At this week’s Board of Education meeting, Supt. Sandra Lyon is set to recommend the formation of a “Super Site Committee” to oversee fund allocation for projects at Malibu public schools. The proposal comes after several education activists in Malibu said they did not want to be shunned from helping determine how money from a proposed $385-million facilities bond (Measure ES) will be distributed should bond the bond pass in November.
Lyon’s proposed site committee would not have any legal authority in how Malibu’s estimated $77-million share of the bond money is spent. However, the committee would “prioritize and help set direction as to how the Malibu-specific allocation in the bond measure would be spent in their community,” according to a Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District report written by Lyon.
Board of Education members will discuss the proposed committee at their next meeting on Thursday evening.
At a board meeting two weeks ago, Board of Ed candidates Seth Jacobson, Craig Foster and Malibu City Councilwoman Laura Rosenthal asked the board to consider a joint powers authority (JPA) or a similar legal authority.
Lyon said she would hesitate to recommend creating a legal entity because the district would be charting very new territory in forming a JPA. Instead, she said the district could rely on local feedback from those involved with Malibu schools.
“We know we have engaged folks at each site, parents, community, staff, who have a lot to say about their site, we could bring them in together, inviting city council, planning people, people who are engaged in that process to be a part of that is critical,” Lyon said.
Email the author at melissa@malibutimes.com.