Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2009
6:00 p.m. – SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
627 SESPE AVENUE, FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA

AGENDA
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. CLARIFICATION OF AGENDA AND TIME ALLOCATIONS FOR DISCUSSION ITEMS
V. CLOSED SESSION
The Board of Education will meet from 6:00-8:00 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. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE DISCIPLINE/DISMISSAL/RELEASE (Government Code Section 54957)
VI. RECONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION Any Action From Closed Session
VII. FUTURE MEETINGS
June 23 6:00 p.m. Special Meeting – Budget Adoption
June 30 6:30 p.m. Joint Board/City Council Meeting- City Hall
VIII. CLOSING COMMENTS AND AGENDA BUILDING
IX. ADJOURNMENT

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 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 CONTINUED »

WASHINGTON – Helping middle school students with their homework may not be the best way to get them on the honor roll. But telling them how important academic performance is to their future job prospects and providing specific strategies to study and learn might clinch the grades, according to a research review.

"Instilling the value of education and linking school work to future goals is what this age group needs to excel in school, more than parents' helping with homework or showing up at school," said lead researcher Nancy E. Hill, PhD, of Harvard University. She examined 50 studies with more than 50,000 students over a 26-year period looking at what kinds of parent involvement helped children's academic achievement.

These findings are reported in the May issue of Developmental Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association.

"Middle school is the time when grades and interest in school decline," said Hill. "Entering puberty, hanging out with friends, wanting distance from parents and longing to make one's own decisions win over listening to parents and studying." CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2009
5:15 P.M. – CLOSED SESSION
6:00 p.m. – SPECIAL MEETING

BUDGET STUDY SESSION
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 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 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 08-09-15
o Expulsion Case Number 08-09-16 Labor/Negotiations (Government Code 54957.6)
o Update; Direction to District Negotiators (Jeff Sweeney, Evalene Townend, Mike Bush) 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. 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.
IX. INFORMATION/DISCUSSION
a. Budget Discussion
X. FUTURE MEETINGS
June 16 5:15 p.m. Closed Session – Board Room
6:00 p.m. Regular Meeting – Board Room
June 23 6:00 p.m. Special Meeting – Budget Adoption
June 30 6:30 p.m. Joint Board/City Council Meeting- City Hall
XI. CLOSING COMMENTS AND AGENDA BUILDING
XII. ADJOURNMENT

This past week, a group of students and counselors went to a Peer Mediation Jamboree to prepare our students to run Peer Mediations for our next school year. This program was sponsored by the Ventura Center for Dispute Settlement and the Ventura County Bar Association.
Peer Mediations helps students solve their own problems, handle “issues” in a positive way, and show students new ways to work out their anger.
Peer Mediations promotes: solutions that last; independence in the process; problem solving; effective communication; negotiation strategies; understanding; empathy; and healthy relationships.
To be a Peer Mediator at Fillmore Middle School, the student must maintain good grades and good conduct in school. The four basic concepts of Peer Mediation is 1. Know the Problem, 2. Communicate, 3. Brainstorm Solutions, and 4. Make an Agreement.
Peer Mediations is when students get together to solve their problems in a peaceful way.
Way to go Fillmore Middle School!

A record number of scholarships were awarded to local students at the Ventura County Community Foundation Scholarship Awards Reception at the Ventura County Office of Education on June 4.

Nearly 380 awards, totaling more than $1.35 million, will be handed out at the event. A total of 490 scholarships will be given to 383 individuals.

Despite the downturn in the economy this year, the Community Foundation will award at least $290,000 more than it did in 2008.

“At this time of economic distress for so many families, these scholarships may well decide whether students continue their education and keep their dreams alive,” said Pierre Y. Tada, chair of the VCCF board.
This year, donors and contributors extended VCCF’s awards by $135,500 in new scholarships including awards for young artists, students who are the first in their families to attend college, children of agricultural workers as well as students majoring in agriculture, women resuming her education after being in the workforce, future science teachers and students studying medicine.

Here are the Fillmore/Piru scholarship winners:

Fillmore
Gabriele Alviz, William A. & Cynthia D. Fairburn Memorial, $2,200; Angelica Amezcua, James C. Basile Scholarship, $20,000; Destino Scholarship Fund, $2,500; Elizabeth Amezcua, James C. Basile Scholarship, $20,000; Mayra Amezcua, Orfalea Migrant Education Scholarship, $2,310; Alani Barajas, William A. & Cynthia D. Fairburn Memorial, $2,200; Alicia Figueroa, Orfalea Migrant Education Scholarship, $2,310; Luz Figueroa, Orfalea Migrant Education Scholarship, $2,310; Alexandra Garcia, Destino Scholarship Fund, $2,500; Natalie Garnica, William A. & Cynthia D. Fairburn Memorial, $2,200; Ashley Grande, Orfalea Scholarship Fund, $2,500; Rebeca Herrera, VCCF Scholarship Grants Fund, $600; Danny Klittich, Milton McKevett Teague Scholarship Fund, $2,500; Susie I. Lopez, TEACH Fund, $750; Maricarmen Magana, Orfalea Migrant Scholarship Fund, $2,310; Laura Orozco, Orfalea Health Field Scholarship, $2,500; Orfalea Scholarship Fund, $2,500; Carlos Tarango, James C. Basile Scholarship, $20,000; Antoinette Tarango, Orfalea Forgivable Loan for Nurses, $1,524; Ventura County Medical Education Fund, $4,000; Iris & Roger (Spike) Wilkins Scholarship, $1,100; Juan Carlos Toledo, William A. & Cynthia D. Fairburn Memorial Scholarship, $2,200; Jillian Wilber, James C. Basile Scholarship, $20,000.

Piru
Taylor Atkins, Finch Family Scholarship, $3,400; Orfalea Scholarship Fund, $2,500; Jonathan Escamilla, Orfalea Scholarship Fund, $2,500.

The Mother – Daughter banquet was held on Thursday, May 21st at the Memorial Bldg. The following students were acknowledged for being admitted to a university:
Aguirre Noah
Alonso Miguel
Alvary Jazmyne
Amezcua Elizabeth
Arreola Maria
Atkins Taylor
Avila Jessica
Bahena Christina
Barajas Alani
Bolanos Stephanie
Chavez Eron
Chessani Karli CONTINUED »

at San Cayetano Elementary School
June 9 – July 2, 2009
Breakfast 7:30 am -8:00 am
Lunch 11:45 am – 12:15 pm

Superintendent Jack-O'Connell
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction

SACRAMENTO – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell today announced the California Department of Education received $4.3 million in federal Advanced Placement Test Fee Program grants to help low-income students pay fees to take Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) tests.

“Students need more rigorous instruction to prepare for today’s hypercompetitive economy,” O’Connell said. “That’s why I am pleased the overall number of California students enrolling in AP and IB programs has increased dramatically in the past decade. These grants will help ensure that cost will not be a barrier for students to take these courses and as well as the tests. These grants are particularly welcome in our current economic environment. And, as an added benefit, by taking and passing these tests, students may receive college credit that can offset some of the cost of higher education.”

In the past decade from 1997-98 to 2007-08, the total number of students enrolled in AP and IB courses grew 112.6 percent from 228,019 to 484,694 students. AP and IB classes are typically taken in high school-level courses. But two middle schools in San Diego County, Lemon Grove Middle School and Palm Middle School both in the Lemon Grove School District, are offering middle school students Spanish language AP courses. CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

FILLMORE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
TUESDAY JUNE 2, 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 08-09-13
o Expulsion Case Number 08-09-14 Labor/Negotiations (Government Code 54957.6)
o Update; Direction to District Negotiators (Jeff Sweeney, Evalene Townend, Mike Bush) for negotiations with the Fillmore Unified Teachers Association (FUTA), the California School Employees Association (CSEA), Confidential Employees, and District Administration. Personnel Matters

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 CONTINUED »

Teacher Laurie Merrill displays her classes Memorial Garden Board.
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After waiting for several years the Memorial Rose and Butterfly Gardens are in at Fillmore Middle School. Mrs.
Merrill and her science students cleared the weeds, dug the holes, and planted the roses and butterfly feeding plants. Gama Aguilar and his grounds crew helped put in the irrigation and delivered the mulch. The students spread the mulch to complete the first set of gardens. Otto and Sons and the Trinidad family generously donated the colorful memorial roses. Green Thumb’s master gardeners assisted us with the selection of plants that feed both the local and migratory butterflies and their caterpillars. Students have been excited to report the
presence of the first butterfly visitors to our garden.

There is still a great deal of work to do to get ready for the other gardens which include: a mini orchard of our local fruits, a winter garden with holly and a Christmas tree, a drought tolerant and native plants garden, a salsa garden, a cut flower garden, a mini pumpkin patch, Indian corn, and a Peace Meadow. The garden offers an amazing opportunity for students to learn more science. For example, the Indian corn can be used to teach a lesson about “jumping genes”.

The garden is useful to encourage students to follow the Healthy Heart guidelines about eating more fruits and vegetables. To encourage the entrepreneurial spirit, students have designed a way to earn money from each garden. For example, pumpkins, holly, and salsa vegetables will be available for sale, as well as memorial roses. To encourage water conservation drought tolerant plants will be for sale on several occasions. Students will be allowed to eat the fruits from the mini orchard and learn to be proud of the world class fruit grown in and around Fillmore. All garden signs will be posted in English and Spanish to promote bilingualism and its benefits. A Peace Meadow will someday provide a peaceful place for students and staff to enjoy and use for peer mediation. CONTINUED »

The "S" Club of Filmore High School and Soroptimist International of Fillmore recently attended a Human Trafficking documentary at Thousand Oaks Library. The students were shock to say the least to learn that human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. It is everyone's problem. It affects young people in the USA as well as in foreign countries.
"The presentation was very well organize and well presented. The speaker was the director of the documentary NOT FOR SALE-The Movement. It was an eye opener for most of our students. Awareness is the first step in our quest to STOP Human Trafficking", said Oralia Herrera President of Soroptimist International of Fillmore and advisor for the "S" Club. Special Thanks to Mr. Chappy Morris for his generous donation for the bus transportation.
The "S" Club is a new club at Fillmore High School. The goal of the club is to be of service to the school and community; to cooperate with the school authorities in creating a school environment with high standards and ideals; and to prepare members to assume leadership in the business and professional world.
The "S" Club will continue to meet over the summer break. The "S" Club is sponsor by Soroptimist International of Fillmore. New members are always welcome. To learn more about The "S" Club or Soroptimist Internationl of Fillmore contact Pres. Oralia Herrera at (805) 524-6936 or magnoliares@sbcglobal.net

After waiting for several years the Memorial Rose and Butterfly Gardens are in at Fillmore Middle School. Mrs. Merrill and her science students cleared the weeds, dug the holes, and planted the roses and butterfly feeding plants. Gama Aguilar and his grounds crew helped put in the irrigation and delivered the mulch. The students spread the mulch to complete the first set of gardens. Otto and Sons and the Trinidad family generously donated the colorful memorial roses. Green Thumb’s master gardeners assisted us with the selection of plants that feed both the local and migratory butterflies and their caterpillars. Students have been excited to report the presence of the first butterfly visitors to our garden.
There is still a great deal of work to do to get ready for the other gardens which include: a mini orchard of our local fruits, a winter garden with holly and a Christmas tree, a drought tolerant and native plants garden, a salsa garden, a cut flower garden, a mini pumpkin patch, Indian corn, and a Peace Meadow. The garden offers an amazing opportunity for students to learn more science. For example, the Indian corn can be used to teach a lesson about “jumping genes”. The garden is useful to encourage students to follow the Healthy Heart guidelines about eating more fruits and vegetables. To encourage the entrepreneurial spirit, students have designed a way to earn money from each garden. For example, pumpkins, holly, and salsa vegetables will be available for sale, as well as memorial roses. To encourage water conservation drought tolerant plants will be for sale on several occasions. Students will be allowed to eat the fruits from the mini orchard and learn to be proud of the world class fruit grown in and around Fillmore. All garden signs will be posted in English and Spanish to promote bilingualism and its benefits. A Peace Meadow will someday provide a peaceful place for students and staff to enjoy and use for peer mediation. Gardeners in our community please feel free to offer us suggestions to improve and add beauty to our gardens. Donations of plants, tools, soil, fertilizers, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, heart healthy recipes, businesses from the garden ideas, vases, trees, plaques, brick work, lumber for raised beds, beneficial insects, a bird bath, and/or your time would be greatly appreciated. Please call Fillmore Middle School at 524-6070 for further information.

See Power Point slide show attached below.

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On Wednesday, May 13, 2009 Mountain Vista Elementary School kicked off the Fillmore Library’s Summer Reading Program with a field trip of Mrs. Carolyn Diaz’s and Mrs. Diane Grants’ Second Grade Classes.

The two Second Grade classes comprised of approximately 45 teachers, students, and volunteer parents walked 1 ½ miles from Mountain Vista Elementary School to the Fillmore Library. In addition to the 1 ½ challenging mile walk the classes climbed 84 steps leading from the North Fillmore area to the top near the Fillmore Middle School. After the program, put on by the Fillmore Library, the classes had a sack lunch picnic in Shiells Park before returning to class and the rest of their studies.

Of note is that this will be the last field trip for Mrs. Diaz who is retiring on June 5, 2009 after 33 years of teaching in the Orange, Norwalk and Anaheim School Districts. Mrs. Diaz has taught the last twenty-four years in the Fillmore Unified School District at the school sites of; Piru Elementary, Sespe Elementary and finally Mountain Vista Elementary. Mrs. Diaz received her education from Chapman University, in Orange, California, where she earned a Batchelor of Arts and Master of Science in Communicative Disorders Speech and Language and from California Lutheran University where she received her Professional Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Mrs. Diaz also is credentialed as a Preliminary Resource Specialist and is a licensed Speech Pathologist.

Mrs. Diaz will be celebrating her retirement on May 15th at the home of Mrs. Priscilla Anderson who is also a friend and co-worker at Mountain Vista Elementary School. Mrs. Diaz states she will miss all of her students, colleagues and the special “Ah Ha Moments” she has been privileged to be a part of when that one student really gets it! Mrs. Diaz, in her retirement, will spend more time reading and directing the “honey-do’s” she has planned for her husband Dick. In addition there will now be more time to spend visiting with her family. There could there also be some “substitute teaching” in her future? Good luck Mrs. Diaz in your retirement!

On Tuesday, May 12, 2009, San Cayetano recognized good citizenship and service for their last Peacebuilder assembly for the 2008-2009 school year this month. Carol Peterson, a Forest Ranger and Education Coordinator for the Channel Island National Park came to San Cayetano to speak to the students about what a good citizen is and how displaying good character could enrich the students and others in the community around them. After both assemblies were concluded, Carol Peterson went to each third grade classroom to speak to the students. She does an animal habitats and endangered species program, especially dealing with the Island Fox. A radio call out to one of the program’s fox technicians was also included in the third grade presentations. There was also a connection made to the program that ran a live bald eagle nest cam. A bald eagle chick hatched for the first time in many years on the island. Ms. Peterson spent about an hour in each of the third grade classrooms interacting with the students. The students enjoyed her visit. Along with Carol Peterson, Paula Phillips from the Dream Fund Outreach Program which has helped San Cayetano promote their positive character program. Paula came to congratulate all the students on their success in participating in various service learning projects such as raising money for animal shelters, food drives and campus clean-up recycling programs. All of the San Cayetano students were treated to an end of the year Service Learning pizza lunch celebration. Before the assembly each teacher chose a student from his or her class whom showed excellent character and peace-building skills. Roman Torango and Ian Overton, the San Cayetano ASB President and Vice-President assisted Ms.Peterson in handing out the Peacebuilder Awards. The Peacebuilders for May are: Edwin Munoz, Isaiah Vallejo, Evelio Patino, Filberto Magana, Monica Ramos, Adilene Garcia, Gustavo Granados, Cristian Garcia, Briana Lopez, Nataly Hernandez, Robert Gonzalez, Anthony Gomez, Melissa Assphor, Elizabeth Castaneda, Dominique Alamillo, Leslie Martinez, Fernanda Magana, Jennifer Esparza, Andy Vargas, Brianna Santa Rosa, Esmeralda Arroyo, and Jessie Vasquez. Roman then announced to the students that the Rainbow Foundation is sponsoring the San Cayetano Character Counts Award of a $100.00 savings bond. Ms. Peterson presented the Character Counts Award to a deserving Kindergarten student. Taiz Razo was chosen by the Kindergarten teachers as a model of outstanding behavior and kindness 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 new bicycles, an I-pod shuffle, and three large stuffed animals. Isaac Pacheco won the Perfect Attendance Award for the month of April.