Tag: SMUSD

SANTA MONICA—On Tuesday, December 2, the Malibu Education Foundation announced that the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) voted unanimously in support of Malibu becoming its own entity, Malibu Independent School District. The SMMUSD held a special Board of Education meeting on Monday, December 1, from 5-8 p.m. at the SMMUSD District Office located at 1717 4th Street in Santa Monica. The purpose of the meeting was to come to an agreement on three key elements; financial, operational, and the governing framework needed to separate the two currently adjoined school districts. The Malibu meeting is scheduled for after the SMMUSD meeting. According to the city of Malibu, the three governments include Property Tax Revenue Sharing Agreement, outlining how property tax revenues will be allocated; the Operational Transfer Agreement, which details the transition of staffing each facility involved, services, Joint Powers Agreement, and shared oversight during the transition. Santa Monica and Malibu leadership both publicly shared interest in two separate, quality school districts. Both pros and cons have been posted on X and other social media sites. Posts and accusations that the schools are participating in “segregation in 2025,” have been unfounded thus far. “The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) and the City of Malibu are advancing a major milestone in the effort to create two independent school districts; the Malibu Unified School District (MUSD) and the Santa Monica Unified School District (SMUSD). Both SMMMUSD and the City of Malibu remain committed to equity, fairness and ensuring high-quality education for students in both future districts.” The proposal to separate Santa Monica and Malibu into two separate school districts was passed in late November.   By Sharon

MALIBU—On Wednesday, November 19, the city of Malibu announced that The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) and the city of Malibu are advancing in the effort to create two independent school districts: the Malibu Unified School District (MUSD) and the Santa Monica Unified School District (SMUSD). In December, SMMUSD and city of Malibu will each hold meetings to consider three foundational agreements that establish the financial, operational, and governance frameworks needed for separation.

• SMMUSD Special Board of Education Meeting: Monday, December 1, 5–8 p.m., at the District Office, 1717 4th Street, Santa Monica, and via Zoom. Zoom link will be posted 72 hours prior at: https://www.smmusd.org/board-of-education/board-meetings

• City of Malibu City Council Meeting: Monday, December 8, 5:30 p.m., at Malibu City Hall, 23825 Stuart Ranch Rd., Malibu, and via Zoom. Zoom link will be posted 72 hours prior at:

https://malibucity.org/AgendaCenter/

The three agreements include the Property Tax Revenue Sharing Agreement, outlining how property tax revenues will be allocated; the Operational Transfer Agreement, detailing the transition of staffing, facilities, and services; and the Joint Powers Agreement, establishing shared oversight of the transition.

Both the city of Malibu and SMMUSD are committed to equity, fairness, and high-quality education for students in both future districts. To review the full agreement documents and other details visit: www.malibucity.org/musd.

 

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—The city of Malibu announced they are inviting the community to join a Special Meeting and Work Session of the City Council scheduled for Wednesday, April 10 aimed at providing residents with a comprehensive understanding of the revenue sharing agreement in the context of the ongoing school district separation efforts.

The city reported on its website that the Special Meeting and Work Session will serve as an opportunity for residents to gain insights into the revenue sharing agreement and its implications for the community. The session will focus exclusively on providing details and fostering discussion among Malibu residents and community stakeholders. The Santa Monica-Malibu School District (SMMUSD) will host community workshops for residents of Santa Monica, in addition to joint sessions in May that will be co-hosted by SMMUSD and Malibu.

Throughout the April 10 Work Session, key guiding principles will be emphasized, including equity, fairness, and local control in education. By upholding these principles, the City remains committed to ensuring that decisions regarding educational policies are made with the best interests of the community in mind.

The Special Meeting and Work Session will feature presentations, discussions, and opportunities for residents to ask questions on the revenue sharing agreement. By fostering open communication and collaboration, the city hopes to empower residents to play a role in the school separation process.

All interested residents are invited to attend the Special Meeting and Work Session and participate in the discussion at 6 p.m. at the Council Chambers at Malibu City Hall (23825, Stuart Ranch Rd, first floor). Viewing and commenting instructions for remote participation will be posted with the meeting agenda in advance on the website.

A second workshop will be held on Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m. Details regarding the second workshop location will be provided in a subsequent announcement.

For more details on Malibu’s school separation efforts contact Deputy City Manager Alexis Brown at 310-456-2489, ext. 300, email abrown@malibucity.org, or visit the Malibu Unified webpage.

By Trevor