FUSD offices were left without power after a transformer was damaged by fire on Tuesday, August 18th.

Tuesday night’s Fillmore Unified School District Board Meeting was shorter than planned because there was no electricity to the District Office. A transformer, which had been damaged by fire earlier in the day, was being replaced during the meeting. Four agenda items were postponed because the staff was unable to prepare handouts or presentations due to the electrical outage: Resolution 09-10-01 for Approval Regarding Classified Lay Offs and Reductions, the Technology Update, a report on Sierra High School Modernization, and a report on STAR test results. Those items will be covered at the next Board Meeting on September 1, 2009. The Board discussed Monday’s welcome back orientation for staff, and the upcoming year.

Katy Hadley, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, said that overall STAR test results were up at the schools. She noted that results at Piru, Sespe, and Fillmore High School (FHS) were good, and said Piru spiked in both Math and English. She said her upcoming report would provide more information.
The Board approved the 2009-2010 Salary Schedules, including an additional salary schedule for ROP teachers. Sweeney noted that the County reimburses the District for ROP salaries. The Board’s discussion of the ROP salaries implied an increase.

The Board discussed the upcoming joint meeting with the City Council on September 29, 2009, at the FHS cafeteria. Upon being asked, Assistant Superintendent Mike Bush said that the City’s running club, which will have access to the FHS all-weather track, starts September 1st. According to Bush, the City is still working out some minor coordination issues, but club runners will have access to the track on three weekdays, Saturday, and Sunday. Bush noted that club runners will be supervised by City employees and covered by City insurance.
The Board noted that the property containing the bus garage, near the corner of Fillmore Middle School (FMS), might be sold. One Step A La Vez, a community organization for youth, is interested in procuring grants to buy and maintain the property. Meetings are being held between the City, the District, and community leaders.

Superintendent Jeff Sweeney noted that this year’s motivational theme is “The Power of One.” Staff throughout the district can nominate for awards people who have had a strong positive effect on a student or school. Sweeney suggested that school employees submit the name of “someone who has done something special for kids.”
Several attendees said good things about keynote speaker Jeff Eben, who spoke at the August 17th staff welcome back lunch. Jack Morales said, “The man was awesome.” Board Member Liz Wilde said that the “wonderful” speaker talked about the power of one, the power of a team, and importance of the feeling of love. She complimented Tricia Godfrey, Todd Schieferle, and Sweeney on the presentation. Board Member Virginia De La Piedra called the speaker “dynamic” and admired the students’ participation in the program. Students representing grades K-12 took turns speaking. Sweeney agreed with Wilde that the audience was so attentive to the presentations that they could have heard a pin drop. He said that the kids’ speeches reminded everyone that “that’s what we’re about.” He noted that there would be approximately 3,800 kids arriving for the first day of school on August 19th.
Jack Morales, President of the local chapter of the California School Employees Association (the non-teachers’ union), welcomed the Board to the new school year. He thanked the Board for listening, and expressed a desire for cooperation. He said that there is a tough year ahead, and that creativity is needed on both sides.
Board Member Tony Prado has a renewed resolution for the upcoming school year. He had met someone who regularly volunteered in a math classroom at FMS, and related a story that the volunteer had told him. At the end of last year, the volunteer mentioned to the teacher that he thought only 50% of the students had grasped the material. According to the volunteer, the teacher responded, “80% don’t get it.” Prado commented that last year he and the Board had been preoccupied with personnel, budget, and facilities issues. This year he intends to refocus on curriculum and teaching, and plans to present reports about specific curriculum and teaching issues at future meetings.

Liz Wilde said that she had toured the school farm, had toured the refurbished stadium press box, and had seen the new windows in the FHS gym and cafeteria. She mentioned that she had helped with registration at FHS and was impressed with the staff and assisting ASB students who kept the process going despite unexpected problems.
Board President John Garnica mentioned that Fillmore had been very well represented at the Ventura County fair.