Ten years ago, my family was considering a move to Southern California. It was a daunting prospect. We lived in Cupertino, home of Apple Computer, which had excellent public schools and a student body gifted in math and science. The L.A. area is known for its terrible public schools. Where could we move and still continue our children’s excellent education?
My oldest son is an actor, and began taking voice lessons with Henry Price at Pepperdine. We grew to love our weekly visits to Malibu, and considered a move here. My first visit to the high school was less than promising. It was like every other public high school in California, slowly dying of neglected maintenance. Then I learned of the huge bond measure that had just been passed to renovate the school. I attended PTA meetings, where I heard parents clamoring for ways to help get programs started-for ways to use their time and money to make it a great school. Even though Malibu High was new and had no track record, it was the first public school I had visited in a long time that was getting better, not worse.
My initial impression was correct. We have been here for 10 years now, and my children have received an excellent education in the Malibu public schools. My older two have graduated and are now at Stanford. My youngest is in ninth grade, and wants to follow in his brother and sister’s footsteps. Every year, Malibu High has gotten better. Mike Matthews has succeeded in attracting a diverse and colorful group of teachers, all of whom care deeply about their jobs. We have students getting college credit for their photography, their sculpture and their art. We have a weekly live model for the art students. We have an Art History course. Only 1,000 high schools nationwide, public AND private, can say the same. We have three recording studios where students can actually make their own CDs. We have college-level Music Theory, a fine jazz band and orchestra, and an amazingly talented student body that astounds us with every high school play and Masque performance. I truly believe that we are one of the best small public high schools in the nation.
The recent budget crisis is going to turn back the clock 10 years. Everything we have patiently built over the years is going to be slashed out of existence. Classes will be huge. Ten of our fine teachers will be let go. Despite incredible parent support, many of our wonderful programs will wither and die. We will go from being a superior public high school to being a mediocre one. Parents thinking of moving to Malibu will not see what I saw 10 years ago-a school that was growing and improving They will see one that is shrinking and dying. How can we let this happen?
Please support our schools by donating part of the city emergency reserve fund to the school district. I’ve been here 10 years, and this is the biggest emergency I’ve seen. As you know, the city of Santa Monica contributes millions to the district each year, while Malibu contributes only $25,000. Please also support the property tax measure on the June ballot.
This is huge. We need a united City Council to help save our schools.
Susan J. Kraus