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# City gives record amount to school district
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/city-gives-record-amount-to-school-district/
- Published: 2003-06-19T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:22:02.000Z
- Author: John Wood
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*New dollars mean more jobs brought back to local schools*

City Hall has squeezed an extra $2.25 million out of next year’s budget to give to the cash-strapped local school district.

Tuesday’s decision bumps the total cash contribution up to $5.25 million, $725,000 more than the city has ever given to public schools.

Council members handed out last-minute donations to a handful of groups Tuesday before adopting its final budget.

Though school officials had hoped for more, they expressed gratitude for the extra cash.

“We’re very encouraged by the continued support by our council to education,” said John Deasy, superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. “It is one of their stated priorities and they have a long history of support that is greatly appreciated.”

With the $2.25 million in hand, Deasy said the school will rehire many of the secretaries, custodians, nurses, librarians and other workers that were laid off in March when the district was facing a $13.7 million shortfall.

Dozens of residents and community leaders, including former mayors Denny Zane and Nat Trives, pleaded with the council to increase its historical $3 million annual contribution by as much as $4 million.

About 1,000 people marched in front of City Hall before the meeting to demand the city give more to public schools.

The council settled on $2.25 million after a motion to give the schools $2.5 million failed.

“We should really go out on a limb for education,” said Councilman Herb Katz, who had originally suggested the council give $3 million or more, after the final decision was made. “In the long run, we really help and save ourselves.”

> “The gravy train is over.” — — MIKE FEINSTEIN City councilman

Councilwoman Pam O’Connor was the lone dissenting vote in giving the extra $2.25 million.

During the public comment period, O’Connor asked school supporters why they had not sought the money under Measure S, a flat $225 parcel tax that is estimated to generate about $6.5 million annually for the district.

The parcel tax, which will be in place for six years, was passed by voters June 3.

O’Connor said that last year’s extra $1.5 million donation was meant as one-time only. If the council continues to bail out schools, the district may become dependent on the funds, which are likely to disappear, she added.

Other council members agreed.

“The budget situation that we’re in is not going to turn around,” said Councilman Mike Feinstein, who originally proposed a $2 million donation. “The gravy train is over.”

The last-minute donations handed out by the council came from savings the city gained during a hiring freeze in City Hall.

But officials worry that money may be needed if the recession deepens or if the state decides to take more funding away from Santa Monica.

“There simply isn’t enough cash to go around any longer,” said Mayor Richard Bloom, adding that the city’s favorable bond rating hangs in the balance. “We need to try and put ourselves in a place where we can sustain funding.”

The additional $2.25 million and the historical $3 million given by the city falls under its facilities use agreement with the district, which allows the city to use school grounds for municipal purposes.

Barbara Stinchfield, director of the city’s community and cultural services department, said City Hall actually gives an additional $5.23 million to local schools through various grants and services as well as after school, police and arts programs.

Though $225,000 of the additional funds will go towards a summer school intervention program, the remaining $2 million will go towards rehiring a handful of jobs that were cut in March. Officials will meet Thursday, June 26 to discuss which positions will be restored.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 19, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/061903.pdf?ref=smdp.com)