The purpose of the organization is the children. To make a commitment and give up some personal time to perform at the groups highest level and serve. That consists of all welcomed and invited who choose to do so.

As stated and mentioned before FOP'S sincerely thanks and appreciates the tremendous support of the Piru and Fillmore community for always supporting us and our fundraisers. This has allowed us to be able to have educating Field trips, the first out door school camp trips teaching respect and inspire wonder, educating and rewarding field assemblies, bus transportation's, High School Scholarship's, Ice cream socials, prizes for children for rewards, class parties, computer supplies, books, paint supplies and materials for projects, school farm necessities, printers, laminator, nurse office supplies, fun festivities with everyone and more. Despite all it has been so rewarding to have been apart of all that his been accomplished.

Teachers and staff that have been so truly recognized and greatly honored. Where would we and the world be with out these great mentors.

Due to the current situation FRIENDS OF PIRU SCHOOL has been under tight scrutiny. FRIENDS OF PIRU SCHOOL has a huge job now to try and re earn the trust of parents and community. I know from personal experience that we as a group can survive and strive forward. It will just take time and everything will be better with FAITH, HOPE, PATIENCE, HOPE and the WILL.

Sincerely,
FRIENDS OF PIRU SCHOOL
Katharine Warring Ponce

Several weeks ago we asked the Piru Neighborhood Council for the opportunity to have a half hour on their agenda to present our plans and hopes for creating a charter school in Piru for next school year. We were told that we could be placed on the November 18th meeting agenda, and planned to make a formal presentation and answer questions.

However, at the end of last week, we were informed that the format of our appearance must be changed. We would not be allowed to make a presentation, instead we would simply answer questions put to us from those in attendance. Then we learned that one of the minority of teachers at Piru who opposes the charter petition would be given his own table, and the opportunity to answer the same questions, as well.

Everyone should be given an opportunity to address the Neighborhood Council, and that includes us. However, the weekend before the meeting, the presentation had been changed into some sort of debate. We must decline such a meeting, as it is our goal, especially after the way the District conducted their meetings at Piru School, to lower the amount of conflict in the community.

It would not be of benefit to our children nor the community to continue such confrontation and accusation. Instead, we welcome opportunities to share information, clarify facts, answer questions and correct misinformation. We are convinced that allowing Piru School to become independent by converting into a charter school will most greatly benefit Piru's children and the community, and we are willing to stake our careers, our seniority and our job security upon it, because we believe the benefits to the children far outweigh our personal risks.

Hace varias semanas hemos pedido al Piru Neighborhood Council para la oportunidad de tener una media hora en su programa a presentar nuestros planes y esperanzas para la creación de una escuela chárter en Piru para el próximo año escolar. Nos dijeron que podríamos el 18 de noviembre hacer una presentación formal y responder a preguntas.

Sin embargo, al final de la semana pasada, nos informaron que hay que cambiar el formato de nuestra apariencia. A nosotros no se les permitiría hacer una presentación, en su lugar solamente pudieramos simplemente responder a las preguntas de personas en asistencia. A continuación, nos hemos enterado de que uno de la minoría de los maestros de Piru quien esta opuesto a la petición de la Carta se diera su propia mesa y la oportunidad de responder a las mismas preguntas.

Estamos de acuerdo que todo el mundo debe tener una oportunidad para abordar al Piru Neighborhood Council, y eso incluye a nosotros. Sin embargo, al fin de la semana pasada, antes de la reunión, la presentación se había cambiada en algún tipo de debate. Nosotros debemos rechazar tal reunión, ya que es nuestro objetivo, especialmente después de la forma en que el Distrito llevó a cabo sus reuniones en la escuela de Piru, para disminuir la cantidad de conflictos en la Comunidad.

No sería de beneficio para nuestros estudiantes ni la Comunidad para continuar tal confrontación y acusaciónes. En su lugar ,agradeciremos las oportunidades para compartir información, aclarar los hechos, responder a las preguntas y correctar información errónea. Estamos convencidos de que permitiendo que la escuela de Piru llegue a ser independientes en convirtiendo en una escuela chárter beneficiará más enormemente a los niños de Piru y la Comunidad, y estamos dispuestos a riesgar nuestra carrera, nuestra antiguedad y nuestra seguridad en el empleo en él, porque creemos que los beneficios a los niños superan nuestros riesgos personales.

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA — California State University Channel Islands (CI) Business & Technology Partnership (B&TP) will host its seventh-annual Holiday Mixer on Thursday, Dec. 3 at the campus. The event will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. that will feature student, faculty, and staff demonstrations on how the campus is furthering its sustainability efforts.

A presentation entitled, ‘The Future of Sustainable Agriculture’ will begin at 6:30 p.m. by keynote speaker Casey Houweling, President and Owner of Houweling Nurseries Ltd., the third largest greenhouse production operator in North America. Casey Houweling has over 33 years of experience as a grower, having joined his father’s agricultural business in 1976 in Delta, British Columbia (Canada). In 1985, Houweling Nurseries became the first large-scale commercial greenhouse vegetable producer in British Columbia, a facility that has grown from 6 to 50 acres.

As demand for fresh greenhouse grown produce grew, CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 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 09-10-06 Labor/Negotiations (Government Code 54957.6) CONTINUED »

Camarillo, Calif. Nov. 12, 2009 – The third and final program in CSU Channel Islands’ (CI) Fall 2009 Chicana/o Speaker Series will feature well-known writer Gustavo Arellano.

The program will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the John Spoor Broome Library, Room 1360, on the CI campus. The program, sponsored by the Chicana/o Studies program, in conjunction with the Center for Multicultural Engagement, is free and open to the public.

Gustavo Arellano is familiar to many readers for his Op/Ed pieces in the Los Angeles Times. He is also a staff writer with Orange County’s alternative newspaper, the OC Weekly, and a frequent guest on Public Radio International’s Weekend America. He writes a nationally syndicated column, “¡Ask a Mexican!” Arellano is the recipient of many awards, including the Los Angeles Press Club’s 2007 President’s Award and an Impacto Award from the National Hispanic Media Coalition.

The child of Mexican immigrants, Arellano grew up in CONTINUED »

Sue Saunders

Camarillo, Calif., – CSU Channel Islands (CI) announced an award received by CI’s Director of Academic Advising and Learning Support Services, Sue Saunders.

Saunders was the founding member of the Advising Center at CI in 2000, bringing with her the experience of more than 20 years’ work in the educational field.

In March 2009, Saunders attended the Pacific Region 9 conference of her professional group, the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA). During the conference Saunders presented, “The Student Advising Guide from Orientation and Beyond.” The presentation was chosen as the “Best of the Region” by her peers. This award is presented by NACADA to one session at each of the ten regional conferences.

Saunders was awarded a stipend to attend the NACADA CONTINUED »

Enlarge Photo

On Monday, November 9, 2009, San Cayetano School recognized good citizenship and character at their Peacebuilder Assembly for the month of November. Mr. Paul Capra, who represented the Capra/Matloz Rainbow Foundation which sponsor the Character Counts Award each month for San Cayetano, came to speak to the students about what a good citizen is and how being good citizens can help students in school and in their outside lives. Each teacher chose a student from his or her class whom showed excellent character and peace-building skills. Julian Calderon and Christina De La Mora, the San Cayetano ASB President and Vice-President assisted Mr. Capra in handing out the Peacebuilder Awards. The Peacebuilders for November are: Marrissa Diaz, Jose Elias, Diana Razo, Angelica Herrera, Vanessa Cabral, Ruby Baez, Ray Thompson-Ayala, Ixa Ibarra, Lillian Diaz, Angel Paniagua, Anjalee Vargas, Yasmine Machuca, Andreena Gil, Alexis Tovar, Aliza Ayala, Abigail Castillo, Joel Garza, Brenda Felix, Leslie Martinez, Alicia Fabian, and Amber Parker. Julian and Christina then announced to the students that the Rainbow Foundation is sponsoring the San Cayetano Character Counts Award of a $100.00 savings bond. Mr. Capra presented the Character Counts Award to a deserving third-grade student. Erika Garza, from Ms. Duran’s class was chosen by the third grade teachers as a model of outstanding behavior and responsibility to the other students. To conclude the assembly, students were reminded to turn in their Perfect Attendance tickets. Each month all students who come to school, each day, on time, are given an orange raffle ticket. The students place their tickets in a box and one ticket is drawn. The student whose ticket is drawn is given a backpack full of supplies. Each month, the tickets will be put into a larger box that will be kept until the end of the year. In June, Mrs. Marholin, the principal, will draw from the tickets to give away two new bicycles.

Austin Brock, a Fillmore Middle School student, has taken the first step to becoming a state wide recognized artist by winning the local competition sponsored by the Fillmore Lions Club. This year's theme was “The Power of Peace”. Austin's work was selected from the work of students in Mrs. Doris Nichols' art classes.
When Austin was asked to describe the significant ideas or inspiration for his poster stated, “My tree represents the uniting power of nature. The Sun represents the rising of a new generation.”
Austin's poster has been forwarded to the local Lions District for further competition in California.
The runner-ups were Valeria Garcia Contreras and Mariah Coats. Austin received $25 as the winner and Valeria and Mariah received $15. Judges Jo Garcia and Ken Mittan were impressed by the many fine posters submitted. They also want to encourage all students to participate again next year.

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2009
5:15 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
6:00 P.M. – SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
3811 CENTER STREET, PIRU, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA
5:15 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
II. ROLL CALL
III. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY CLOSED SESSION ITEMS, PETITIONS
This is the time and place to address the school board on any closed session item. 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 ITEMS(S) TO BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION
o Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation
 Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to subdivision (b)(3)(A) of Government Code Section 54956.9: 1 case

6:00 P.M.
V. RECONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION Any Action From Closed Session
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).]
VI. CLARIFICATION OF AGENDA AND TIME ALLOCATIONS FOR DISCUSSION ITEMS
VII. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
This is the time and place to address the school board on any items on the open session agenda. 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.
IX. ACTION ITEM
a. Approve/Deny Piru Charter School Charter Petition and, if Denied, Adopt Board Resolution Number 09-10-09 Denying the Petition for the Piru Charter School (Materials)
X. FUTURE MEETINGS
November 17 5:15 p.m. Closed Session – Board Room
6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting – Board Room
XI. BOARD CLOSING COMMENTS AND AGENDA BUILDING
XII. ADJOURNMENT

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, Calif., – As a kick-off to CSU Channel Islands’ International Week, Ladino singer Sarah Aroeste will appear in concert on Nov. 16 at 5:00 p.m. in Malibu Hall, Room 100 on the CI campus. The concert is open to the public with a $5 admission fee.

Aroeste, a well-known recording artist and performer of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) music, focuses on creating contemporary musical interpretation of Sephardic music. This music comes from the Jews who were expelled from Spain in the 15th century during the Inquisition. Aroeste calls her music “Ladino Rock,” a combination of centuries old songs with rock, funk, jazz, and blues.

International Week is sponsored by the University’s IRA CONTINUED »

California State University Channel Islands

Camarillo, Calif., Nov 4, 2009 – A new exhibition, “Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program, 1942-1964,” recently opened at the Washington, D.C. Smithsonian National Museum of American History (SNMAH). In late September, Dr. Richard R. Rush, President of CSU Channel Islands (CI), and Pilar Pacheco, Assistant Director of the Center for Community Engagement, attended a reception at the SNMAH honoring the University’s contribution to the national oral history project, among others.

At the opening of the exhibit in Washington, Rush and other partners in the oral history project were recognized for their work and institutional commitment in preserving this part of America’s history. Also attending were Mexico’s former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jorge Castañeda, Arizona’s U.S. House of Representative Raúl Grijalva, and Director of the National Museum of American History, Brent Glass.

CI collaborated with the Smithsonian National Museum of CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

by Richard Durborow
The Charter School Founding Group would like to take this opportunity to express their disappointment in what was supposed to have been an objective and professional hearing on the merits of the sixteen major points of the Charter School Petition, which was submitted to the Fillmore Unified School District on September 16. We knew when we entered the Piru Cafeteria that evening to find that our seating had been taken away, that it was going to be a less than business-like session. The side door of the cafeteria was locked in front of us, as we stood outside with our guests, Jessica Norman of EXED, the accounting firm many charter schools employ, and Yvette King-Berg, Vice President of the California Charter Schools Association. We presented the message we had, all thirteen of us, from where we were made to stand in a small corner, despite that fact that one of our staff was very pregnant, another had just given birth, and another was ill.

The evening began with other troubling issues. Those handing out the cards to speak included the two staff members who have most hotly opposed the charter idea for over the last eighteen months. They have gone around Piru, making their opposition known, and this intimidated some of the parents who had come to speak in favor of the charter from filling out a card. The practice of sharing minutes by members of the audience was introduced, although this had not been brought up ahead of time in scheduling the meeting. State of California Migrant Funds had been used to provide a bus for parents, who were encouraged, en route, to voice opposition. Although it was announced that speakers expressing redundancies would be hurried, this did not happen, during an orchestrated confrontation, which lasted four and a half hours.

One parent who drives her children to Piru was repeatedly harassed by Board Member Prado about CONTINUED »

This is the 20th year for Grad Nite Live and still going strong. It's hard to believe that this Little Town of Fillmore has kept this organization for the graduating seniors alive. We lost 8 Fillmore High School Students over a period of 18 months during the years 1988 to 1990. Then 5 hours after Jimmy Anderson graduated June 1990, he was a passenger in an auto accident after having been to a party that was given by another senior’s parents where many of the graduating class attended. In all these various accidents liquor, drugs, highway speed or just highway travel were involved. After the 1990 graduation party tragedy we got some of the parents of the upcoming graduating class of 1991, school personnel and concerned citizens of Fillmore together and decided to do something for the "91 class to keep them safe and give them a party out of town. Grad Nite Live was born. Truly the first Party Boat wasn't great, but we've gotten better - actually perfect!! Its fun, they’re fed, danced and entertained kept safe, no alcohol, drugs or cigarettes and home by 6 am for breakfast. We started taking 140 graduates for $10,000 and now it 270 for $23,000, all done by fund-raisers and donations from this Little Town. Thank You!

A total of 323 students received bachelor’s degrees form California Lutheran University on May 17, 2009.
CLU is a selective liberal arts university located in Thousand Oaks. With an enrollment of more than 3,400 students, CLU offers 36 undergraduate majors and six graduate programs within the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business and School of Education. Students come from across the country and around the world and represent a diversity of faiths and cultures.

Fillmore graduates are Krystal Gonzalez, BS in Criminology; Cassandra Hernandez, BS in Biology; Enrique Hurtado, BS in Business; Melissa Hurtado, BS in Accounting; Jin Palacio, BS in Business; Ricardo Lopez, BA in Sociology/Criminology; and Victoria Hurtado, BS, Organizational Leadership.

Ventura College offers classes on the workings of insurance companies, insurance and risk management to equip individuals, business owners and students to take full advantage of the benefits and protections under the various types of individual and commercial insurance policies available.

Registration is now open for two classes starting in January 2010 – Insurance Fundamentals, BUS V71 and Property & Liability Insurance, BUS V72.

Designed for business operators, the general public and business students, the class on Insurance Fundamentals, BUS V71, opens the door to the broad field of insurance, explains how insurance companies operate and are regulated, the functions of underwriting and claims, and introduces the various types of insurance available to individuals and businesses.

Protection from legal liability and damage to CONTINUED »

THOUSAND OAKS, CA. California Lutheran University will mark Ventura County’s World AIDS Day 2009 with a series of events exploring the epidemic both locally and globally.

The commemoration will begin with an exhibit called “Condom Tree” from Tuesday, Nov. 24, through Wednesday, Dec. 2, in the Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture in Soiland Humanities Center. Michael Pearce, chair of CLU’s art department, will explore World AIDS Day through his representation of safer sex methods.

A documentary titled “Little Secrets” will be shown at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, in Lundring Events Center in the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center. The film features 10 HIV-positive teenagers who challenge themselves, their disease and the whitewater rapids of the Salmon River. A discussion will follow the screening.

The main events will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 1, in Lundring Events Center. Starting at 4:30 p.m., a Positively Speaking Panel of local residents who are HIV-positive will share their stories and answer questions. A light dinner reception and discussion will follow at 6 p.m.

Two keynote speakers will share their perspectives on AIDS starting at 7 p.m. Evelyn Gonzalez-Figueroa, associate director of AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) International, has worked with HIV/AIDS since the mid-1980s. During the last decade, she has focused on community-based research with an emphasis on analyzing cultural gaps in HIV/AIDS prevention. She has also developed programs in Los Angeles, India, China and Latin America.

Matt G. Mutchler, a community-based researcher at APLA and sociology professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills, will discuss “Sexual Health Communication Between Young Gay Men and Young Women: ‘Gay Boy Talk,’ ‘Girl Talk,’ and Why It Matters for HIV Prevention Practices and Policies.” Mutchler has researched the social and cultural contexts of young gay men’s sexual lives for more than 18 years.

The evening will conclude with a candlelight vigil.

Working in conjunction with the HIV/AIDS Coalition of Ventura County, CLU’s Wellness Programs and Center for Equality and Justice are sponsoring the free events. For more information, please contact Wellness Programs at (805) 493-3950 or wellness@callutheran.edu.

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 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 09-10-03
o Expulsion Case Number 09-10-04 CONTINUED »