EL SEGUNDO HERALD June 28, 2018 Page 5
Rec & Parks Celebrates GABIT
Story and Photos by Gregg McMullin
In 1970, the City of El Segundo and the Recreation
and Parks Department took ownership
of the property at 405 E. Grand Ave. It had
formerly been a grocery store (Grand Avenue
Market), but the City was able to convert it into
a recreation facility. Since it was a stand-alone
building a short distance from Recreation Park
and the Scout House, the decision to devote it
strictly to teenagers was a natural progression.
The building, which has gone over several
makeovers over the last several decades, still
stands proudly today. Thus, the Teen Center
was born and is still visited by teens daily.
During the 1970s, El Segundo and elsewhere
in the South Bay had a drug subculture developed
among teens. This new facility and the
refuge idea on Grand was meant to be a healthy
diversion for youths who were not involved
in sports at Rec Park or in school extracurricular
activities, or those staying home to do
homework. For the first part of the 1970s, the
In a photo circa 1983, Dave Siemienski poses with the champions of the Indoor Hockey League.
basic goals of gainful teenage activities at the
Teen Center were achieved. However, as the
‘70s dimmed and a new decade approached,
the refuge for teenagers rapidly developed a
bad reputation. The City allowed the teens to
paint the building black and it became known
as the Black Market. Everything good that
had happened in the early1970s slowly turned
bad and ugly as we approached a new decade.
Once a haven for teens, the building was now
dangerously close to being closed or at least
reevaluated as to its purpose.
The City then became more proactive in
how it should help run the Teen Center. So
the move to hire a director with impeccable
credentials to run the facility proved to be the
best decision the City could make. In November1978,
Dave Siemienski became director of
the Teen Center. His background included 10
years with the Inglewood Recreation and Parks
Department where he had experience dealing
with gangs and drugs in that city. It would
prove to be a wise investment since Siemienski
was a hands-on person who oversaw positive
changes and developed many of the activities
still going today.
Siemienski instantly made an impact on
the Teen Center. The first major move was
to upgrade the building inside and out. This
meant a new ceiling, new floors and rich paneling
installed inside. The outside received a
much-needed paint job and Siemienski began
lobbying the City for funding to convert the
parking lot into a basketball court. It took
several years, but crews eventually leveled the
outside asphalt and converted it for basketball
use. The unique feature was the 9-ft baskets
installed. Siemienski was told that they “…
should be 10 feet.” However, he insisted they
be only 9-feet-high so players from the local
schools and neighborhoods could dunk and have
fun while being competitive at the same time.
Siemienski’s strategy was to lure the athletes
in town to frequent the Teen Center and begin
rebuilding the image in the eyes of parents and
the community. This new concept, along with
the Inside Hockey League that Siemienski and
his staff created, turned this facility into one
of the hottest sports destinations for teens of
that era.
Decades later, the seeds planted from the
plastic pucks, scoreboard and wood boards,
installed by the Optimist Club, inside the Teen
Center, led indirectly to the roller hockey rink
that is now located in the heart of Rec Park.
Once the Teen Center became known for low
baskets, street hockey played indoors, weight
training, billiards and wiffleball games, local
teens accepted it as their place to hang out.
Siemienski wanted to capitalize even more
with this new resurgence, so he came up with
the idea of a citywide basketball tournament
for teenagers. Since the Teen Center was on
Grand Avenue and considering Arena Street
was a dead end right at the basketball court,
Siemienski named his new tournament the
“Grand Arena Basketball Invitational Tournament.”
This was in 1988 and it quickly became
known as simply “GABIT.” The tournament
is still as popular 30 years later.
Siemienski was able to purchase a small,
portable scoreboard and appropriate some
bleachers for alongside the court. This gave the
tournament legitimacy in the eyes of the teens
and attracted some of the best young athletes
in town. Stats were kept and distributed to
all, with awards given after the championship
game. The games eventually drew large crowds
of kids and parents that created an excitement
never before seen at the Teen Center. They
also staged the ever-popular “staff versus kids”
game prior to the tournament awards ceremony.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of this
basketball tournament that hundreds will fondly
remember. The tradition is part of El Segundo’s
rich athletic history and it continues today.
Current staff members and teens visiting the
See Sports, page 15
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Johnstone Attends Final Regular
Wiseburn School Board Meeting
By Duane Plank
Two days and counting until Dr. Tom
Johnstone, long-time Superintendent of the
Wiseburn Unified School District (WUSD),
heads off into retirement. While most retirees
are aware of the date of their last official day
on the job, Johnstone, courtesy of a retirement
countdown clock that was gifted to him by
a WUSD food services employee more than
two years ago, has been noting his countdown
date for a while.
Johnstone noted that he originally planned
to say goodbye last year, but decided to stay
on until the Wiseburn High School opened. “I
wanted to work here in this [new] building for
a while,” he said. Meanwhile, he attended his
final official School Board meeting Tuesday
evening. He will also be in attendance Friday
morning when the Board is scheduled to okay
the District’s 2018/19 budget at a brief gathering.
Johnstone was selected, for the first time in 10
years, he said, to lead the assembled members
and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to
kick off the meeting’s open session.
Dr. Blake Silvers, who had been serving
as Dana Middle School’s principal, becomes
superintendent upon Johnstone’s retirement.
Silvers, in his comments Tuesday evening,
noted how Johnstone is a man who doesn’t take
no for an answer when it involved the welfare
of the WUSD. “There’s always a reason not
to do something,” Silvers quoted Johnstone.
“You have to find a reason…to do something.”
Johnstone’s achievements included piloting
the unification of the Wiseburn K-12
school district, as well as spearheading the
groundbreaking of the high school facility that
houses Da Vinci Communications, Da Vinci
Mathematics, and Da Vinci Science schools.
Accolades received during Johnstone’s
10-year tenure included his 2012 selection
as Superintendent of the Year by Pepperdine
University, as well as a similar selection by
Region 14 of the Association of California
School Administrators in 2014.
Johnstone said that he hoped the initial phase
of his retirement would allow him to relax
and recharge his batteries. “I want to unwind
a little bit because I have been wound pretty
tight since 1984,” he admitted. He added that
he “had a very blessed career,” noting how
he has been able to spend the entire time (he
came to the WUSD from the Lennox School
District) locally and that allowed him to know
the community. “You spend a lot more time
here than you do at home,” Johnstone said.
“The South Bay has been home for the past
38 years. We were able to accomplish some
pretty wonderful things.”
Board Vice President/Clerk Roger Banuelos
emailed, “I have had the privilege of working
with Tom over the past eight years as a Board
member, and I, as our Wiseburn community,
owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. His
commitment, passion and leadership have allowed
our schools and students to achieve at
the highest possible levels. Above all, Tom has
demonstrated through his consistent actions,that
he cares. He has always cared about our
community, all the students, and those of the
South Bay -- which is why he has endeared
himself to so many and is beloved. His leadership
has allowed our community to achieve
its dreams…and for that, we will be eternally
grateful. The very best in his retirement with
his wife Terry and family.”
Anza Elementary Principal Alberto Paredes
has worked with Johnstone in multiple districts.
He spoke at the meeting and emailed that
“[Tom] is amazing. Every decision he makes
is in the best interests of the students. He truly
believes in educating the whole child. This is
made evident by his commitment to bringing
quality academics and arts programs to our
schools. His work has not only impacted the
students of the District, but the community as
well. When asked ‘What makes Wiseburn?’--
one will automatically think baseball, softball,
soccer, awesome school and Superintendent
Johnstone. My family and I moved into Wiseburn
because of the great work that he was
doing. We knew eight years ago that Wiseburn
was the right place for our children, and we
have not had one regret.”
Assistant Superintendent Mary Ring emailed,
“Dr. Johnstone has embodied outstanding
leadership and success as the WUSD superintendent
and has provided exemplary service
to the community over the last decade. He is
known for his professionalism, leadership,
budget and accounting, curriculum and instruction,
administrative management, community
outreach/business and community partnerships,
student capacity building, and civic activities.”
Ring noted many of Johnstone’s major
achievements, including leading the charge
to unify the District; captaining the passing
of bond Measure AA that funded Wiseburn
High, and being selected as Educator of the
Year by Loyola Marymount University in 2013.
Johnstone, Ring wrote, has long been
involved in community activities, including
participating in food banks, as well as with
local AYSO soccer programs and Little League
volunteer assignments. “Tom has acted as a
mentor, leader, supporter and friend for the
past decade,” Ring wrote. “Administrative
leadership and the teaching staff has gained in
their knowledge relating to parent involvement
and engagement, thinking outside the box and
becoming a culture of ‘YES.’ We will miss
him greatly.”
Chief Business Official David Wilson
emailed, “Tom was steadfast in his resolve
to get unification for Wiseburn. He has led
the District to a 21st century type of education
via common core and cognitively guided
instruction.”
Cabrillo Elementary Principal Lisa Baggio
also lauded Johnstone: “Dr. Johnstone has been
an incredible boss and mentor,” she emailed.
“It has been a true honor to work for someone
with drive, compassion, integrity and heart. I
have learned so much from Dr. Johnstone and
he has left a lasting impression on Wiseburn
and myself. He will be missed.”
Deputy Superintendent Chris Jones, who has
worked for a decade with Johnstone, emailed
that “his unbridled energy and sincere commitment
to staff, students and families makes
Tom Johnstone an exceptional leader. Tom
has ushered in a new era in Wiseburn. The
partnership with Da Vinci schools is a bold
and significant achievement. Through Tom’s
leadership, the WUSD continues its mission
to develop life-long learners and productive
citizens. He will be sorely missed!”
The only special presentation that took
place Tuesday came from Wiseburn Education
Foundation (WEF) Executive Director Carolyn
Niman along with WEF President Debbie Self.
Self presented a $106,000 check to the Board
-- funds earmarked for the purchase of musical
instruments and materials and to partially
subsidize visual and performing art teachers’
salaries at the elementary level. WEF donated
a total of $170,000 to the WUSD during the
2017/18 school year.
Self also announced the formation of a
scholarship in honor of Johnstone that will
provide District graduating seniors with funds
to pursue their college education.
Board members and District administrators
then made their reports. Congratulations
and thanks were sent Johnstone’s way, with
member Dr. Neil Goldman adding that the
retiring superintendent “knows everybody,
he is liked by everybody, and he is respected
by everybody.”
The Board next tackled agenda action items,
including giving their blessing to multiple
construction “change orders” for the high
school, as well as facilities upgrades and new
construction projects. Action consent items
quickly passed included multiple consultancy
agreements, as well as District personnel comings
and goings
The next regularly scheduled Wiseburn
School Board meeting is slated, at this time,
for Thursday, July 19. •