School Board Hears Arguments for Independent Malibu District

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Wayland Russell, a seven-year-old Point Dume Elementary student, addresses the Sant Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education during a hearing on Malibu School District independence.

In a highly anticipated opportunity to make their opinions known, Malibu residents finally had the chance to voice their support for a separate Malibu school system before the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education last week.

The board held a special meeting at Malibu City Hall last Tuesday evening to hear public comment that has been stirring up residents since the issue was brought to the table some six years ago. A standing-room-only crowd filled the auditorium with overwhelming support for a stand-alone Malibu district.

The Board of Education has already indicated a desire to separate the only school district in California with two non-contiguous cities; however, the financial complexities of doing so have still not been decided. 

At stake are millions of dollars, estimated as high as $100 million by some, over two decades, that Santa Monica could fall short of in funding revenue. That funding is hard to pinpoint based on financial projections reaching 20 years ahead that include factoring in Santa Monica’s rising property tax income, operating costs, bonds, redevelopment money and other variables.

As of Tuesday’s meeting, those waters are still muddy, though positive words from the board are a boon to those who hope for a Malibu district.

The Malibu Unification Negotiation Committee (MUNC) has spent the past 14 months excavating the financial implications for both communities. The MUNC’s report calls for Malibu to make Santa Monica whole with initial 100 percent payments to fill the gap in the larger city’s funding that would occur after the split. With so much money at stake, the complexity of the plan seemed to be frustrating the board.

“Making this economic decision is above my pay grade,” School Board Member Jon Kean said at one point during the five-hour meeting.

“I’m not a school finance expert,” Vice President of the Board Dr. Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein admitted before the crowd. And Board President Laurie Lieberman called it “risky” to rely on projections.

Tasked with educating children the best way possible, the board has indicated it will fight for every dollar it can.  

“We hear you,” Board Member Maria Leon-Vasquez responded to calls for separation.  Leon-Vasquez, who is married to Santa Monica City Council Member Antonio Vasquez, then added she is “not willing to put children in a financially precarious situation.”

Under a split, Malibu, with its high property tax base, would meet its goal of becoming a basic aid district immediately.  It could take Santa Monica as many as seven to eight years to become a fully basic aid district.  

Craig Foster, the board’s only Malibu member, told The Malibu Times the latest MUNC report indicates a rising tide of property tax for Santa Monica years ahead which will be beneficial to a stand alone SMUSD.

“In 2040, which is a very long way from now, but still a year we’re thinking about, Santa Monica has $7 million more to spend on their children in these projections than they did in the projections of a year ago without any apportionment of Malibu’s money.” 

The split can’t happen fast enough for the parents who showed up Tuesday, some bringing their children who spoke before the board.

“Please do this for our community,” local activist Carl Randall pleaded. “It’s time for us to have the opportunity to govern ourselves. We’ve done it as a city for 26 successful years.”

Advocates for Malibu Public Schools (AMPS) Board Member Seth Jacobson asked the board to be “courageous” by separating the district. He recounted the money and hours spent.

“Think about the people here in this audience and the 2,000-plus who’ve signed petitions,” Jacobson said. Melanie Goudzwaard, also of AMPS, reminded the board how many parents have to drive miles away into Santa Monica to do business at district offices.

Supporter Dierdre Roney spoke to the audience.

“The inherent nature of SMMUSD renders Malibu forever silent and powerless because our population is so small compared to Santa Monica’s. For example, if every single voter in Malibu voted for a single Malibu School Board candidate, that candidate would still lose unless people in Santa Monica also voted for that person,” Roney pointed out. “No Santa Monica candidate needs any Malibu votes to win. In SMMUSD, we are an impotent, marginalized minority and we always will be. Santa Monica is a resource-rich city capable of solving any problems a separation causes. Solve them and not at our expense.”

Malibu Council Member Lou La Monte received the loudest applause when he emphatically told the board: “We will make this happen with or without your support.”

After most of the crowd left, the five-hour meeting came to a close with the board agreeing Malibu should not need pay Santa Monica in perpetuity to close the funding delta and formed a subcommittee to work more closely with the MUNC to gain a better understanding of the economics.