The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo
Herald Publications - El Segundo, Hawthorne, Lawndale & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 107, No. 46 - November 15, 2018
Inside
This Issue
Calendar of Events.............2
Certified & Licensed
Professionals.......................8
Classifieds............................9
Crossword/Sudoku.............9
Legals.............................. 4,10
Letters...................................2
Obituaries.............................2
Real Estate.......................5-8
School Board.......................3
Sports.............................. 4,11
Weekend
Forecast
El Segundo Fire Department
Helps Out in Westlake Village
El Segundo Fire Department personnel were part of Strike Team XLG1362A along with members of the LA County, Torrance and Manhattan Beach fire departments who worked day and night to battle
blazes in Westlake Village. Photo: ESFD.
Candidates Reflect on Election;
ESUSD Lauds Bond Passage
By Brian Simon
With last week’s election in the books, the
El Segundo School Board will welcome back
an incumbent and see two new members take
their oaths of office next month. With four
candidates vying for three available seats,
current Board President Emilee Layne was the
top vote-getter with 30.46 percent, followed
by Tracey Miller-Zarneke (29.41 percent) and
Paulette Caudill (29.25 percent). Amy Rilling
Grant fell short in her effort, finishing with
10.87 percent of the vote. Results were unofficial
as of press time and not yet certified by
the Los Angeles County Clerk.
Additionally, El Segundo voters passed the
$92 million Measure ES school bond designed
to upgrade classrooms, labs, facilities and
equipment to support STEM education; repair
or replace roofs, plumbing and electrical; and
improve student safety and campus security.
The measure received well over the 55 percent
approval required, with 60.39 percent in favor
and 39.61 percent against. School Board Vice
President and Co-Chair of the Measure ES
Committee Nancy Cobb was delighted by the
news. “Passing Measure ES allows us to make
an investment in our facilities that supports the
education of our students,” she said. “Whether
it’s repairing a leaky roof and windows, updating
technology infrastructure, or modernizing
classrooms that prepare for tomorrow’s jobs, an
investment in our children’s education protects
our community’s future.”
El Segundo Unified School District Superintendent
Dr. Melissa Moore echoed the
sentiment. “If we want our kids to succeed
in college and careers, they must have safe,
modern school facilities,” she explained.
“Measure ES will have a profound long-lasting
impact as it will enable us to address our critical
facility needs district-wide outlined in the
Long Range Facility Master Plan and ensure
quality El Segundo schools. Thank you to the
community for making our dreams a reality
for our students today and tomorrow.”
Moore indicated that she planned to speak
with counsel and the District’s financial advisor
this week to discuss the next steps in implementing
the bond. To fund it, local property
owners will see a tax increase of roughly $43
per $100,000 of assessed valuation that will
take effect in 2019.
Layne, first elected in 2014, will begin her second
term on Dec. 11. She will swear in the new
members on that date and the Board will then
vote to reorganize its officers, with Cobb viewed
likely to become the next President. “The Board
has had a tradition that the role is rotated annually
and each member sits at the table based
upon who has received the most votes,” Moore
said. Meanwhile, outgoing members Dr. Bill
Watkins and Dr. Jim Garza attended their final
School Board meeting this past Tuesday. The
two had opted not to run again.
Reflecting on her reelection as well as the
success of Measure ES, Layne said, “I am
proud of the accomplishments of El Segundo
Unified School District in the last five years
and am grateful for the opportunity to continue
to serve our community. I want to give a thank
you to everyone who came out and voted for
me and especially for the bond. With the passing
of this bond, it shows that our community
once again has placed a high emphasis on our
students’ success.”
Miller-Zarneke, who also chairs the City of
El Segundo’s Environmental Committee, noted
that she was honored the community showed
trust in her to hold a seat on the School Board.
“I’m excited to apply my years of experience
and collaboration here in ESUSD at a higher
level,” she said. “I look forward to keeping
our district on the path of high-quality public
education, and am pleased that the passage of
Measure ES confirms our town recognizes it
will take a well-vetted list of facilities improvements
to help us maintain our position on the
cutting edge of educational opportunities for
our students.”
Caudill, who was a longtime teacher at El
Segundo High School, was proud to win a seat
on the Board. “A big thanks to everyone who
voted for me, spoke with me at their doors and
our candidate forums, donated, took a yard
sign, and gave me much-needed encouragement
along the way – I could not have done
it without you all and I appreciate it,” she said.
“Now, let’s get to work…”
A newcomer to town who did minimal
campaigning, Grant reported that she was
pleased and encouraged to receive over 1,000
votes despite being a relative unknown. She
called the overall experience invaluable and
hopes to serve the community in other ways
as opportunities arise. “This election cemented
my belief that my husband and I made the
100 percent correct choice in buying a home
in El Segundo and choosing to root ourselves
here,” she said. “I am so excited to see how
Measure ES improves our school district and
how the new Board of Education will navigate
the next few years. Congrats to my three opponents.
They are fantastic women who want
See Election, page 2
Friday
Sunny
70˚/55˚
Saturday
Partly
Cloudy
67˚/54˚
Sunday
Partly
Cloudy
69˚/55˚