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.
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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.”

Jeff Sweeney
Superintendent Fillmore Unified School District

Dear Parents,
It is my pleasure to welcome everyone to the 2008-09 school year! The opening of a new school year is an exciting time of the year. It is a time of renewal, of fresh starts. The Fillmore Unified School District teachers, administrators and support staff look forward to meeting you and your student on Wednesday, August 13, as we begin to work together to maximize your student’s academic opportunities.
As always, the weeks of summer are full of activity. Our staff has been busy preparing classrooms, participating on interview panels, repairing and maintaining facilities, teaching summer school, attending workshops that will improve student performance, and all of the other countless activities that help to prepare for a smooth opening day. The efforts of our dedicated employees are evident in all areas of the District.
The 2007-08 school year ended with staff working together to achieve many successes and in some instances, creating opportunities for growth. The following are a few of our accomplishments: San Cayetano becoming a NASA Explorer School; Continuing growth (nearly 500 K-8 students and 25 staff) of the Bridges after school program that is both recreational and academic… and free for our students; Redesigning of our District’s web site; Updating of Safe Schools Plans by all sites; Increasing academic growth as measured by the Academic Performance Index (API) for the District overall as well as all K-8 schools. Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for Sespe, Fillmore Middle and Fillmore High Schools in all areas, and all Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAO) met for English Learners; Renovating of FHS gym and cafeteria and installation of a new field; and the Restructuring of the instructional program at C School, soon to be renamed Sierra High School.
Preparing for the new school year is a reflective time for us, recognizing some of the selected successes above, while also thinking of the efforts needed to remain committed to insuring that all students take full advantage of their academic opportunities. The Board of Education has established our priorities for this upcoming school year. They are: Increasing parent outreach, parent involvement, and parent education opportunities; Improving communication within the school district and with parents and community partners; Maintaining clean, orderly and safe facilities for students and staff; Reviewing and improving district and school discipline plans and procedures and increasing attendance of all students; Improving the achievement of all students; and Providing the highest quality staff for the students in the school district.
The 2008-2009 school year will bring many opportunities and challenges. As your Superintendent, I join you in your desire to face the new school year with optimism and commitment to bring our students their best school year yet.
You are an important participant in your student's education. We know that by working together in a strong partnership we can help ensure that your student reaches their potential. I wish you and your family the very best as we begin this new school year.

Sincerely,
Jeff Sweeney,
FUSD Superintendent

Seven hundred seventy-three students have been named to the Ventura College Dean’s List for the Spring 20087 semester, according to Dr. Robin Calote, college president. Twenty-eight are from Fillmore.
To earn this honor, a student must have achieved a 3.5 or higher grade point average (GPA) while carrying 12 or more units.
Those students from Fillmore so honored are: Tanika Chaveste, Alexander Cisneros, Juan Cisneros, Katrina Douglas, Stephanie Escoto, Leticia Felix, Mayra Felix, Aaron Galvan, Cambria Garner, Theresa Gartner, Pamela Gartner, Anthony Grande, Arturo Hernandez, Marco Hurtado, Dan Krenitsky, Yvette Ledesma, Maria Magana, Vereniz Magana, Bryanna Mora, Justin Murray, Shihori Nakayama, Manuel Perez, Jaqueline Prado, Nilda Ramirez, Anna Rivera, Brian Stethem, Obdulia Valdivia, Harrison Wade.

Ventura College is offering Introduction to Automotive Technology at Fillmore High School this fall semester. The course covers the basics of automotive design and maintenance and will include a lot of hands-on practice. The class will meet Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 8:50 p.m. in the Fillmore High School Auto Shop and begins on August 20. Enrollment is limited. For information on how to register for this class, please call the Ventura College East Campus at 525-7136 or stop by the center at 115 Dean Drive Suite A in Santa Paula.

Some 20 students from Fillmore High School recently stepped away from their video games and MySpace pages for a week-long exploration of educational and career opportunities in Ventura County and beyond. The Third Annual Ventura College East Campus Summer Bridge Program provided these students with valuable information designed to assist them in their future educational and career choices.
As part of the program, students attended orientations and campus tours of several colleges and universities including: Ventura College, California State University Channel Islands, California Lutheran University, University of California Santa Barbara and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Counselors at each school provided the students with important information regarding admissions requirements, financial aid, students services, study skills and other tips for being successful in college.
In addition to the college tours, students visited the sites of two major employers in Ventura County: Haas Automation, Inc. and Naval Base Ventura County. At each location, students had the opportunity to tour the facilities and ask questions of various professionals about their careers in either the private or public sector.
The organizing committee for this event consisted of Counselor Assistant, Raul Barraza; Adminstrative Assistant, Sabrina Canola; and Coordinator of Off-Campus programs, Art Sandford. They would like to thank the following individuals and groups for their enthusiastic support of this project: The Ventura College Foundation, Haas Automation, Inc.; UCSB Office of Academic Outreach; Capt. David Fleisch and Protocol Office Diane Crane of Naval Base Ventura County and Margaret Chimalpopoca of Ventura College Matriculation. A special note of thanks goes to Ms. Norma Pérez-Sandford, FHS counselor, for her tireless efforts in recruiting students for the program.
Fillmore High School participants included: Jessica Acevedo, Maria Arreola, Ermelinda Arreola, Lisette Casillas, Maritza Cruz, Sam Cruz, Taylor Gaitán, Kelli Magaña, Magali Magaña, Xaviera Martinez, Mari Ramirez, Mayra Regalado, Susana Rodriguez, Claudia Rosales, Jesse Sanchez, Carina Sandford, Sarah Solis and Anayeli Torres.

Inger Overton and Jan Marholin

Two educators from San Cayetano School in Fillmore, Calif., took on the role of students this week at a national educational workshop at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.
Principal Jan Marholin and Teacher Inger Overton were two of about 40 educators who took part in the "Building Partnerships for Sustainability" workshop. Participants traveled from across the United States to learn about the latest NASA projects, tour NASA facilities and attend seminars taught by NASA researchers, engineers and technicians.
The workshop, which ran from July 20 to July 25, was hosted by NASA Langley as part of the NASA Explorer Schools program. Through this program, NASA establishes three-year partnerships with schools across the nation. The goal of the program is to improve teaching and student learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
During the workshop, school leaders discussed strategies for sustaining the explorer schools project beyond the three-year partnership. The sessions also exposed educators to new technologies they can use in the classroom. After completing the workshop, teachers can forge ahead into the new school year ready to integrate NASA content and hands-on activities into their everyday lessons.
"The teachers and administrators showed a lot of enthusiasm for developing creative ways to incorporate NASA content into classroom activities to stimulate enhanced interest in math and science," said Rudo Kashiri, NASA Explorer Schools coordinator at Langley.
To learn more about the NASA Explorer Schools program, visit: http://explorerschools.nasa.gov. For information about NASA research and exploration, visit: http://www.nasa.gov.

A total of 139 students completed their master's or doctoral degrees at California Lutheran University in May; two from Fillmore.
Receiving their degrees are: Meelee Hansen, Business; and Bettina Guerrero, Communications.
CLU is a selective liberal arts university located in Thousand Oaks. With an enrollment of more than 3,100 students, CLU offers 36 undergraduate majors and six graduate programs within the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, and School of Education. Master's degree programs are offered in education, psychology, computer science, information systems and technology, business administration, and public policy and administration. Doctoral degrees in educational leadership and higher education leadership are also offered. Members of the CLU student body come from across the country and around the world and represent a diversity of faiths and cultures. For more information, please visit www.callutheran.edu.