The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 108, No. 43 - October 24, 2019
Inside
This Issue
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.....................11
Classifieds..........................10
Community Briefs...............3
Crossword/Sudoku...........10
Homecoming Parade.........2
Legals......................... 9,10,11
Letters...................................3
Obituaries.............................2
Real Estate.......................5-8
Sports....................................4
Weekend
Forecast
Friday
Sunny
84˚/63˚
Saturday
Sunny
81˚/61˚
Sunday
Partly
Cloudy
71˚/57˚
Bill Ruane Shows Support for
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
El Segundo Unified School District
Searching for New Administrators
By Duane Plank
Less than two months into the 2019/20
school year, the El Segundo Unified School
District administration and School Board
members have been tasked with selecting a
new principal at El Segundo Middle School,
(ESMS) and a new assistant principal at
Center Street Elementary.
Middle School Principal Nicole Duquette,
on the job for less than three months, decided
to step down two weeks ago. Duquette’s
abrupt departure continues a trend at ESMS,
which has seen multiple principals come
and go since Director of Students Support
Services Dr. Jack Plotkin was promoted to
his current position.
In an email, Duquette wrote, “Regrettably
there are demands that made it difficult for
me to continue at the Middle School. Unfortunately,
since I can’t say how long they
will last, it is best for me to resign. ESMS
is an amazing school and has outstanding
students, faculty and parents. I am hopeful
that they will find a principal that can serve
them well, and for a long time.”
Also leaving is Center Street Elementary
Assistant Principal Grace Long. Long accepted
a position in the Wiseburn Unified
School District as the assistant principal at
the Da Vinci Science School. Emailed Long:
“I am so grateful for my time here with the
District. It has been a privilege to serve and
be a part of this amazing community. The
people here have always been warm, welcoming
and supportive throughout the journey to
better education for all learners. While I miss
everyone here, I am fortunate to have the
opportunity to expand as an educator. I will
always be a huge supporter of the students,
staff and families of El Segundo.”
Ali Rabiei, who moved into a new post
as the ESUSD’s director of operations after
finishing out the 2018/19 academic year as
the acting principal at the Middle School,
will provide administrative support to that
campus while continuing in his District job.
Rabiei emailed that he is happy to be back
at ESMS, and that the principal position was
immediately posted after Duquette’s intentions
were known. Rabiei said, “The goal is to have
a new principal in place before winter break.”
Meanwhile two main special presentations
dotted the School Board’s Tuesday evening
agenda. ESMS Assistant Principal Sarah
Davlantis, in tandem with International Baccalaureate
Coordinator Crystal Winner, delivered
the annual state-of-the-school address. Their
presentation focused on the strides made at
ESMS, with data points delineating overall
student achievements, English Language Arts
proficiency, and suspension rates and chronic
absenteeism data.
The presenters also shared the results of
the latest school climate parental survey and
concluded with the next steps they are looking
to implement, including increasing teacher
efficacy, more data analysis, and “shared
leadership,” as well listing a handful of goals
that the administration would like to achieve
this school year.
Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services,
Marisa Janicek made her report on the
District’s implementation of the state-mandated
California Accountability Plan, including Local
Indicators/California Dashboard. Prior
to the meeting, Janicek emailed that the
Dashboard “provides parents and educators
with meaningful information on school and
District progress so that they can participate
in decisions to improve student learning. We
are fortunate to have a small school district
that enables us to truly hear from our stakeholders
on how we are doing, and how we
can continue to improve. The Dashboard
incorporates state-identified metrics and the
ability to work locally to ensure that we are
focused on individualized needs.”
Board President Nancy Cobb emailed prior
to the meeting that the Dashboard “promotes
a continuous cycle of improvement since we
must annually measure our progress.”
The Board members then tackled the 17
items listed on the consent agenda portion of
the agenda. Among the items approved: the
acceptance of Duquette’s and Long’s resignations;
an El Segundo High School marching
band field trip; and the renewal of a contract
with In-N-Out Burger.
The marching band will take part in the
Western Band Association Championship,
taking place in Fresno, beginning on Friday,
Nov. 22. Nearly 70 students are expected to
participate. The In-N-Out Burger agreement
will provide dinner to all the participants at
the Middle School’s Winter Ball, scheduled
to take place on Jan. 31. The Board also
approved a contract with VoxDJ’s to provide
musical services at both the Halloween Dance
and the Winter Ball at ESMS.
After Board Clerk Tracey Miller-Zarneke
read the list of gifts to the District, including
$300,000 from Chevron, the Board
then dove into action items, including
approving expenditures for furniture and
equipment at the Eagles’ Nest Preschool and
The Learning Connection.
James Sanders, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Estate
Properties, is seen here with #2 agent in the United
States, Bill Ruane. Bill and James are proud to show
their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
with the first-ever pink Breast Cancer Awareness
RE/MAX balloon. RE/MAX corporate had never
received a request for a Breast Cancer Awareness
Balloon before, but in Bill’s typical charitable and
determined fashion, he pushed to make sure his
vision was realized to show support for this amazing
cause. Bill has sold more homes in El Segundo
than any other agent, and both he and RE/MAX are
excited to help raise awareness for the survivors and
those who have regrettably lost their fight to breast
cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month
and Bill Ruane and RE/MAX Estate Properties are
proud to join the fight by raising awareness in this
truly unique fashion with the first-ever RE/MAX
Breast Cancer Awareness cold air balloon.
See School Board, page 4