June 20, 2019 Page 3
Community Briefs
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Wiseburn School Board Honors
Retirees and Science Whizzes
By Duane Plank
The Wiseburn School Board members last
Thursday honored three retiring employees, as
well as a team of R.H. Dana Middle School
(DMS) science whizzes who captured first place
in the recent Aerospace Corporation-sponsored
Herndon Memorial Science competition.
The meeting began with a packed
gallery, including not only supporters of the
retiring employees and science champions,
but community members who gave their
impassioned and sometimes contentious
thoughts regarding a proposed realignment of
Wiseburn Unified School District’s (WUSD)
Visual Arts (VA) program.
Retiring teachers Mary Nies (DMS)
and Karen Rafalski-Fraser (Peter Burnett
Elementary) were recognized by the Board
with a commendation resolution, as was Juan
de Anza Elementary secretary Anita Collins.
Superintendent Dr. Blake Silvers said prior
to the meeting that Nies has recently served
as a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA),
specializing in all things tech. “From my
perspective,” Silvers said, “she is one of those
people that never stops, who has an insatiable
desire to always be on the cutting edge of
learning. She is phenomenal in teaching adults,
making things manageable and comprehensible.
She also has a gift with kids. She is a wellrounded
educator who we will truly miss.”
Nies was hailed by DMS Assistant Principal
Lisa Wilberg as a “tremendous gift to Wiseburn,”
calling her a “constant force for positive
change.” Nies, who has served two stints at
DMS, emailed that “it has been my privilege
to work with students and teachers at all four
school sites and infuse technology into the
curriculum to enhance teaching and learning.”
Fraser emailed that teachers always want
to “make a difference, and I hope that I did
because I know that the kids made a difference
in me, and that is a very humble feeling.”
Collins had been recognized at a prior
meeting for her 25-years of service, filling
multiple positions, and being selected as
Employee of the Year (2011/12). Board
President JoAnne Kaneda lauded the efforts
of the retirees. “Thank you for your years of
service,” she said. “Our teachers and staff are
so dedicated. We don’t know what we are going
to do without them. They may not know what
they going to do without us.” Kaneda wished
them a fulfilling retirement, noting, “No one
ever says I wish that I had worked longer.”
The Herndon competition team, under the
guidance of Dana STEM teacher Andy de
Sierre, explained their first place-winning project
that included utilizing low-cost underwater
robots. The students spoke to a probably
scientifically overwhelmed crowd about the
specifics of their project. One of the students
said their group had toiled on the project for
more than 150 hours.
The Herndon team consisted of Michael
Consolazio, Joseph Beard, Logan Padilla,
Mathew Banuelos, Emma Enriques and Adam
Tittle. Mentor de Seriere said, “The competition
has provided us with the opportunity to
challenge students to solve real-world problems
and work alongside engineers to develop the
skills required to become future engineers and
students. I am really proud of these guys. It
was an awesome experience.” He also thanked
parents who provided behind-the-scenes support
to the team.
Next up, members from the public were
front-and-center to opine on District issues.
Each audience member could voice their
thoughts for a maximum of three minutes.
Board members are not allowed to comment
on the opinions expressed because the item
addressed was not listed on the official agenda.
The topic was the proposed cutting of the
VA program at the elementary school level.
Speakers questioned whether this was a
budgeting move and wondered if this was a
decision made behind “closed doors,” with one
parent speaking of a District “dumpster fire.”
The speakers spoke emotionally, decrying the
pending loss of the program and noting how
participating in the VA program provided a
“safe space” for their children. The final public
speaker, long-time Wiseburn teacher Michael
Spiwak, took a different view, supporting the
proposed realignment of the Arts program.
Post-meeting, Silvers emailed, “The WUSD
is committed to the Arts. We will continue to
offer exemplary arts programming across our
district and will ensure access and opportunity
for all students to receive an experience in
music. Further, we are fortunate to have a
partnership with the Wiseburn Education
Foundation and P.S. Arts to help us provide
for visual arts for our students.”
Board member reports then followed with Dr.
Neil Goldman saying that the VA proponents’
thoughts were heard by him and his colleagues
and he thanked all involved for making 2018/19
a successful school year. He also said he was
“thrilled to see this happen,” referring to the
District’s efforts to make financial education
available to students.
Member Israel Mora noted the passion of the
VA proponents, saying “We focus on trying to
make decisions that are the best for the kids.”
Member Nelson Martinez commented on
how he appreciated the “concerns and passions”
of community members, and that the Board
“understands the differences visual arts can
make in student’s lives.” He said he values
the importance of a robust music program and
that he and the Board are striving to make
sure that there is equity in programs offered
for all students.
Vice President/Clerk Roger Banuelos
commented on the emails that members have
received regarding the VA shake-up, reading a
few of the names of concerned citizens who
had reached tout and touting the importance
and relevance of the program.
In her comments, Kaneda recognized the
culmination of the first year on the job for
Superintendent Silvers and other new-tothe
job administrators, calling it “a year of
change.” She also thanked the time spent by
the unpaid Board members, calling them “a
fantastic board.”
Silvers acknowledged the community
members and their concerns about the VA
program, and gave thanks to District teachers,
saying “we don’t do that enough…you are so
valuable to us.” He also echoed Goldman’s
comments about teaching students financial
literacy and lauded parental participation in
District programs.
Two new hires were front and center
during the action item personnel portion of
the 90-minute meeting. Monique Ingram
won approval to become the lead elementary
counselor. Silvers said Ingram comes to
Wiseburn from Palos Verdes’ school district,
has received a PhD from Penn State and “is
ready to provide great service to kids.”
The hiring of the new assistant principal at
Anza Elementary, Katie Masterson, was also
approved. She comes to Wiseburn from the
Culver City Unified School District. Silvers
called her “a tech leader at her school site,”
and highly proficient in the job skills needed
to assume her post at Anza.
The next regularly scheduled Wiseburn
School Board meeting is slated to take place
on Tuesday evening, June 25. •
Classifieds
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For Rent
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Agnew. Office & swimming pool.
Immaculate. Double garage. All
fenced up. $4400. 310.365.1481 or
310.641.2148.
For Rent
UPPER WESTCHESTER (NK).
Private lockable room for rent.
Appliances, washer, dryer, pool.
$1,450 month including utilities.
(cell) 310.365.1481 or (home)
310.641.2148
Garage Sale
8 FAMILY YARD SALE, Sat June
22, 615 E Holly Ave in back - go
thru park on left of bldg, 8am-1pm.
Wanted
WANTED. Vinyl, vinyl, vinyl records,
anything musical. Collectibles/
antiques. Typewriters, sewing
machines, military, silver, Japan,
records, stamps, coins, jewelry,
Chinese, ANYTHING. Buy/Sell/Trade.
We sell for you on EBAY. Studio
Antiques, El Segundo. 310.322.3895.
Wanted
California MENTOR is seeking loving
families with an available bedroom in
their home to share their lives with
an adult with special needs. Receive
a competitive, monthly stipend and
ongoing support. Join us for our next
info session Wednesdays at 2pm.
Call Juan 424-750-9631 Ext 203.
Employment
Part-time Sales. Looking for
motivated part-time workers. Inside
sales: work from home and make
sales calls. 15% commission on all
sales. Outside sales: territories are
Torrance and El Segundo. Includes
walking and interacting with business
owners. 20% commission on all
sales. Seniors and students welcome.
Send resume to management@
heraldpublications.com.
Employment
CHURCH NURSERY CAREGIVER.
El Segundo United Methodist Church
seeks Nursery Caregiver for infants
and children to age 5, 10:00-12:00,
Sunday mornings. Applicants must be
at least 21 and have 2+ years experience
caring for small children. Applicant
must provide references. Please send
resume to esumc@sbcglobal.net.
To appear in next week’s paper, submit
your Classifed Ad by Noon on Tuesday.
Late Ads will incur a $20.00 late fee.
Effective July 1, 2019, each multifamily
building (greater than 5 units) and
each residential customer is entitled to the
collection of up to twenty (20) total
bulky items per calendar year FREE. This
includes furniture, trash and electronic
waste. Customers will provide Republic
Services one calendar day’s (excluding
Saturday, Sunday and Holidays) notice to
schedule pick up. Customers are asked to
schedule pick-ups in groups of a maximum
of 5 items at a time. Items shall be collected
from the curb on the day that street sweeping
is scheduled to occur.
The following provisions shall apply to
this program:
• No single item that cannot be handled by
two workers will be accepted.
• Items will not be removed from car ports,
breezeways, enclosures, parking lots or
subterranean parking structures
• The following items will not be picked up:
Hazardous Materials, including waste oil
or anti-freeze.
Customers that exceed the number of free
pickups and commercial customers may receive
bulky item collection under the same
terms for a fee. Call Republic Services for
more information at 1-888-742-5234.
Additionally, Company will notify customers
that have placed items out in excess of
their allotted free pick-ups without scheduling
or paying for additional pick-ups. The
notification will be in the form of a “red tag”
placed on the item or on the property for the
first instance of an unpermitted disposal. The
second instance of an unpermitted disposal
will result in a “green tag” and will result
in the customer being charged a fee for pick
up. Per Hawthorne Municipal Code 8.16.030,
it is unlawful to allow waste to collect on or
in front of your property. Failure to comply
may result in fines.
Please contact Republic Services at 1-888-
742-5234 to schedule bulk item pick up prior
to placing items curbside. Republic Services
is available to answer your questions from
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Local Teens Selected as Student
Leaders, Earn Internships
Three South Bay teens, all with Hawthorne
ties, are among five high school students
from the Los Angeles area recently selected
as Student Leaders by Bank of America.
This signature philanthropic program offers
young people an opportunity to build their
workforce and leadership skills through a
paid summer internship to help improve their
communities. They will work at Archdiocesan
Youth Employment Services (AYE) at
Los Angeles South West College, Boys and
Girls Club of Carson, Koreatown Youth and
Community Center (KYCC) and Operation
Gratitude, where they will learn all aspects
of running a large nonprofit.
The Student Leaders include Angelina
Quint, a Hawthorne resident who recently
graduated from the Da Vinci Science
School; Christian Alexander, a Torrance resident
who recently graduated from Hawthorne
Math & Science Academy; and Darwin
Perez de Pablo, an Inglewood resident who
will be a senior at Lennox MST Academy
in Hawthorne.
While most high schoolers spend time with
friends hanging out at the mall or playing
video games, these teens prefer devoting
their energy to leading community service
organizations that help women, people with
disabilities and those experiencing poverty;
creating their own community service projects;
leading community health fairs; and
giving back to underserved youth. They
aspire to be great humanitarians and global
change-makers one day. They have also
learned resilience and focus from their own
personal struggles – battling homelessness,
caring for ill parents and siblings with Down
Syndrome, and being bounced around in the
foster-care system.
– Source: Stacy Schwartz/BCW
California Grassroots Team
“Learning is a treasure that
will follow its owner everywhere.”
– Chinese Proverb