Controversial charter amendment averted
COUNCIL CHAMBERS — Local school supporters abandoned their campaign for an unprecedented amendment to the city charter Tuesday after elected officials narrowly agreed to back a compromise that will guarantee $6 million a year to the school district.
Before casting the deciding vote in favor of the compromise, City Councilwoman Pam O’Connor demanded school leaders do a better job of financial reporting. She also lashed out against district officials and members of the Community for Excellent Public Schools, the group that drafted the proposed charter amendment.
City Council members felt CEPS backed them into a corner with its ultimatum — either increase funding voluntarily, or be forced to by the charter amendment.
“Frankly, I have a lack of confidence,” O’Connor said. “I have a lack of confidence in the leadership of the school district and the so-called advocates of public education … The school yard bully’s approach to public policy is one of using misrepresentations and threats. It’s one that says, ‘Hey, extortion is a way to make policy.’
Leaders from CEPS agreed after the vote to abandon their drive for the charter amendment, which has called upon hundreds of volunteers who have contributed thousands of hours to gather some 15,000 signatures to force the issue onto the November ballot. The campaign — organized by a resourceful, diverse group of school parents — also employed paid strategists and paid signature gatherers.
“CEPS’ goal all along was to obtain stable, ongoing funding for our public schools and the negotiated agreement closely mirrors the structure of our charter amendment,” said CEPS co-chair Shari Davis. “It’s not exactly the same, but in the big picture, this agreement accomplished in a collaborative way — rather than in a controversial one.”
Still, Davis said her group will hold onto their signatures — for now.
“The signatures are carefully boxed and we’ll hold onto them until they expire,” Davis said. “We don’t perceive the need to submit them, of course, but the filing period lasts until sometime in July. Too much went into collecting them and they represent the community in such a strong way that we’ll keep them in a safe place.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 13, 2004. Read the original PDF.