MALIBU—The Santa Monica Malibu-Unified School District Board of Education approved a proposal on March 20 providing framework for Malibu unification, with a 50-year revenue-sharing plan, at a special board meeting. The school board voted 6-1 to approve the unification plan that will be pursued provided that the city of Malibu withdraws or temporarily halts consideration of the petition by Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization while additional details of this concept are worked out.

Representatives appointed by Superintendent Dr. Ben Drati and by the city of Malibu will convene to discuss what the board hopes will be a unified effort to achieve Malibu unification in the most expeditious manner possible. Unification is the term used to describe the reorganization of the SMMUSD into two separate school districts. The board’s decision is intended to achieve the community of Malibu’s interest to have local control of serving the near 1,700 students in the four Malibu schools within SMMUSD at this time, while achieving Santa Monica community’s interest in ensuring that the revenue base that supports its ability to educate its students remains stable and unharmed.

The deal also comes with a stipulation that the city forgo its concurrent petition to excise Malibu completely from Santa Monica.

“This concept expressed in this agreement is valid only if the City of Malibu withdraws its current petition or ensures that the Los Angeles County Committee on School District Organization temporarily halts its consideration of the petition,” the motion said.

The board motion states that it would like to have the following points addressed during the conversations/deliberations:

-The framework for an equitable sharing of property taxes between both districts;

-The potential sharing of discretionary or local revenues for a limited period of time or a series of off-sets to create an equitable revenue stream; 

-A structured mechanism for evaluating, rebalancing, and/or adjusting the formula at certain intervals; 

-A performance objective/standards that any adjustments or rebalancing must continue to meet; 

-A guiding principle that stability and equity for all students in both districts is essential;

-The possibility that a charter configuration be utilized as an interim mechanism to unification, if desired by the City of Malibu.

“I’m pleased with the direction of this framework as it clearly acknowledges and supports the importance of local control for both our communities,” commented Craig Foster, school board member and Malibu resident. “I have faith that impartial experts, working with leadership from both communities, will craft equitable, workable mechanisms fair to both Santa Monica and Malibu.”

“The district supports Malibu’s interest in the local control it desires, while ensuring that the remaining Santa Monica USD remains whole,” Dr. Tahvildaran-Jesswein said. “This board action is the first step toward Malibu’s goal of unification in the most expeditious and conciliatory manner possible.”

For background information, visit the Malibu Unification website.

Written By Candace Buford and Donald Roberts