City Hall assures CEPS contract is forthcoming
CITY HALL — A controversial and precedent-setting agreement between city officials and school supporters that would guarantee tens of millions of dollars for local schools is not a done deal.
Five months after City Council members promised to dedicate at least $6 million to the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, a formal agreement has yet to be signed.
Although they’ve been assured by city officials that an agreement is forthcoming, members of Community For Excellent Public Schools (CEPS) are still waiting for a written contract, currently being drafted by City Attorney Marsha Moutrie and other city staff members.
“There have been moments that I’ve been concerned, but I’m not that worried,” said CEPS co-chair Shari Davis. “It’s just working through the process, and city staff is working on the language of the master agreement and sub-agreements.
McCarthy confirmed that the contract is being crafted and is very detailed because it governs a number of agreements between City Hall and the school district, including how facilities are used by the public.
“Nobody’s dragging their feet... it’s all being done,” McCarthy said, adding past agreements between City Hall and the school district haven’t always been done on time. “We’ve had a contract with the school district for a number of years on an annual basis and this is now a multi-year agreement.”
CEPS members gave city officials an ultimatum early this year when they announced they would attempt to change the city charter through a November ballot measure which would force City Hall to give $6 million to the school district indefinitely.
“(City Manager Susan McCarthy) has assured us that all the terms will be reflected in the contract.”
A majority of council members felt backed into a corner, but they agreed to a compromise which was reached behind closed doors and approved publicly. The result means City Hall will give schools $6 million annually for the next five years, and significantly more if the economy blossoms.
In presenting the compromise to the City Council, McCarthy — who negotiated the details with John Deasy, superintendent of schools — said both sides made significant concessions. School interests gave up indefinite funding that likely would have continually increased, while City Hall interests agreed to hand over the money without designating a new revenue source, something they’d pushed for.
Under the unsigned agreement, City Hall will double for the next five years the $3 million it gives annually to the school district in ongoing funds, with a 2 percent to 4 percent annual adjustment based on inflation. The agreement also includes loopholes for extraordinary circumstances, and options for both sides to reassess and renew the deal through the year 2014. A group of school and city leaders will meet in January 2007 to reassess the agreement. That group will decide whether to adjust the base funding by $1 million, at most.
The future of the funding is partly why CEPS leaders had City Council candidates sign a pledge last month, indicating that they will financially support the school district under the agreement. Some school supporters were concerned that if a new majority was elected to the City Council, or the incumbents who supported the agreement were voted out of office, funding for schools could be in jeopardy.
“At every point, the elected leaders have control of it,” Davis said.
But school supporters also are confident that city officials won’t go back on their word because to do otherwise would be political suicide. CEPS is a powerful group of parents and school supporters who cross all political lines in Santa Monica. The organization has gained serious momentum this year, proving its political clout.
“Just knowing that we’re watchful helps,” Davis said.
Mayor Richard Bloom said there is no reason not to think the contract will be in front of the school district soon.
“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind there is going to be an agreement,” he said. “We bargained in good faith and there is not even the smallest reason that that goodwill and the agreement will not move forward.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 13, 2004. Read the original PDF.