Lawndale Tribune The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - December 19, 2013 Inside This Issue Calendar...............................2 Classifieds............................7 Finance..................................2 Food.......................................5 Hawthorne Happenings....3 Legals............................. 4,6,7 Pets........................................8 Police Report.......................2 Sports....................................4 Weekend Forecast Friday Sunny 65˚/50˚ Saturday Mostly Sunny 64˚/49˚ Sunday Sunny 67˚/52˚ AND lAwNDAle News City Pride Displayed at Civic Center Facing the Community Center, outside of Lawndale’s City Hall in a courtyard surrounded by benches, lays this colorful mosaic display of city pride. Photo by Cristian Vasquez. Mortara Replaces Vargas on School Board By Dylan Little Newly elected Hawthorne School Board member Sergio Mortara was sworn in and now-former Board member John Vargas left to serve as an El Camino College Trustee during the Board's December 10 meeting. While he is leaving the Board for El Camino, Vargas said that we has been proud of the work he and his fellow Board members have done during his term to balance the budget while also improving the educational experience for students in the district. He also vowed to continue to look out for the community and bring the “Hawthorne Way” – the Board's name for respectful and thoughtful manner of settling disagreements to the El Camino Board. “It was a good four years being on the Board,” said Vargas. “I'm very proud to have spent four years here with great people – amazing people – educators and team members in this community. I'm very proud to have been a part of it. I will continue being part of this family until the day I die. I will continue to look out for the district as much as I can.” Vargas also made sure to thank his colleges on the Board for fostering an open and collaborative working environment. He said that he expects each of them to continue working to make the district the best it can be. “I want to say thank you to everybody for always welcoming me with open arms and having an open discussion and a positive discussion,”said Vargas. “I look forward to the great work that these five Board members will do for the district. Thank you for the opportunity to work along side you.” Board president Eugene Krank told Vargas that his tenure on the Board has made the district a better place. “I'm going to miss you,” said Krank. “I think one of the key things I can say is that you coming in helped change and improve the culture of our district.” The next order of business for the Board was to swear-in it's newest member. Mortara was read the oath of office by his father. During the meeting he expressed his gratitude to the community for putting their faith in him. Prior to this meeting he joined the current Board members during a conference and the experience showed him how closely knit the Board is. He said his is excited to start working with not only the Board, but the teachers and students in the district. “I feel very fortunate,” said Mortara. “I'm looking forward to working with the students, the Board, everyone.” Along with Mortara, the incumbents elected to the Board – Krank and Luciano Aguilar – were also sworn in. Krank also had his oath of office read by his father. Aguilar was flanked by his children while his wife read him the oath of office. Despite his status as incumbent, this is Aguilar's first electoral win for the Board as he joined the Board via appointment after Nilo Michelin's departure for the Hawthorne City Council. Aguilar said that all the members of the Board are focused on public service. “We're here for the long haul. We're hear for the Hawthorne Way,” said Aguilar. “We look for nothing more than to serve the community the best way we know how.” Hawthorne Educators and Teacher's Association (HETA) president George Amaya thanked the Board's members, current, newly-elected and out-going alike, for their dedication to improving the district and keeping children as a top priority. On behalf of the teacher's union he also took the time to welcome Mortara to the Board and said he is always welcome to talk with the union. Amaya said he hopes next year will continue the trend of improving conditions for the district. “This is possibly the best board I've seen in my over 20 years in the district,” said Amaya. “I want to welcome Mr. Mortara to the Board. We have every faith in you as we do in every Board member. I hope we have a very successful year and continue to serve this community in a very positive fashion.” The Board also selected its officers for the new year, although this year saw no changes to the line-up of officers. Reappointments included Krank as President, Cristina Chiappe as Vice President, Monteiro as Clerk and Superintendent Helen Morgan as Secertary of the Board (although this position is always given to the Superintendent.) These titles don’t grant additional power to their holders, other than the Board President being given the power to run the meetings. Both Chiappe and Morgan made it clear that none of the Board’s officers get additional voting power. “Each member has the same authority–no one position holds more authority than any other,” said Morgan. “Their vote holds no more power than any other member of the Board.” • “I want to welcome Mr. Mortara to the Board. We have every faith in you as we do in every Board member. I hope we have a very successful year and continue to serve this community in a very positive fashion.”
Lawndale 12_19_13
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