EL SEGUNDO HERALD June 13, 2019 Page 5
School Spotlight
Sports
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El Segundo Girls Softball
8u Champs: Baby Sharks
10u Champs: Thunder Crabs
12u Champs: Tsunamis
Season Ends
Story and Photos by Gregg McMullin
The El Segundo Girls Softball (ESGS) season
has come to an end. The league capped
another strong year through the participation
of nearly 200 girls representing the 6U-14U
age divisions. The schedule of games early on
was challenged by wet weather. Undeterred by
disagreeable weather and practice schedules
cut in half, the season got underway. Games
that included a number of matchups against
teams from surrounding areas such as Santa
Monica, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Palos
Verdes, Hawthorne and Redondo Beach made
for a competitive season.
Championship Saturday was a huge success
crowning three division champions. The
8U division saw the Baby Sharks upset Blue
Dolphins, the division’s undefeated top seed,
10-2. In the 10u division, the Thunder Crabs
finished off their undefeated season with a
win over the Riptides. The 12U division saw
another thrilling end between the Tsunamis
and the Eels. The Tsunamis held on for a
6-5 win.
Taylor Peacock was selected to play in
the USA Softball’s All-American Games.
This event was designed by USA Softball
to identify and highlight some of the best
athletes from across the nation. She played
for the Tsunamis 12U team and is now
representing El Segundo as part of the 12U
ESUSD
See Sports, page 14
School Board Addresses Vaping
By Duane Plank
Less than a week after U.S. regulators had
taken steps to chastise and discipline vaping
companies that continue to promote their flavored
nicotine offerings via social media influencers,
the El Segundo School Board viewed a presentation
from El Segundo Middle School (ESMS)
Acting Principal Ali Rabiei on the results of a
recent parental survey regarding possible campus
canine searches and, among other issues, vaping.
The Board later approved searches at ESMS
beginning in the 2019/20 school year. The canine
search program had previously been implemented
at El Segundo High School (ESHS).
El Segundo Unified School District (ESUSD)
Superintendent Dr. Melisa Moore said she was
pleased that the surveyed parents were highly
supportive of implementing canine searches.
Rabiei’s presentation cited statistics noting
that nearly half of all teens will have tried
marijuana by the 12th grade. The presentation
also portrayed statistics showing overwhelming
support from both current and incoming ESMS
families when broaching the survey question,
“I am comfortable with having police canines
randomly entering my child’s classroom during
class time to sniff for drugs, after all students
have vacated the classroom.”
Rabiei said that student safety is very important
to him. He noted the detections of possible drug
usage on campus this school year. He also mentioned
the current campus drug detection process,
as well as the due process afforded to students.
Tracey Miller-Zarneke was one of the Board
members who lauded the implementation of
the canine searches. Member Emilee Layne
asked about the way parents will be notified
if a student is found to have violated school
policy. Board President Nancy Cobb wanted
parents to know that students are innocent until
proven guilty. “We are not out to punish, but
to help students,” Rabiei said. Layne added,
“Our schools need to be safe for all students.”
Rabiei, who is concluding his tenure as
acting principal at ESMS, wrote prior to the
meeting that he eagerly anticipates embarking
on his new position as director of operations
and feels his experience in administration at
both the middle and high schools will support
him and give that unique background to be
successful in his new job.
Also on the presentation agenda: recognition
of ESHS instructor Craig Gast, who was
credited by Moore for “reigniting Civics Day”
with the City of El Segundo; Director of Human
Resources and Facilities Dr. Dylan Farris, who
was regaled for his receipt of the Association
of California School Administrators (ACSA)
Region 14 personnel administrator of the year
award; and a presentation by the newly promoted
ESUSD Assistant Superintendent, Educational
Services Marisa Janicek regarding the District’s
Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).
Janicek will start her new position on July 1.
Moore talked about the honor bestowed on
Farris, pointing out the importance of the impact
that a top-notch human resources administrator
has on students and personnel. She called Farris
“a trusted advisor,” adding, “He is indeed
making a difference.” Farris thanked the Board,
and especially Moore for her efforts to mentor
See ESUSD, page 12