School board supports 5% raise for teachers
Despite a lack of support by the SMMUSD’s chief operating officer and the district’s Financial Oversight Committee, the Board of Education last Thursday gave its unofficial backing to a 5 percent salary raise for teachers.
At last Thursday’s meeting, the board delayed approval of the new contract, citing a need to gather input from the community on what must be done to come up with the estimated $7 million over the next three years to pay for the raise. But Shane McLoud was the only board member to express concern about figuring out a way to work the contract into the budget. He was attending his final meeting, having failed to win his re-election bid this month.
Earlier last week, the district’s Financial Oversight Committee expressed concern that the tentative deal between the district and the teachers, which had been finalized a month ago but not made public until last week, did not include a plan to pay for the higher salaries.
“This raises very significant questions that the district can meet the agreement that has been reached,” Committee Chair Paul Silvern was quoted in the Santa Monica news Web site, The Lookout. “Other than some general suggestions, a plan does not currently exist.”
Also, the district’s chief financial officer, Winston Braham, refused to support the plan. On a document certifying the district’s ability to pay for the new contract, he checked a box next to the statement, “I am unable to certify.” District Superintendent Dianne Talarico signed the document in support.
“Given the information we have, we feel comfortable that we will be able to [give the raises] and have a balanced budget, and meet our reserve requirements,” Board Member Kathy Wisnicki said in an interview this week.
The board will hold a workshop next month, attended by a county school official, at which time it will be discussed what possible cuts or other financial arrangements would need to be made to make room for the raises. That meeting is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 14, but Wisnicki said it could take place on Dec. 7.
The board will vote on the contract in January.
Malibu’s Mail Boxes Etc. renamed
The Mail Boxes Etc. in Malibu Colony Plaza has lost its franchise agreement with Mail Boxes owner United Parcel Service, and now has become an independent store. The business is now known as Malibu Business and Shipping Center.
Store owner Howard Spanier said in an interview this week that the reason the agreement was not renewed was due to a complicated dispute in which UPS has been trying to force all of its Mail Boxes franchisees to switch to UPS stores.
A call to UPS on Tuesday was not immediately returned.
Farmers’ Market driver gets probation
George Russell Weller, the 89-year-old who was convicted last month of killing 10 people in 2003 when he drove his car through the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market, was sentenced Monday to five years of supervised probation and ordered to pay more than $100,000 in restitution, fees and fines.
Judge Michael Johnson said Weller “deserves to go to prison,” but cited Weller’s failing health as a burden to taxpayers for his decision to sentence him to probation.
Among those killed in the July 2003 incident was Lynne Weaver, wife of director Rob Weaver, and daughter-in-law of the late actor Dennis Weaver and his wife, Gerry, who has a home in Malibu.
Holiday closures
The Malibu Times Building will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Malibu City Hall will also be closed on those days. Both offices will reopen on Monday.
-Jonathan Friedman