California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA. - CSU Channel Islands (CI) will present a symposium and week of programs entitled Facing Our Bodies that will run from Feb. 21-25. The series, created by Dennis Downey, Associate Professor of Sociology, is scheduled to bring awareness to National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and will feature single speaker and panel programs dealing primarily with maintaining a healthy body image. The symposium and programs are free and open to the public.

On Thursday, Feb. 24 from 3-4:45 p.m., in the John Spoor Broome Library, an interdisciplinary panel discussion will be presented focusing on women’s bodies, women’s experiences related to their bodies, and the social dynamics that shape those experiences, “Women and the Body: An Interdisciplinary Symposium.”

The symposium will be followed with a presentation from 5-6 p.m. by Justine J. Reel, a member of the Department of Health Education & Promotion at the University of Utah. Reel will present: "An Organic Approach to Positive Body Image: Empowering the Soul and Rejecting an Eating Disordered Society." Reel is the co-author of Hidden Faces of Eating Disorders, as well as numerous articles and chapters addressing issues related to distorted body image and eating disorders.

For a complete list of programs being offered visit: https://events.csuci.edu/wv3/wv3_servlet/urd/run/wv_event.DayList?evdt=2...

Limited parking is available on campus. A daily permit is $6. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road parking lot in Camarillo with bus service to and from the campus. Riders should board the VISTA Bus to the campus; the fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.

For additional information contact Dennis Downey, Associate Professor of Sociology, at CSU Channel Islands at 805-437-3315 or dennis.downey@csuci.edu.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research.

Camarillo, CA. - The CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science and Technology (COAST), which deals with marine and coastal research and education, is introducing the new COAST Geospatial Research, Education and Technology Network, headed by CI’s Christopher Cogan, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management together with Corey Garza, Assistant Professor of Science and Environmental Policy at CSU Monterey Bay.

The COAST Geospatial network is one of six networks being established to engage faculty and students across the CSU system to facilitate specific areas of coastal management. The Geospatial Network is currently assembling a team of CSU faculty interested in geospatial research and teaching as it pertains to ecosystem-based management of the coastal zone.

The focus of the group will be to study the fragile environment where the ocean and the land meet, to study the various ecosystems that make up that environment, to understand how they are integrated and to find a way to guide management efforts such as coastal and marine spatial planning, and coastal zoning. Designed as a CSU system-wide team, Network activities span the entire California coast from Humboldt and Del Norte Counties in the north to San Diego County in the south. By inviting participants from the 23 CSU campuses who share interest in this area of study, the network will be able to have the widest selection of academic talent, resources and assets.

The team will be interdisciplinary, involving experts from a variety of academic disciplines so not only will the environmental science area be represented but public policy as well. Another aspect of the Network will be to improve teaching methods and research in the field. The group will be seeking out projects that are relevant to the skills of the team.

As Cogan explained, “Due to our coastal location and common interests, here at CI we have had the advantage of close working relationships with many state and federal agencies. The Navy, the Park Service and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement are all ongoing partners as we deal with coastal management education and research. The Geospatial Network activity is another example of our long range commitment to these partners.” He added that the team will look to “improve coastal management and policy, through better understanding the biodiversity of all of the terrestrial and marine ecosystems involved in this fragile environment.”

Cogan said that another important benefit of the network will be to graduate students who are knowledgeable in this field and will be a resource to companies, agencies, and research facilities involved in California’s coastal management.

For contact information or additional material on the COAST Geospatial Research, Education and Technology Network,visit: http://www.calstate.edu/coast/GREAT/

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research.

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011
6:30 P.M. - REGULAR MEETING APPROXIMATELY 8:45 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION PIRU SCHOOL, 3811 CENTER STREET, PIRU, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA
The public may review or request a copy of support materials provided to the Board Members where the word materials appears.
6:30 p.m.
A. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
B. ROLL CALL
C. CLARIFICATION OF AGENDA AND TIME ALLOCATIONS FOR DISCUSSION ITEMS
D. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS AND 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.
E. PUBLIC HEARING AND ACTION ON INITIAL PROPOSALS FOR BARGAINING OF FUTA AND FUSD/FUSD AND FUTA
1. Public Hearing on Initial Proposal of the Fillmore Unified Teachers Association, CTA, NEA for Successor Contract Commencing July 1, 2011 (Materials)
2. Board Action to Receive Initial Proposal of the Fillmore Unified Teachers Association, CTA, NEA for a Successor Contract Commencing July 1, 2011
3. Public Hearing on CONTINUED »

George J. Petersen

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - The dean of California Lutheran University’s School of Education and a panel of superintendents will discuss new research on the jobs of those leading public school districts at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 10.

George J. Petersen will discuss “The American School Superintendent: 2010 Decennial Study” in CLU’s Lundring Events Center. The CLU dean is one of the report’s five authors.

Released in December, the study documented dramatic changes in public school leadership. It revealed that today’s superintendents are more likely to be female, older and drawing a pension while working full time than those 10 years ago. Nearly half are planning to retire in the next five years. The study also reveals the varied challenges faced by superintendents, including the differences between those in charge of small and large school systems.

Other key findings include:

· Their jobs are increasingly diverse as a result of population changes, the explosion of technology, globalization, and increased expectations.
· Minorities become superintendents later and are twice as likely to report discrimination in their pursuit of the job.
· Job satisfaction among superintendents remains very high.

Panel members will then share their experiences and the challenges they face. The superintendents are Jeffrey L. Baarstad of Conejo Valley Unified School District, Julian D. Crocker of the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, Robert P. Fraisse of Somis Union School District, David Gomez of Santa Paula Unified School District, Stanley C. Mantooth of the Ventura County Office of Education, Ellen Smith of Moorpark Unified School District and Trudy Tuttle-Arriaga of Ventura Unified School District.

Sponsored by American Association of School Administrators, the research is part of a series of studies that has been conducted every 10 years since the 1920s. They are the most cited references in school administration literature.

Petersen is the author or coauthor of two books and more than 100 book chapters, articles, research papers and commissioned reports. Much of his scholarly work has focused on district superintendents and their beliefs, roles and work.

Lundring Events Center is in Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, which is located north of Olsen Road near Campus Drive on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Admission is free, but reservations are required by March 4. Contact Joan Jedrzejek at jedrzeje@callutheran.edu or (805) 493-3160.

###

The Ventura County SELPA announces a public hearing to review the proposed Annual Budget Plan and Program Descriptors/Annual Service Plan for Special Education. The program descriptors list the types of special education services provided in the SELPA. The SELPA includes all school districts and the County Office of Education in Ventura County and the Las Virgenes Unified School District in Los Angeles County. The Public Hearing will be March 7, 2011 at 5:15 p.m. Location: 5100 Adolfo Road, Camarillo, CA 93012. Questions, call (805) 437-1560. For more information about the SELPA visit our website at www.venturacountyselpa.com

Applications are available for the Miss Fillmore/Miss Teen Fillmore Pageant. Applications are available in the Office at the Middle School, at Fillmore High Schools Student Store, the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce or by contacting Pageant Director Lori McLain at #524-4432. The Mother/Daughter Tea is scheduled for Wednesday, February 23rd 6:30PM at the Memorial Building. The first practice begins Wednesday, March 2nd.

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA. - Dr. Donald Rodriguez, Associate Professor of Environmental Science & Resource Management at CSU Channel Islands (CI) was invited to Washington, D.C. to speak to the National Parks Foundation regarding the issue of engaging college-age youth with the National Parks Service (NPS). In particular, the group wanted to know how to make the parks relevant to 18 to 25-year-old minority students who had very little history of using the parks for recreation and other outdoor activities.

Rodriguez returned to campus and, with a grant from the Santa Monica Mountains Fund, put together an interdisciplinary research team consisting of himself, Dr. Jose Alamillo, Associate Professor Chicana/o Studies and Dr. Tracylee Clarke, Assistant Professor of Communication. They hired one Hispanic student from each of their respective academic areas (Iliana Espinoza, Jose Tlaxcuapan, and Paul Paredes), to work with the research team throughout the project and to explore minority participation among their peer groups. This work is part of the students’ Capstone projects.

After completing the analysis phase of the project in the fall, the full team is currently engaged in compiling culturally responsive outreach activities and creating a template for use with other park staffs. The student team is conducting peer focus groups to ask such questions as, “Are the parks meaningful for you and, if not, why not?” Not only are the parks interested in this kind of data, but also manufacturers of sporting goods and recreational equipment like R.E.I., the Nature Conservancy and the Wilderness Society.

The outdoor community wants to CONTINUED »

Camarillo, CA. – The Environmental Science & Resource Management program at CSU Channel Islands (CI) will present a 2011 Spring Lecture Series, a six-part program starting Tuesday, Feb. 8. The lectures are free and open to the public and will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. as follows:

Know Your Fishermen with speaker Stephanie Munz, of Commercial Fisherman of Santa Barbara

· Tuesday, Feb. 8, John Spoor Broome Library, room 1750

Parasites and Ecosystems with speaker Kevin Lafferty of USGS and UC Santa Barbara

· Tuesday, Feb. 22, John Spoor Broome Library, room 1360

Green Tech: Networking and Control Technologies in Energy Saving Applications (co-sponsored with the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics) with speaker Chris Stanfield of Echelon Corporation

Tuesday, March 8, John Spoor Broome Library, room 2325

Kitchen Literacy: forgetting and remembering where food comes from with speaker Ann Vileisis, historian and author

· Tuesday, April 5, campus venue to be determined

The Future of World’s Birds in the 21st Century with speaker Cagan Sekercioglu of the University of Utah

· Tuesday, April 19, John Spoor Broome Library, room 1360

Moby-Dick and the Mythology of Oil with speaker Robert Wagner, independent petroleum consultant

· Tuesday, April 26, John Spoor Broome Library, room 1360

To make a reservation for any of the lectures contact Mary Devins at 805-437-3253 or mary.devins@csuci.edu.

Limited parking is available on campus. A daily permit is $6. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road parking lot in Camarillo with bus service to and from the campus. Riders should board the VISTA Bus to the campus; the fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.

# # #

About California State University Channel Islands

CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research.

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA. - CSU Channel Islands (CI) will commemorate the 2008 killing of 15-year-old gay Oxnard student Lawrence King with a candlelight vigil on Tuesday, February 15, on the CI campus.

The evening’s program will feature a showing of The Laramie Project at 6 p.m. at CI’s John Spoor Broome Library, room 2325. The program is presented by Spectrum, the School of Education, the English program, the Centers for Multicultural Engagement and Community Engagement, Associated Students, Inc., Housing & Residential Education, and Multicultural Programs.

For the second year the student gay/straight alliance, Spectrum, in partnership with Julia Balén, Associate Professor of English, and her English/Gender Studies Class, offers a program to remember Lawrence King. This year they also commemorate the wrongful murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay student from the University of Wyoming. The Laramie Project, a film of the play by Moises Kaufman, will be shown followed by a discussion. Balén stated that, “The University needs to be a forum for dialogue, a place where challenging issues can be intelligently discussed.”

The discussion, an exploration of how we might end violence and harassment directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in schools and communities, will be followed by a candlelight vigil.

CI emphasizes the issue of civil discourse and what it means in campus life, particularly in light of the current national conversation about civility and democracy. This program considers what respecting differences means.

The program is free and open to the public. For additional information please contact Julia Balen at julia.balen@csuci.edu.

Persons with special needs or conditions who would like to request an accommodation should contact 805-437-3331 or e-mail accommodations@csuci.edu.

Limited parking is available on campus. A daily permit is $6. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road parking lot in Camarillo with bus service to and from the campus. Riders should board the VISTA Bus to the campus; the fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research.

Below are several segments from the January 18, 2011 School Board Meeting. Our goal is to start recording all meetings, and get the videos posted promptly. You'll notice that we've "cut" it up so that you can watch the segments that you're interested in.
Remember the next meeting is February 15th at Piru Elementary School.

Future Farmers of America report by Brooke Aguirre and "Students First" award to Janice Schieferle

Curriculum Audit Report from Principals at: Piru Elementary School and Fillmore Middle School:

Student Rep (Sean Chandler) and Board Member Reports:

Discussion on Jeff Sweeney's suggestion to begin to examine graduation requirements:
Graduation Requirements

Budget Update:

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - California Lutheran University will screen a documentary on the efforts of four families to get into a charter school at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23.

“The Lottery” will be shown in Lundring Events Center on the Thousand Oaks campus as part of the Reel Justice Film Series.

In a country where 58 percent of African American fourth graders are functionally illiterate, “The Lottery” uncovers failures of traditional public schools that cause hundreds of thousands of parents to attempt to flee the system every year.

“The Lottery” follows four of these families from Harlem and the Bronx who have entered their children in a charter school lottery. Out of thousands of hopefuls, only a small minority will win what they see as a chance for a better future.

Directed by Madeleine Sackler and shot by award-winning cinematographer Wolfgang Held, “The Lottery” explores a ferocious debate surrounding the education reform movement. Interviews with politicians and educators explain not only the crisis in public education but also why it is fixable. A call to action to avert a catastrophe in the education of American children, “The Lottery” makes the case that any child can succeed.

The Reel Justice Film Series, which examines the themes of equality and social justice, will continue with “The Stoning of Soraya M.” on March 7, “8: The Mormon Proposition” on March 30, and “Living Downstream” on April 6.

Lundring Events Center is located in Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center, which is north of Olsen Road near Campus Drive.

CLU’s Center for Equality and Justice and Black Student Union are sponsoring the free event. For more information, contact Sam Thomas at sthomas@callutheran.edu or (805) 493-3693.

School Matters Post

Questions received via email:

“How much of the budget is spent on Administrative salaries and compensation?”
- FUSD Teacher

“It may be helpful to show a breakdown of expenses in the District, including books and supplies, facilities [and so on]”. – Concerned Resident

First, I need to make a correction; in a previous blog post I indicated that the budget for FUSD is $35 million. But according to the projected, unaudited budget (I have requested a copy of the audited budget) dated June 2010 for this current school year the total General Fund budget is $30.7 million but remember budgets are fluid and ever changing, and in school districts they are based on how many students sit in classrooms each day, so we really don’t know the years budget, until the year is over. Make sense?

So if we first look at the pie chart included in the Unaudited Budget dated June 2010 the District reports that it spends 86% of its budget on personnel. According to another chart “management” (salaries only, excluding benefits) expenses makes up 6% of the total budget. Compare that to 42% for certificated employees (teachers) or 4% for books and supplies.
When we look at the actual numbers, based on a print out from the District office dated September 2010 here are the actual numbers, these numbers include salary and benefits representing the total cost to the District for each position.

Certificated Non Management Salaries: $12.4 million
Classified Non Management Salaries: 4.5
Management/Supervisor Salaries: 1.9
Employee Benefits 6.7
Books and Supplies 1.3
Operating 2.7
Capital/Other 0.3
Total Expenditures 29.7
Ending Balance 1.0
Total General Fund 30.7

Administrative Salaries, per report from District office dated September 2010.

Salary Total Expense
Superintendent: $144,046 **$180,293***

**Note: the salary was reported to me upon request. But I have been unable to obtain a report on the actual District expense of all of the benefits and compensation for the position of Superintendent. So, this number of Total Expense for the position of Superintendent is an estimate. Here is how I calculated it:
$144,046 salary
+$ 4,000 – car allowance, per contract dated 2006, $400.00 per month. The contract does not specify if this is paid for 12 months, or only for 10 months during the school year. I assumed that it would only be during the school year so I used $400 x 10 months= $4,000.00)
+$1200.00 – per contract the maximum paid annually for Term Life Insurance
+$1,829 MEDI *
+$920 SUI*
+$3,057 WC*
+$14,871 H/W*
+$10,370 STRS & STRSC*
• These are all estimates taken from the District expense for the Asst. Superintendent position, Educational services. I thought these numbers would be somewhat comparable, if a little on the low side.

=$180,293.00 Total Expense to the District ESTIMATED. Any additional expenses incurred associated with duties are compensated, as well as any additional costs of an annual physical examination not covered by the health insurance provided.
Salary / Total District Expense
Asst. Superintendent, Educ. Services $125,654 / $156,691
After Schl Prog. Coordinator/Stdnt Services $95,456 / $122,626
Asst. Superintendent, HR Director $96,082 / $123,293
Special Ed Coordinator $89,351 / $112,629
Asst. Superintendent, Fiscal Services $124,452 / $154,483
Director, Budget and Accounting $87,360 / $119,965
Director, Facilities and Construction $81,853 / $113,158
Director of Neighborhood for Learning $55,611 / $83,694
Director of Child Nutrition $70,973 / $98,034
Elem. Principal Piru $80,181 / $91, 836
Elem. Principal San Cayetano $92,259 / $110,800
Elem. Principal Sespe $92,259 / $118,986
Elem. Principal Mountain Vista $92,259 / $105,599
Sierra High Principal $81,119 / $115,315
Fillmore High School Principal $111,785 / $141,014
FHS Asst. Principal $87,054 / $110,036
FHS Asst. Principal $100,984 / $128,838

Sub-Total: $2,243,756
Superintendents Salary & Expenses= $180,293.00
Total: $2,424,049
There are some administrative positions that were not included in the report I received. I will be requesting these reports in the next few months. If there is a position that you are curious about, either request the info from the District office, or let me know. All information on compensation of any employee is a matter of public record.

Site Budgets: I thought this was an easy way view the Districts budget; again this is all based on the unaudited budget dated June 2010.

Site Budgets:

Mountain Vista:
Enrollment Projected: 554
Actual as of January 11, 2011 (per the ConAp): 578

Unrestricted General Fund 2009-10 Estimated / 2010-11 Proposed
Certificated Salaries; 1,650,414 / 1,555,191
Classified Salaries 101,079 / 101,230
Employee Benefits 506,705 / 530,320
Books and Supplies 33,267 / 16,210
Other Services 158,593 / 117,543
Capital Outlay 0 / 0
Total Expenditures 2,450,058 / 2,320,494

Restricted General Fund
Expenditures By Program 09-10 Estimated /10-11 Proposed
Title I Basic Aid 83,953 / 56,945
School Based Coordinated Programs 88,721 / 0
English Language Acq. Program 6,173 / 6,273
Economic Impact Aid-LEP 37,853 / 10,983
Economic Impact Aid-SCE 0 / 25,945
Total Expenditures 216,700 / 100,146

Piru:
Enrollment projected: 346
Actual as of January 11, 2011 (per the ConAp): 306

Unrestricted General Fund 2009-10 Estimated / 2010-11 Proposed
Certificated Salaries: 1,028,231 / 992,526
Classified Salaries: 86,319 / 87,104
Employee Benefits: 330,166 / 341,676
Books and Supplies 18,143 / 18,268
Other Services 81,996 / 64,236
Capital Outlay 0 / 0
Total Expenditures 1,544,855 / 1,503,810

Restricted General Fund
Expenditures By Program 09-10 Estimated /10-11 Proposed
Title I Basic Aid 70,254 / 51,079
School Based Coordinated Programs 72,497 / 0
English Language Acq. Program 3,243 / 4,827
Economic Impact Aid-LEP 28,039 / 27,840
Economic Impact Aid-SCE 0 / 55,221
Total Expenditures 174,033 / 138,967

San Cayetano:
Enrollment projected: 482
Actual as of January 11, 2011 (per ConAp): 525

Unrestricted General Fund 2009-10 Estimated / 2010-11 Proposed
Certificated Salaries: 1,411,118 / 1,312,359
Classified Salaries: 106,246 / 110,882
Employee Benefits: 459,975 / 483,695
Books and Supplies 25,361 / 12,446
Other Services 126,971 / 113,693
Capital Outlay 3,750 / 0
Total Expenditures 2,133,421 / 2,033,075

Restricted General Fund
Expenditures By Program 09-10 Estimated /10-11 Proposed
Title I Basic Aid 68,486 / 49,218
School Based Coordinated Programs 76,621 / 0
English Language Acq. Program 6,277 / 6,067
Economic Impact Aid-LEP 28,506 / 28,361
Economic Impact Aid-SCE 0 / 53,218
Newhall Grant 10,097 / 0
Total Expenditures 189,987 / 136,864

Sespe:
Enrollment Projected: 470
Actual as of January 11, 2011 (per ConAp): 472

Unrestricted General Fund 2009-10 Estimated / 2010-11 Proposed
Certificated Salaries: 1,449,887 / 1.264,003
Classified Salaries: 115,502 / 114,046
Employee Benefits: 461,931 / 448,316
Books and Supplies 24,834 / 16,941
Other Services 72,658 / 70,975
Capital Outlay 0 / 0
Total Expenditures 2,124,812 / 1,914,281

Restricted General Fund
Expenditures By Program 09-10 Estimated /10-11 Proposed
Title I Basic Aid 62,658 / 49,792
School Based Coordinated Programs 79,041 / 0
English Language Acq. Program 7,219 / 7,188
Economic Impact Aid-LEP 31,310 / 31,067
Economic Impact Aid-SCE 0 / 53,902
Total Expenditures 180,228 / 141,949

Fillmore Middle School
Projected Enrollment: 766
Actual as of January 11, 2011: 806

Unrestricted General Fund 2009-10 Estimated / 2010-11 Proposed
Certificated Salaries: 2,238,901 / 2,158,758
Classified Salaries: 187,842 / 187,552
Employee Benefits: 716,065 / 760,320
Books and Supplies 46,031 / 30,244
Other Services 204,652 / 162,682
Capital Outlay 0 / 0
Total Expenditures 3,393,491 / 3,299,556

Restricted General Fund
Expenditures By Program 09-10 Estimated / 10-11 Proposed
Title I Basic Aid 128,854 / 79,552
School Based Coordinated Programs 127,523 / 0
English Language Acq. Program 30,340 / 28,689
Economic Impact Aid-LEP 42,836 / 42,622
Economic Impact Aid-SCE 0 / 86,103
Total Expenditures 329,553 / 236,966

Sierra High School
Projected enrollment: 60
Actual as of January 11, 2011: 68

Unrestricted General Fund 2009-10 Estimated / 2010-11 Proposed
Certificated Salaries: 297,187 / 282,896
Classified Salaries: 16,359 / 16,396
Employee Benefits: 111,949 / 118,849
Books and Supplies 10,302 / 4,111
Other Services 30,468 / 21,180
Capital Outlay 0 / 0
Total Expenditures 466,265 / 443,432

Restricted General Fund
Expenditures By Program 09-10 Estimated / 10-11 Proposed
Title I Basic Aid 8,119 / 7,467
School Based Coordinated Programs 10,991 / 0
Economic Impact Aid-LEP 4,137 / 2,319
Economic Impact Aid-SCE 0 / 7,581
Total Expenditures 23,247 / 17,367

Fillmore High School
Projected Enrollment: 1085
Actual as of January 11, 2011: 1082

Unrestricted General Fund 2009-10 Estimated / 2010-11 Proposed
Certificated Salaries: 3,064,767 / 2,886,396
Classified Salaries: 337,124 / 362,991
Employee Benefits: 1,031,160 / 1,063,312
Books and Supplies 197,562 / 105,209
Other Services 366,900 / 314,871
Capital Outlay 0 / 0
Total Expenditures 4,997,513 / 4,732,779

Restricted General Fund
Expenditures By Program 09-10 Estimated / 10-11 Proposed
Title I Basic Aid 150,020 / 98,725
School Based Coordinated Programs 164,003 / 0
Title II Vocational Education 26,984 / 24,142
Economic Impact Aid-LEP 38,632 / 38,389
Economic Impact Aid-SCE 0 / 106,728
Agricultural Vocational Education 9,979 / 9,939
California High School Exit Exam 0 / 0
Total Expenditures 389,618 / 277,923

So there you are.

Do you think the money is being spent well?

My next step on this is to get job descriptions of each of the administrative positions.

Remember School Matters.
Post comments below, or send questions and comments to:
Schoolmatters@fillmoregazette.com
Fillmore Gazette Attn: School Matters, 408 Orchard Street, Fillmore 93015

Thanks for reading.
Kimberly

At last nights School Board meeting Board members Tony Prado, Lucy Rangel ad Dave Wilde all commented on this video that Assist. Superintendent Director of Educational Services Katy Hadley showed at a recent workshop they attended.

The video did float around facebook a while back. Check it out:

***************
So what do you think?
It seems a pretty daunting task to prepare students for jobs that don't even exist yet with technology that will be outdated by the time they graduate from high school.
But what about the idea that instead of preparing students for jobs.... (Ok let's really get outside the box here) public education needs to shift its goal to preparing students to become.... thinkers, problem solvers, and entrepreneurs. To provide them with skills to think on their feet and to meet the demands of whatever is thrown their way. What about preparing students to have the confidence to question the status quo? To imagine that success is not always defined by the amount of money you make or what corporation your work for but by what you contribute to your community or even something as seemingly small as making a child smile.

I was recently listening to an author from India being interviewed about the great progress happening in India. He spoke about how every single successful person he knew in India, who had risen up out of the chaste (or class) of their parents... every single one worked for themselves. They created their own job. This got me thinking, in the US we hear all about job creation, and many expect our governments to seemingly wave a magic wand, or maybe a dollar, and *poof* create hundreds of thousands of jobs. But what about the idea that folks need to start preparing to climb out of that box, to think about filling the needs of their community, and creating their own jobs. Doesnt' work for every single person, but think about even the effect of a small shift. Hummmm.

Look around our world. Egypt. Tunisia. Los Angeles. And sometimes even yes, our own Communities of Fillmore, Piru and all of Ventura County. Public Education needs to shift its goals, challenge students to build their confidence in ways that they can find their passion, their contribution, their voice and take it out into their community in a positive way. It’s beyond jobs. It comes down to do we want kids trained to get an A, B or a C (I think our current system even trains some kids to get D’s and F’s…) or do we want them to be confident enough to fail… and keep going…. and get up again and keep going.

What would they do if they knew they would not fail?

What would they do if there were TRULY no stupid questions?

Maybe they just might solve the world’s problems that we don’t even know exist yet.
Just maybe.

According the California Department of Education Piru Elementary Schools, with a 2010 Base API score of 709 has been placed on a list of 1000 "low performing" schools in California. While there does appear to be some concerns over some schools being on list that have scores over 800, Piru Elementary appears to truly meet the criteria for "low performing". http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/eo/op/yr10ltr10.asp (Enter Ventura County, and select Fillmore)

Click here: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/eo/op/yr10ltr10.asp to see the letter sent to all County and District Superintendents on October 8, 2010.

Here are some excerpts from the letter that may be of interest to some parents whose children currently attend Piru Elementary or who may be planned to send their children there fall 2011:

"Parents may exercise their transfer option using this list for their students to begin enrollment at another school for the 2011-12 school year. Parents must submit an application requesting a transfer to the desired school prior to January 1, 2011. Parents who opt to transfer their students under this law may enroll their students within the same district or any other district, provided the school to which they are applying has a higher Academic Performance Index (API) score than the school from which the students are transferring."

Note that the deadline for next school year was January 1, 2011. But what about parents who were not notified of this option? Or what about parents who students starting in the fall?
According to the letter you can contact Carolyn Mills, Education Programs Consultant, by phone at 916-445-7746 or by email at cmills@cde.ca.gov.

Please consider posting your findings and experience here to help other parents.

Are you choosing to transfer? Why or Why not?

Fillmore Middle School
Student Awards Waffle & Strawberries Breakfast

When: Thursday, February 3rd
8:15 am-8:45 am

To recognize student achievement.

The middle school is doing something a bit different in an effort to increase parent participation in the student award ceremonies. Usually a night time event, switching to the morning may get more parents, and adding waffles and strawberries is a fun and unique way to get kids excited and hopefully motivated to win an award.

Bill Watkins

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - The California Lutheran University Center for Economic Research and Forecasting will present its Ventura County Economic Forecast in two seminars on Thursday, Feb. 17.

CERF Executive Director Bill Watkins will present the forecast. Jack O’Connell, former California Superintendent of Public Instruction, will speak on “The State of Education.”

The east county event, which will include breakfast, will be held from 7:30 to 10 a.m. in CLU’s Lundring Events Center. The west county seminar, which will include lunch, will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ventura Beach Marriott.

CERF provides local, state and national forecasts for government, business and nonprofit leaders throughout the country. Watkins has been providing accurate, unflinching forecasts for more than 10 years and has been widely published in academic journals, traditional media and new media. He and other members of the CERF team are quoted regularly by news organizations including the Wall Street Journal, CNN, NBC, Fox Business Network, Forbes and Bloomberg News. Watkins, who has a doctorate in economics, previously served as an economist with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C.

O’Connell served as state superintendent from 2003 until term limits forced him to step down in January. A democrat, he was the state senator representing the 18th district from 1994 to 2002 and the assemblyman representing the state’s 35th district from 1982 to 1994. Currently a resident of San Luis Obispo, O’Connell attended Oxnard High School and returned to his alma mater to teach government for several years before entering politics. Quality education has been a priority throughout his career and he was the author of many landmark education bills.

Lundring Events Center is located in the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center north of Olsen Road near Campus Drive on the Thousand Oaks campus. The Ventura Beach Marriott is at 2055 E. Harbor Blvd.

Registration, which includes a copy of the forecast, is $150. To register, go to http://www.clucerf.org. For more information, visit the website or call (805) 493-3358.

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2011
6:30 P.M. - REGULAR MEETING
627 SESPE AVENUE, FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA
6:30 p.m.
A. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
B. ROLL CALL
C. CLARIFICATION OF AGENDA AND TIME ALLOCATIONS FOR DISCUSSION ITEMS
D. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS AND 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.
E. STUDENTS FIRST Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation
F. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION Notice from Ventura County Office of Education to Accept the Positive Certification for the First Interim Report Submitted by the District for the Period Ending October 31, 2010 (Materials)
6:45 p.m.
G. STANDING REPORTS 10 minutes Student Representative’s Report 10 minutes Board Members’ Reports 10 minutes Superintendent’s Report
o Farm Advisory Board Recommendation for Cooperative
Agreement with Local 4-H Clubs
7:15 p.m.
H. ACTION - CONTINUED »