Letter: Time to Break Ground

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Letter to the Editor

On Nov, 6, 2006, the Santa Monica-Malibu $268 million facilities improvement bond, Measure BB, passed in the cities of Malibu and Santa Monica. 

Between 2008 and 2013, the project was developed with input from the school community, neighbors and city. More than 35 local site meetings were held. All were open to the public. Plans were submitted and permitted by the Department of State Architect. Millions of dollars have been spent, and countless professional and volunteer hours have been invested in this project. 

On March 18, 2013, the Malibu Planning Commission approved the project at MHS, which includes a new library and administration building, three science labs, four general use classrooms, and two computer labs. The current middle school building will be renovated and reconfigured to include two additional classrooms. All new and renovated rooms will receive technology upgrades to support 21st century learning. The building designs integrate improved indoor air quality standards, are constructed of healthy building materials and adhere to sustainable design principles. Remediation work can be accomplished, along with modernizations. 

A shovel should have hit the ground at MHS last summer, but instead, a group in our community appealed the project, and for the past year, it has remained stalled at the California Coastal Commission. 

This year, our community has been reminded that schools have a shelf life. Our school buildings are old and deteriorating and, in some cases, creating environments that fall below our expectations for safe and healthy schools. 

The Measure BB bond was passed by voters seven years ago. The MHS project has been shovel-ready for a year. We can’t wait any longer. It’s not fair to make our kids wait anymore. It’s not fair to make our teachers wait anymore. 

Write to the Coastal Commission, requesting that they take action immediately. Write to our Assembly representatives. Write to the school board. Let them know that all of Malibu cares about a healthy environment for our teachers and children, and we want our new school buildings now. 

Marianne Riggins, Colleen Baum, Heather Anderson, Elaine Rene-Weissman and Audra Lembertas