School tax renewal headed for Feb. ballot
The school board voted last Thursday to place a $346 parcel tax on the ballot for Feb. 5, when Santa Monica and Malibu residents will be voting in the presidential primary. The tax amount is a combination of Measure S ($225) and Measure Y ($121), which bring more than $10 million into the district each year. The current parcel taxes do not expire until 2011, but placing them on the ballot early allows for a chance to try another election if it fails to pass in February. A parcel tax requires two-thirds approval.
Report to take place on ‘State of Our Schools’
The Community for Excellent Public Schools and the Santa Monica-Malibu PTA Council are hosting two presentations next week on the state of public education in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. A presentation will take place in Santa Monica on Monday, and it will be repeated on Wednesday in Malibu. Titled “The State of Our Schools,” the presentations are being billed as “a community report on student achievement and district-wide progress.”
The sessions will include a lecture on state education policies and funding from Assemblymember Julia Brownley. School board President Kathy Wisnicki and Vice President Oscar de la Torre will discuss “The Top Ten Things You Should Know About Our Schools.” District Superintendent Dianne Talarico will also speak. And teachers and students will provide perspectives and experiences.
The Santa Monica presentation will take place in the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium of the public library, located at 601 Santa Monica Blvd. The Malibu session will take place at Webster Elementary School, located at 3602 Winter Canyon Road. Both events will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Each session will be followed by a reception and refreshments. For more information, go to www.smmpta.org.
Candy collection for homeless
For the 18th consecutive year, candy is being collected in Malibu for homeless shelters and food banks. The sweets can be dropped off at donation boxes at the three local public elementary schools. The candy will be picked up from the schools on Thursday and Friday.
For more information, call Linda Androlia at 310.457.3860
Clothing drive for fire victims
Bentzen Levin Real Estate is organizing a clothing drive to aid those affected by the recent California wildfires. Drop-off boxes have been placed in local businesses throughout the community for clothing, accessories and blankets. Items being requested include new and lightly worn clothing, toiletries and children’s toys.
The drop-off boxes are located at Bentzen Levin Real Estate (22611 Pacific Coast Highway), Pacific Coast Greens (22601 Pacific Coast Highway), Planet Blue (3835 Cross Creek Road) and The Malibu Inn (22969 Pacific Coast Highway). Additional locations may be announced later.
Local elementary schools receive high honor
Malibu’s Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School and Webster Elementary School as well as Franklin and Roosevelt elementary schools in Santa Monica were recently named by the California Business for Education Excellence Foundation and the National Center for Educational Accountability’s Just for the Kids-California program to this year’s California Honor Roll.
According to the Just for the Kids Web site, schools named to the Honor Roll are “consistently raising academic achievement and closing achievement gaps for all students.”
“This award is a great honor for our schools,” Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Superintendent Dianne Talarico said in a press release. “It’s wonderful to see our students, teachers, administrators and staff receive well-deserved kudos for their hard work.”
The four elementary schools will receive the recognition at an awards dinner at the International Hotel in Century City on Tuesday.
PCH lane closure
One westbound lane of Pacific Coast Highway between Winding Way and Ramirez Mesa is being closed this week on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for utility work.
-Jonathan Friedman