Supporting Our Public Schools

It is an American responsibility to provide each child with the opportunity to reach his or her potential in life. A strong public education system is the only way to make sure this happens for all children, regardless of their families' education or income level. This is a fundamental principle of a just society. 

Santa Monica as a whole benefits from excellent local public schools. Some people talk about increased property values, but I see more important benefits: The community becomes more intelligent and rational; people are more sensitive to others' viewpoints and needs. Public schools contribute directly to other City goals: Alternatives to gang activity steer at-risk youth in the right direction; school nurses help control infectious diseases; after-school programs provide a safe place for youth who might otherwise be unsupervised for hours each day. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s strong music, drama, and visual arts programs contribute to our community's artistic life. Preschool programs, by preparing children for kindergarten, raise the academic level for all students. The preschool through high school parent education programs create more functional and humane families. So it’s a smart investment for the City to help the schools financially.

2004-2008: WHAT’S BEEN DONE

In each of my four years on the Council, I have voted to approve the joint-use agreement between the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and the City. This contract invests approximately $7 million from the City’s general fund to the SMMUSD. The district does great things: Scores on the California Academic Performance Index have risen steadily over the past four years, for students of all ethnic groups and family income levels. The Santa Monica High School team won the 2008 National Science Bowl—an amazing accomplishment. The Grammy Foundation named Samohi a Grammy Signature School (one of fourteen in the country) because of its excellent choirs, bands, and orchestras, which are invited to perform all over the world.

When the City gives $7 million of our residents’ money to the school district, the Council has a responsibility to make sure the district’s finances are well managed. Starting with the City budget hearing in February 2007, citizens began objecting to the conditions of a severance agreement between the district and its former chief financial officer. Just before he resigned, Mr. Winston Braham had criticized the school board and superintendent for badly managed finances. A “gag order,” as it was called, prohibited him from discussing district finances with any outside party. People questioned whether the City should be giving money to an agency that didn’t want its finances discussed with the City. 

Councilmembers Holbrook, Katz, and I voted not to release a supplemental $530,000 grant to the district until we could speak with Mr. Braham. We thought this was an important “best practice” management idea.  

We were surprised when parents of children in the district’s special education programs came forward to tell the community that Mr. Braham’s was but one of many gag orders required by the district. They reported that special ed parents were routinely forced to sign contracts prohibiting them from discussing their children’s education plans with anyone. We heard from at least 50 parents who had to operate in an atmosphere of conflict, intimidation, and disrespect to see that their disabled children received their education. The parents came to us for the help they were not getting from the school board or district administrators. 

The Council voted not to release the funds until the district’s finances were transparent, no more gag orders were being imposed, and an independent audit of the district’s special education practices was performed. Parents Tricia Crane, Claudia Landis, Craig Hamilton, and all the others who came forward inspired the community—the time and passion they put into this effort. PTA Council President Rebecca Kennerly led the effort to put together a whole PTA support system for special education in the district. This was—and continues to be—public service at its best. 

2008-2012: TO DO

1. Release the $530,000 to the district as soon as the council’s conditions have been met 

2. Support communication between the new interim superintendent and special ed parents to change the combative, disrespectful culture that has developed

3. Increase next year’s City investment in the schools if possible

4. Study Santa Monica High School’s redevelopment plan and determine what the City’s part in it should be and how it would relate to our developing Civic Center. This is an opportunity to improve academic, athletic, and performing arts facilities for both Samohi and the whole community.