When the Piru Charter School train left the station, few passengers were on board. What was described as a “collaborative” effort now appears to represent the work of only 3 individuals with the consent of an additional few people. There was no effort to get “buy in” from more than a small handful of community members, classified staff members, nor teachers not in “the know”.

The Piru Charter School petition was written in secret. Over a year ago Piru Elementary School staff met to explore reconfiguration at Piru School to parallel the district’s conversations on reconfiguration. The conversations at Piru were to include ways to improve instruction within the current school structure, investigate the concept of a magnet school, and look at charter schools. The conversations, led by then principal Richard Durborow and long time charter advocate Christopher Pavik, began with a broad focus but were quickly narrowed by the leaders to the single concept of charter. In its discussion the Piru School staff had hoped to gain an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages associated with Charter Schools. However, the leaders rapidly took the discussion from investigation of charter schools to joining a charter association and writing a charter petition to make Piru Elementary to a conversion charter school. A conversion charter school requires the existing school to close then the newly incorporated sef-governed school is opened in its place. Many staff members believed at that point the discussion had been derailed and resulted in an end to whole staff collaboration. The conversations continued with a small group of teachers in secret. The product of these secret meetings was the petition presented to the Fillmore USD on September 16 to convert Piru Elementary School to Piru Charter School.

The founding group of Piru Charter School petitioners presenting their CONTINUED »

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On Wednesday, Oct. 7th, Fillmore students took to the streets for International Walk to School Day. Students from Fillmore Unified School District walked to school assisted by police officers along with parents, teachers and community volunteers. All FUSD students and staff were encouraged to walk to school. The event began at 7 am at Fillmore's City Hall (Fillmore area schools) and at the Piru Fire Station (Piru Elementary). Participants were provided with fun early morning physical activities, as well as nutrition and pedestrian safety fun facts. Students were assisted by community volunteers, parents, teachers and local area agencies. Events continued throughout the day at each campus.

Events included Network for a Healthy California—Gold Coast Region Children's Power Play! Campaign, Safe Kids of Ventura County, Dairy Council of California, Fillmore Police Department, Piru Fire Department, Santa Clara Valley Neighborhoods for Learning, FedEx Kinkos, Fillmore City Hall, Fillmore Unified School District, Fillmore and Piru School staff, parents and students. Hundreds of Fillmore students joined in the Walk to School event.
Those walking from City Hall were accompanied by police officers and other community members. Each student had the opportunity to participate in various physical, nutrition and safety activities in their schools.
Walk to School events focus on creating safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader community.

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009 Fillmore High School Seniors will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from UC, CSU, community college, and private colleges and universities at the Second Annual Higher Ed Week at Fillmore High School during periods 1 and 3. College and university representatives will be here from Imperial Valley College; California State University Northridge; San Bernardino State University; San Marcos State University; San Diego State University; SDSU-Imperial Valley campus; Chico State University, University of California, Davis; UC Irvine; UC Riverside; UC San Diego; and UC Santa Cruz. Our local community colleges, Ventura, Moorpark, and Oxnard will also be represented.

Private colleges will include Point Loma Nazarene, University of San Diego, Cal Lutheran and Columbia College,
U.S. Forest Service as well as Southern California Consortium.

Many students will have representatives of their college choice here and it will give them an opportunity to ask specific questions about choosing a major, scholarships, campus, dorms, tour dates, academic requirements and paperwork they must complete in order to be accepted. Higher Ed Week emphasizes the importance of making an informed decision on where to attend college.

For more information on Higher Ed Week, please contact Fillmore High School Counselor Norma Perez-Sandford at 524-6107 or npsandford@fillmore.k12.ca.us

Norma Pérez-Sandford is a Counselor at Fillmore High School.

Mary Kramer

Camarillo, CA. - The board of the CSU Channel Islands (CI) Foundation recently announced the winner of its first annual ‘Star Award’ for exemplary service to the Foundation. Camarillo businesswoman and board member Mary Kramer, recipient of the award, was recognized for her tireless work and outstanding commitment to the board’s goals of creating new funding opportunities to benefit the University.

The board, led by Chairman Bill Kearney, a 34-year resident of Ventura, has worked diligently to open new doors for fundraising that will benefit students and faculty. New revenue for research and program development strengthens the University’s mission of providing innovative, multidisciplinary, service-oriented programs. Kearney, a six-year board member, said that he had gotten involved with the board because he, “…, like so many other people in Ventura County, was absolutely thrilled to have a four-year public University in the county.”

The board, composed of both community leaders from different industries and faculty and administrative representatives, was organized to re-energize, restructure and expand fundraising efforts. Bill Kearny emphasized that members of the board have many diverse backgrounds and abilities and that, “Mary brings skills to the group including tremendous negotiating skills.”

Entering her third year as a board member, Mary Kramer CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

The Fillmore Unified School District received a petition for the conversion of Piru Elementary School to a charter school to be known as the Piru Charter School. The District Governing Board will hold a public hearing on the provisions of the charter, at which time the Board will consider the level of support for the petition by teachers employed by the District, other District employees, and parents.

Based on the District’s review and analysis of the charter petition and the information gathered at the public hearing, the District Board will either grant or deny the charter. The meeting will occur at Piru Elementary School in their auditorium on Wednesday, October 21, at 6:00 p.m. Translators will be present at the meeting. Transportation to and from Rancho Sespe will be provided courtesy of the Ventura County Migrant Program.

Also, child care for elementary age students will be provided. A copy of the petition can be viewed at the Superintendent’s Office, 627 Sespe Avenue, Fillmore.

Recent articles in the Gazette by proponents of the Piru Charter School petition have implied that the Fillmore Unified School District showed a “lack of real concern for the students and parents of Piru Elementary School.” It is unclear what the petitioners are citing, as the information that follows is a clear indication that Piru has received tremendous support.
The District has shown concern for Piru’s instructional program as it funded the following over the past three years:
• The purchase of a computer lab ($17,000);
• The purchase of Waterford Math and Science software ($40,000); and
• The purchase one half the cost of the Lesson One ($11,250) program that school implemented the past two years.
The above items, with the exception of Lesson One were provided for all of our elementary schools. Also, the District provides outstanding support for our Title I, Migrant and our English Learners by our coordinators, all of whom specialize in our student populations across the District. This support is the luxury of being part of a unified school district.
Below is a partial list of the programs and projects that the District has completed at Piru School just in the last 4 years:
2004-05
• Electrical and Plumbing modernization CONTINUED »

VENTURA, CA - In Project Management Practicum, the capstone course of UCSB Extension's Professional Certificate Program in Project Management, students apply their learned project management skills to assist a community service organization. This fall, UCSB Extension is pleased to again be collaborating with Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, a charitable non-profit organization dedicated to building homes in partnership with low-income families in need of decent and affordable housing. The student project this fall quarter will be to assist Habitat to plan and conduct a fundraising golf event at Wood Ranch in Simi Valley.

In prior Practicum classes, students planned and executed projects for the Ventura and Santa Barbara Habitat affiliates. These projects included home improvement workshops to raise awareness of Habitat's ReStore, a 25th anniversary picnic to honor homeowners and volunteers, a ReStore location study, and a Women-at-Work day to frame a Habitat house.

"Through projects such as these, students learn by CONTINUED »

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA. - CSU Channel Islands (CI) has announced the second program of the Fall 2009 Chicana/o Speaker Series. Guest speaker, Dr. Ana Elizabeth Rosas of UC Irvine, will discuss her research on women and the Bracero program entitled, “Ourselves-Our Children: Responsibility and Respectability across the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, 1942-1947.”

The program, which is free and open to the public, will take place Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 3 to 5:00 p.m. in the John Spoor Broome Library Room 1360 on the CI campus. The series of programs is sponsored by the Chicana/o Studies program, in conjunction with the Center for Multicultural Engagement and is funded by the University’s IRA (Instructionally Related Activities).

Dr. Rosas’ research on women, the Bracero program and its legacy, from 1942 to today, demonstrates the ongoing impact the program has had on Chicano families. A by-product of the program, which allowed Mexican nationals to take temporary agricultural work in the United States, was the separation of the families of migrant workers. For a female migrant worker it meant the lengthy absence of a mother from her children, as she worked to send money back to her family. This resulted in many children resenting the mother’s absence and feeling abandoned.

The separation of family members, some living and CONTINUED »

California State University Channel Islands

WHAT: “Where Are We Now?” with Dr. Sung Won Sohn
WHEN: 12 – 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9, 2009
WHERE: CSU Channel Islands, One University Drive, Camarillo, Malibu Hall 100

The worst economic setback during the post-war period is over. The global economy is recovering and the global financial markets are stabilizing. Despite the improved outlook, there are concerns on both economic and financial fronts. There is the risk of a double-dip recession as well as renewed inflation. The funding in the economic stimulus programs will be gradually phased out. The central banks will begin to mop up excess liquidity and start raising the interest rate. The global trade won't be as robust as it used to be. How real are these risks? How will the U.S. economy fare? How will the financial markets including the stock and bond markets respond? Renowned economist, Dr. Sung Won Sohn, will present his analysis.

Sohn is a Professor at the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics at CSU Channel Islands. He is regularly quoted by national and global media outlets. Prior to arriving at the University, Sohn was the Chief Executive Officer of Hanmi Financial Corporation, a commercial bank with $4 billion in assets. Before joining Hanmi in 2005, Sohn was Executive Vice President and Chief Economic Officer of Wells Fargo Banks for more than 30 years. He served on the President’s Council of Economic Advisors at The White House during the Ford-Nixon Administration.

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2009
5:15 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
6:00 P.M. - REGULAR MEETING
627 SESPE AVENUE, FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA
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.
IV. CLOSED SESSION
The Board of Education will meet from 5:15 to 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. If the Board does not complete Closed Session discussions at this time, the Board may adjourn to Closed Session at the end of the regular meeting. DISCLOSURE OF ITEM(S) TO BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION School District Pupils (Education Code 35146)
o Expulsion Case Number 09-10-01
o Expulsion Case Number 09-10-02 Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Government Code 54956.8)
707 First Street
Negotiators: Mike Bush, Constance Swindt Labor/Negotiations (Government Code 54957.6)
o Update; Direction to District Negotiators (Jeff Sweeney, Mike Bush, Bev Jones) for negotiations with the Fillmore Unified Teachers Association (FUTA), the California School Employees Association (CSEA), Confidential Employees, and District Administration. Personnel Matters
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).]
6:00 p.m.
V. RECONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION Any Action From Closed Session
VI. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
VII. CLARIFICATION OF AGENDA AND TIME ALLOCATIONS FOR DISCUSSION ITEMS
VIII. THE POWER OF ONE Danny Alcozar Maria Gonzalez Scott Carroll Anna Morielli
VIX. 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.
X. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
6:15 p.m.
XI. STANDING REPORTS 10 minutes Student Representative’s Report 10 minutes Board Member’s Reports 30 minutes Superintendent’s Report
o Health Report (Materials)
o Middle School Response to Intervention Model (Materials)
6:45 p.m.
XII. ACTION - CONSENT AGENDA (Materials: Corresponding to letters a-e)
Items on the Consent Agenda are considered routine and will be enacted by a single motion. None of the items will be discussed unless a Board Member or member of the audience requests discussion.
a. Approve Minutes: Board Meeting Held September 15, 2009
b. Approve Personnel Order 09-10-05
c. Donations
d. Obsolete Items
e. Contracts
XIII. ACTION ITEMS
f. Approval of Resolution 09-10-07 for Adopting the “Gann Limit” (Materials)
g. Approve Notice of Completion for Bottenfield Construction (F10-00065) (Materials)
h. Approve Quarterly Report on Williams Uniform Complaints (Materials)
i. Approve Request for Overnight Fieldtrip from Joe Ricards to the FFA Chapter Officer Leadership Conference on October 10-11, 2009 in Hollister, CA. (Materials)
j. Approve Assumption of Santa Clara Valley Neighborhood for Learning’s Administrative Partner Grant – Total $244,574.00 (Materials)
7:15 p.m.
XIV. INFORMATION/DISCUSSION
k. 5 minutes Presentation of Initial Proposal from Fillmore Unified School District
(FUSD) for 2008-09 to California School Employees Association (CSEA)
Chapter 421 (Materials)
7:20p.m.
XV. FUTURE MEETINGS
October 20 5:15 p.m. Closed Session – Board Room
6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting – Board Room
October 21 6:00 p.m. Special Meeting – Location TBD
November 3 5:15 p.m. Closed Session – Board Room
6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting – Board Room
November 17 5:15 p.m. Closed Session – Board Room
6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting – Board Room
XVI. BOARD CLOSING COMMENTS AND AGENDA BUILDING
7:45 p.m.
XVII. ADJOURNMENT

Camarillo, CA. - The priority application period for students intending to enter CSU Channel Islands (CI) or any California State University campus in fall 2010 opened at midnight on October 1.

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible but, no later than Nov. 30, 2009, to be admitted to their preferred campus. Challenges brought on by California's budget shortfall are once again forcing all CSU campuses to reduce student enrollment. Twelve campuses have declared impaction and CI is anticipating more applications than ever.

Statewide most CSU campuses are not accepting new applicants for the spring semesters. While CI is open in spring 2010 for post baccalaureate programs, it will not open to new undergraduates in spring 2010 and will not open to new undergraduates in spring 2011. Students who wish to transfer from the local community colleges should plan ahead to be fully eligible to transfer in the fall semester.

Last year CI received over 6,000 applications from high school seniors CONTINUED »

Ventura College East Campus at 105 Dean Drive in Santa Paula is pleased to announce that it has acquired the Access 21 GED Preparation software program. This computer-based, interactive, self-paced program includes extensive practice in all the areas of the GED exam including language arts (reading and writing), social studies, science and math.

Any member of the community desiring to prepare him or herself to take the GED high school equivalency exam is welcome to use the program and check out additional GED instructional support textbooks for home study.

There is no charge to use the computer software or the accompanying textbooks. All that is required is to fill out a Ventura College student application (at no charge) in order to obtain an access number.

Erika Hurtado, instructional lab technician, is available to assist anyone interested in getting started. The computer lab is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information, please call the East Campus at 525-7136.

Seeking charter status, as provided under state law, is simply an exciting educational process that is happening all over California and the nation. It needn’t be confrontational. All students and all staff still have a choice of elementary schools to attend and to work at. Charter School simply provides another option for those who choose it.

All of us are in education because we want to help kids learn. Each school is different and different solutions are needed to maximize each school’s success. Piru is fortunate to have a staff that has demonstrated they are capable and willing to accept the challenge of becoming a Charter School. By completing many district tasks on site, we expect save enough money to be able to offer not only smaller classes to our students, but to purchase and develop programs and curriculums which best suit the needs of our students and our community.

Having made both our state API and federal AYP goals last year, Piru staff want to work hard this year to continue to increase their California Star Tests in CONTINUED »

On Wednesday, October 7, 2009 Fillmore Unified School District, in conjunction with the City of Fillmore, will be participating in the nationally celebrated event, Walk To School Day. This event gives children, parents, school teachers and community leaders an opportunity to be part of a global event as they celebrate the many benefits of walking and riding bicycles to school. It also provides a chance to discuss and address finding and creating safe routes to school and in our communities. In 2004, more than 3,000 schools in the US and approximately 3 million walkers from 36 countries walked to school together on Walk to School Day. Last year, all of FUSD schools participated in a variety of ways, unique to each school site. Events at schools will follow which include informational outdoor assemblies, physical activities, nutritional education, and pedestrian safety education through Safe Kids of Ventura County, music, fresh fruit and healthy snacks, jump-roping, families visiting school sites, running, and more. Look for us next Wednesday, as students, FUSD staff, parents, families, community members, police and city employees all join in and walk alongside each other for the benefit of our students, their safety and their health! http://www.walktoschool-usa.org/index.cfm.

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA. – CSU Channel Islands (CI) has announced students who have been named to the Semester Honors list for the spring 2009 semester. For each city, the names of students earning honors are listed alphabetically.

Students named to the Semester Honors list are CI undergraduate students completing 12 or more units with a letter grade in a single semester or academic year who have earned a 3.75 or higher grade point average.

Fillmore

Iris Cortez

Isela Larin

Jessica Vasquez

Agoura Hills

Lucas Allen

Britany Arledge CONTINUED »

California Highway Patrol

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is offering a traffic safety program for teenage drivers and their parents. The Start Smart Program is aimed at helping future and newly licensed teenage drivers become aware of the responsibilities that accompany the privilege of being a licensed California driver. The program is designed as an educational tool for parents and teenagers in an effort to reduce the number of teenage injuries and deaths resulting from traffic collisions. Traffic collisions are the leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds. The primary objective of the program is to provide teens and parents with an understanding of how poor choices behind the wheel can affect the lives of numerous people. The Start Smart program also provides teens and parents with information on defensive driving, traffic laws in California, dynamics of traffic collisions, tips on avoiding traffic collisions, and DUI awareness.

Smart Start classes are free of charge. The next class will be on Tuesday October 6, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ventura Area CHP office. The address for the Ventura Area CHP office is 4656 Valentine Rd. Ventura, CA 93003. For more details or to make a reservation for the class, please call Officer Steve Reid at (805)477-4130.

Wayne Davey

Camarillo, CA. — The Tenth-Annual CSU Channel Islands President’s Dinner will take place under the stars at the campus on Saturday, Oct. 3. The gala event – Cruisin’ at CI – will celebrate the University’s accomplishments, and will include the presentation of the California State University Channel Islands Robert J. Lagomarsino Award.

Wayne Davey has been named the 2009 recipient of the Lagomarsino Award. The award will be presented to Davey at the President’s Dinner event. The award, named in honor of the Honorable Robert J. Lagomarsino, a former United States congressman and a longtime supporter of the University, is presented to an individual who has contributed to and supported CSU Channel Islands.

Davey’s involvement with the University began in 1999 when he and his wife Barbara became founding members of the President’s Circle. Davey served on the CSU Channel Islands Foundation Board of Directors from 2002-2008, and was Chairman of the Board from 2005-2007. Davey was also a co-founder of the University’s Business & Technology Partnership that assists the University in developing business and technology programs that will serve the business needs of the county, as well as serving on the University’s Biotechnology Program Advisory Board. Davey has been active with several organizations in Ventura County including the Ventura County Economic Development Association (VCEDA), Camarillo Chamber of Commerce, Camarillo Art & Jazz Festival, Camarillo Healthcare District Community Leaders Advisory Panel, CONTINUED »