bardsdale Cemetery, 11am. Opening remarks will be made by Monty Winkler, President, Board of Trustees; Presentation of Colors, Veterans of Foreign Ward, Fillmore Post 9637; Pledge of Allegiance, Boy Scout Troop #406 and Cub Scout Troop #3400; Special Music by Bill Bartels. The Memorial Day message will be delivered by Dick Diaz, former U.S. Marine and Law Enforcement Officer. he served in the Marine Corps form 1966-1969 and was in Viet Nam in 1967/68. His father served in the U.S. Navy for 28 years and his son and daughter-in-;aw currently are serving in the U.s. Navy. He also served 36 1/2 years in law enforcement finishing his career with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.
The Placing of the Wreath will be performed by William Brunet; Placing of the Bouquet by Marie Schilling, Gold Star Wives; memorial Service led by Rev. Bob Hammond, Dayspring Anglican Church; Special Music by Bill Bartels; Reading of Names of those Who died in the Service of our Country, VFW Commander Jim Rogers; Volly, Honor Guard VFW; and Taps by Bob Thompson.

Folklorico - A Cinco de Mayo fiesta was held at Sespe School on May 5th. One of the many attractions was Grupo folklórico de San Francisco de Asís. The pavilion was decorated with drinking-straw-spaced green, white, and red pinwheels, the brown columns studded with pinwheel rosettes. Paper chain garlands of green, white, and red scalloped the guardrails along the stage area, which featured an azure poncho flanked by two modest black sombreros. Tissue rosettes dotted the ramp railing, and near the flagpole stood a display of ponchos and clay vessels, next to which two six-pointed Disney piñatas. Traditional Mexican food was served and everyone enjoyed the fiesta.
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Shown (l-r) are Alissa Hernandez, 14, Erika Olveras, 13, Leslie Galvan, 13, and Cecilia Olveras, 16.
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My first encounter with Cinco de Mayo was the fiesta held at Sespe School the evening of May 5. Considering my enthusiasm to attend, it was funny to find that I had forgotten something as I approached the school grounds—I am not the biggest fan of mariachi music. Apprehension notwithstanding, I soldiered on into the sound waves, determined to take an openhearted look at a celebration that I imagined would be as foreign to me as it was familiar to perhaps the majority in attendance.

Families gathered beneath the large tree in the quad and at the pavilion; people emerged from the cafeteria with plates of tamales and tostadas, their red plastic cups peppering the festive scene. The pavilion was festooned with drinking-straw-spaced green, white, and red pinwheels happily spinning in the breeze, the brown columns studded with pinwheel rosettes. Paper chain garlands of—surprise—green, white, and red scalloped the guardrails along the stage area, which featured an azure poncho flanked by two modest black sombreros. Tissue rosettes dotted the ramp railing, and near the flagpole stood a display of ponchos and clay vessels, next to which two six-pointed Disney piñatas awaited their gory fates.

An abundance of schoolchildren darted around the tables, noisily chasing each other and starting a pickup Frisbee game in the back. Several girls and ladies wore flounced blouses, skirts, and dresses; ribbons adorned several hairdos, and a red plastic flower stuck out of one ponytail. Some botas vaqueros and a Mexican futbol jersey were in attendance, and much to my satisfaction, I spied a giant woven sombrero floating somewhere beneath the giant tree. And above all the mayhem, the mariachi music cheerily blasted from the lone loudspeaker that pointed, it seemed, directly at me.

Over a hundred people had congregated when principal Rosemarie Hibler, garbed in vestido folklórico—a loose white shift dress embroidered with colorful flowers—took the mic. She announced that the fiesta was the school’s first, sponsored by English Learner Advisory Committee volunteers. Hibler praised their efforts, duly noting, “The school’s never looked so beautiful!”

Children were invited to the stage, and Ms. Esmeralda Ramirez-Rueda, a former member of Ballet Folklórico Infantil de Fillmore, led a group of about twenty girls in turns and footwork while a group of boys piled on the back of a bench to intently watch their progress. The short workshop completed, the newly minted dancers performed their routine to music, after the boys had been asked to step down for the benefit of all the audience.

Ms. Ramirez-Rueda told me that she had been part of the ballet folklórico group until the group disbanded when she was twelve. As if on cue, behind us appeared a pair of costumed girls in vibrant skirts, like two agile hollyhocks in white dress shoes. Together they tapped away on the concrete, giggling in girlish fashion. Turning back, I saw a couple of large sombreros being ferried through the crowd as pulsating trumpets punctuated the Spanish chorus streaming from the stage.

Mr. Jeremías Guzmán Barrera from the Mexican Consulate gave a bilingual talk on the history of Cinco de Mayo as a small team of girls held an illustrated banner reading, “Bicentenario 2010, Mexican Consulate, Oxnard.” While the noisy kids seemed largely impervious to the address, a group of students perched along the guardrail listened along with the appreciative parents and grandparents at the tables. Through the din, Guzmán noted that throughout its history, Mexico had been under the control of France, Spain, and England, and the battle celebrated on Cinco de Mayo marked the first time Mexico fought together as one. Calling the fiesta “a great family event,” Guzmán said that it’s “important [for the children] to know their roots,” and presented Principal Hibler with a calendar featuring artwork by Mexican children around the world.

ELAC member Araceli Bravo told me that they were a group of Hispanic parents who advised the school regarding what they wanted for their children. To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, they contacted local businesses, found sponsors for food, invited the Mexican Consul, and recruited dancers. “It was planned in one and a half months—it was just a rush,” she said.

The fiesta’s highlight was CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The Sheriff’s Gang Unit arrested three suspects Friday, May 14, 2010 for a variety of charges that included possession of a stolen handgun and illegal transfer of a firearm. The arrests were made during the service of two search warrants in connection with a grand theft investigation.

For the past week, the Sheriff’s Gang Unit has been conducting a grand theft investigation where a .45 Caliber handgun and other items were taken from a vehicle on the West end of Fillmore. Gang investigators had information that local gang members were in possession of the handgun. On Thursday, gang investigators conducted a probation search in the 400 block of Fillmore Street. During the probation search, investigators found a knife that was taken during the grand theft from the vehicle. Investigators also obtained other items that linked a Nipomo gang member to the stolen handgun. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the residence in the 400 block of Fillmore Street as well as a residence in the 200 block of Ponderosa Place in Nipomo, which they served on Friday evening.

While searching the residence in Fillmore, gang investigators found a different handgun that was stolen from a residential burglary in the City of Oxnard in 2009. Cesar Calderon was present during the search warrant and was arrested for a variety of charges. His brother, Ricardo Calderon, was arrested at his place of business in Camarillo. Cesar was arrested for possession of stolen property and four warrants. He remains in custody on $45,000 bail. Ricardo was arrested for possession of a stolen firearm and illegal transfer of a firearm. He remains in custody on $10,000 bail.

When gang investigators searched the residence in Nipomo, they found several pictures of the stolen handgun that were taken with cell phone cameras. The resident, Eduardo Mendez, was located at his place of work and arrested for illegal transfer of a firearm. Investigators also located several grams of cocaine that were possessed by Mendez with the intent to sell. Mendez was transported to Ventura County where he was booked into the Ventura County Jail for the illegal transfer of a firearm.

Under California State Law, all firearm transactions and transfers must be made through a licensed gun dealer. Gang members routinely transfer firearms illegally between each other and from gang to gang in an effort to keep law enforcement officers from seizing them. It’s not uncommon for a gang member to “borrow” a firearm to commit a violent crime, and then illegally transfer the firearm to anther gang member to hide it from law enforcement. Gang investigators are continuing their efforts to recover the handgun stolen from the Fillmore area.

Location: 400 Block Fillmore Street, Fillmore
200 Block Ponderosa Place, Nipomo

Date & Time: May 15, 2010 5:00 PM
Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Gang Unit
(S)uspects Charge City of residence Age
Cesar Calderon Possession of stolen Fillmore, CA 20
property
Ricardo Calderon Illegal transfer of Fillmore, CA 18
Firearm
Eduardo Mendez Illegal transfer of Nipomo, CA 22
Firearm.

Officer Preparing Release: Sergeant Schierman
Follow-up Contact: Sergeant Schierman 654-2856
Date of Release: May 16, 2010
Approved By: Mike De Los Santos, Captain #0730

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May 12, 2010 (Ventura County) 75 Ventura County children in Grades 5 through 12 competed in the first Ventura County Fair Poster Contest with entries that illustrated the Fair’s 2010 Theme: “Western Nights and Carnival Lights”. Of these entries, three were chosen by a panel of judges as the winners of the 2010 Ventura County Fair poster Contest.

First Prize went to Kayalin Akens-Irby (14) of Ventura for her rendition of horses bounding down a Ventura County hillside and onto the Carousel as Fireworks explode in the air above. The work is rendered in Oil Pastels on black paper in a playful style that is colorful and fun.

Second place was won by Mattie Myers (14) of Ventura for her beautiful illustration of a ferris wheel in a style that is reminiscent of Art Nouveau and also of 1960s abstract. The sky is aglow with fireworks and the Fairgrounds is populated with little people engaged in all sorts of fair activities.

Third place was awarded to Amanda Vassaur (15) of Fillmore for her electrifying depiction of the Fair in a pointillist style that not only illustrates the theme but also illuminates it with point after careful point of color.

“We congratulate the talented winners of this year’s contest,” said Barbara Quaid, Ventura County Fair CEO, adding “Every artist who entered is valuable because you have all contributed to your community by sharing your talents. You have told us 75 different Fair stories in 75 unique ways. We thank every child who participated and encourage them all to continue making art and sharing it with us at the annual Ventura County Fair.”

Cash Prizes were awarded to the winners and the artwork will be used to promote the 2010 Ventura County Fair, August 4 – 15. Children’s Dental Group sponsored the contest.

Kathy Long, County of Ventura Board of Supervisors, District 3

Opinion Editorial by Kathy Long

To the Editor:

This letter is in response to your Open Letter and email asking for my reply as to the proposed Piru Charter School, and now the subsequent denial of the Petition by the pro-charter State Board of Education with a 6-2 vote. My comments will reflect why I felt it necessary to stand with the parents of Piru in opposition to the Petition. I have served as the elected representative of the Piru community since 1997. Piru is an unincorporated community, not served by the present or former elected City Council Members of Fillmore, but served by the elected Board Members of the Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD).

I followed the process of the Petition application since it was first presented to FUSD and denied; then to the County Board of Education where it was also unanimously denied. I reviewed thoroughly the Petition and subsequent report from the County Board. I felt the County Board did an excellent analysis that raised reasonable doubt as to the sustainability of the Charter Petition, both fiscally and programmatically. So at that point, 10 locally elected representatives voted to oppose the Petition and over 100 parents. As the petition then moved to the state Charter Advisory Board, where it did receive support; the glaring deficiency in the Charter School law again became obvious—the parents’ voice was seriously discounted in the law.

In my many years of representing Piru, I have never seen such a divisive issue rattle this community. Over 100 parents organized rallies and raised funds to charter busses to travel to Sacramento twice to have their voices heard. They felt excluded from the formation of the Charter Petition and from the process. Their community became divided, and there was misinformation from many sides of the issue that created an enormous frustration. I believe that frustration was a result of the parents not being asked to be engaged from the beginning. They felt their choice for the education of their children was being taken away from them.

In the design of charter schools, one size does not fit all. Piru is not a community like Los Angeles, South Central, nor the Valley where there are often additional schools to choose from within a neighborhood, besides a Charter school. Charter schools are either “start ups” or “conversions”. This petition was a “conversion” of the only elementary school in the neighborhood, leaving no choice for the parents not supporting the charter, but to bus their children into Fillmore. I believe the State Board of Education Board members recognized that the Petition action did just that—took the neighborhood choice away from the Piru parents.

With the denial of the petition, we have a golden opportunity before us to focus on the needs of this school and the community. The District must fulfill the infrastructure commitments that were made, support the teachers and the Principal, and capture the passion of the parents to improve the educational opportunities for their children. This rural, low-income school may be challenged, but the Academic Performance Index Base Scores have risen 94 points since 2007. That result only comes from teachers and parents working together for the good of the children. We must never give up on our children, and we must always reach out first to the parents to collectively guide the changes needed to excel. Now it’s time to move on and bring the community together, give the Piru parents and teachers the respect they deserve, and focus on educating the future generations. I am inspired by the Piru “parents with power, padres con poder” and was proud to stand with them to have their voices heard.

Sincerely,
Kathy Long, Chair
Third District Supervisor

Open Letter to Supervisor Long from Gazette Publisher Martin Farrell

Dear Supervisor Long,
You have recently stated your opposition to the Piru Charter School petition on grounds that it is unpopular with Piru residents, and you intend to testify against it at the final hearing.
I would urge you to reconsider this decision because it is based upon false information. A majority of Piru residents do not oppose the charter proposal; residents vigorously support the charter. Bitter opposition comes only from a group which has been misled by school district authorities anxious about the loss of money and authority. The lies which have been spread about the charter proposal are astonishing.
Here are some of them:
1. The charter school would be private, demanding tuition. FALSE.
2. No bus would be provided for the school. FALSE.
3. No special education classes would be provided. FALSE.
4. No band would be provided. FALSE.
5. Students would have to meet special academic achievement to enroll. FALSE.
6. Some students, residents of Piru, would not be able to attend. FALSE.
7. The budget would not sustain the school. FALSE. CA Dept. of Ed. says it is sound.
8. The school would be “experimental”. FALSE.
9. Volunteer hours would be required. FALSE.
10. No after-school programs. FALSE.
11. Small class sizes not guaranteed. FALSE.
12. Some registrations would be reported to immigration. FALSE.
13. Piru School is doing just fine as is. FALSE. It is ranked 11th from the bottom when compared to 100 similar California elementary schools, and facilities are in very poor condition.
14. There will be no GATE program. FALSE. It will be better than ever.
If all Piru residents knew the truth I believe the hostile opposition would stop.
Once again, Supervisor Long, I urge you not to oppose the charter, for the above reasons. There is simply no basis to believe the charter school would not be a huge success. Knowing the truth now, I hope you will rise above Union and District pressure to kill the promise of a Piru Charter School. Please take a close look at these facts and support the charter.
Sincerely,
Martin Farrell
Publisher
The Fillmore Gazette

Kathy Long, County of Ventura Board of Supervisors, District 3

Opinion Editorial by Richard Durborow

The recent vote by the Sate Board of Education not to approve Piru Charter School hurts all of us but most of all it marginalizes the future of our children. The students of Piru and Fillmore are now going to miss out on an opportunity to have a school in their community based on innovation, integrity, and results. A vote for “no choice” was a vote to banish children to failing schools just because of their zip code. This is both revolting and unacceptable. If you want more for your children you must stand up to the Fillmore School Board and insist they stop doing business as usual and start supporting school reform.

Supervisor Kathy Long’s response to the Gazette’s Open Letter is completely disingenuous. It’s as if she woke up one day and decided she had nothing better to do than jump on board superintendent Sweeney’s propaganda machine. I am sure it looked to her like a great opportunity for publicity. All she could see were the votes she might pick up along the way. Unfortunately supervisor Long I have some bad news for you. Your decision to act before thinking is not going over very well with the public. It turns out that people expect more from their elected officials. They expected you to take a position after examining all the facts and talking to both sides. In academic vernacular it’s called research. You should have taken the time to research the issues. That’s why the Fillmore Gazette wrote to you in the first place. After reading your shallow response it is clear you still remain clueless to the gravity of the situation. Wake up supervisor Long. Giving equal education to underserved and isolated communities like Piru is one of the most important civil rights issues of our time.

The California Department of Education tried to make things clear for those who wanted to read a fair and impartial analysis of the Piru Charter Petition when they submitted this response:

The PCS petition includes all of the elements required under statute and regulation for the establishment of a charter school. The California Department of Education (CDE) finds that granting the PCS charter is sound educational practice for the following reasons: the petition describes an educational program likely to meet the needs of pupils within the community where the school will locate; petitioners are demonstrably likely to implement the program set forth in the petition; the petition includes the required affirmations and signatures; and the petition contains reasonably comprehensive descriptions of the 16 elements pursuant to EC Section 47605(b)(5).

Supervisor Kathy Long is all about protecting the status quo. What a disappointment. Out of touch with her local schools. Out of touch with what it really takes to improve student learning.

Richard Durborow
Piru Charter School