The candidates answered questions about Malibu-specific subjects as well as districtwide issues.
By Jonathan Friedman / The Malibu Times
A small number of people took advantage of the one opportunity to see the Board of Education candidates participate in a forum in Malibu. The session hosted by the Malibu High School PTSA and Associated Student Body that took place last week on Tuesday at the high school auditorium attracted approximately 25 people.
“I’m embarrassed there were so few Malibu people here tonight,” Malibu High School PTSA President Wendy Sidley told the audience at the conclusion of the forum. “But the people who are here are influential and they will be able to get the word out.”
In an e-mail to the The Malibu Times, Sidley wrote that the forum was well publicized. Parents were notified about it through the school communications. Also, notices appeared in The Times and the city’s other local newspaper.
“I guess that wasn’t enough, but I don’t know how else I could have communicated it,” wrote Sidley, who blamed voter apathy.
She said there was a college fair that evening in Santa Monica, but that would not explain the absence of middle and elementary school parents.
All eight candidates in the campaign for four seats on the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s board attended the forum. They were asked about Malibu-specific subjects as well as districtwide issues. One question was about how to bring more money into the district, which is struggling financially because of reduced state funding.
Challengers Chris Bley and Jake Wachtel said a director of development should be hired. Wachtel said the person should be commission-based to give an incentive. Challenger Nimish Patel, who sits on the SMMUSD’s Financial Oversight Committee said the district needs to look at the 80 percent of residents who do not have children attending public schools.
“They do value having good public schools … so we need to find ways to tap into those individuals,” he said.
The candidates were asked how to deal with the feeling many in Malibu have that this city is an afterthought to those who run the SMMUSD.
“The district could do a better job communicating to Malibu residents and all district residents in general,” said current board President Barry Snell. “Board members have [to show they care about Malibu] through their actions. And those of you who know me in Malibu know me because I’ve been up here.”
Patel said there should be town hall meetings and that the district should try to improve communication through improved technology. Challenger Laurie Lieberman said as a board member she would come to Malibu to visit the schools and have coffee sessions with residents to discuss issues. Challenger Patrick Cady, a Malibu resident and former Santa Monica High School teacher, said the district has “a policy of isolation.” He said teachers from the two cities who taught the same subjects used to meet regularly. He said this needs to happen again.
“That gives them the opportunity to incorporate their knowledge and the parents begin to feel it is one big district,” Cady said. “Board policy can be set so we have more common meetings and even pair some schools out and share ideas about fundraising and those kinds of things.”
Some candidates said a public information officer could help with communication. Board member Ralph Mechur said he did not like the idea of having a person “whose job it is to get out information that the district wants to get out.” A public information officer was proposed last fall, but the board majority rejected it.
The candidates were asked about whether they supported Point Dume Marine Science Elementary School’s charter school application. All said they supported it in concept. Some candidates said they needed information. Patel was the only candidate to give an absolute endorsement.
“I’m able to say this because I’ve actually read the application,” he said. “It’s very impressive, very thorough, very comprehensive. There’s been a lot of thought put into it.”
With Superintendent Tim Cuneo retiring in June, the board will be selecting a replacement. The candidates were asked how the search should be done and what kind of person they want for the position. Cady said he did not want a national search.
“There are many administrators who’ve worked in this district and currently work in this district who would be excellent candidates and probably would be willing to stay for a long time,” Cady said.
Oscar de la Torre, who has been on the board since 2002, said the board cannot do the selection alone, and community input is needed.
“The finalists should stand before the community, parents and students, and we have them give us feedback on who are the top candidates,” de la Torre said.”