By Dr. Lisette Bauersachs Santa Monica
Please make an addition of facts to your “Schools revisit moratorium” article (Feb. 3-4, page 3). The use of the $5.1 million figure, in terms of lost revenue to the school district from permit students, is extremely misleading. The district did not subtract out the significant savings that would be realized on not having to pay additional administration, staffing, teachers and other costs associated with educating the current 1,700 non-city residents who have entered into our local school district on an out-of-city permit. The final number that impacts the school budget will be substantially lower than that which was presented to the public.
It is a fact that these 1,700 permitted students who do not live in Santa Monica or Malibu and use our school system do not pay any of the Measure BB and Measure S bond fees. Furthermore, they do not contribute to the $6 million in funds provided by the City Council of Santa Monica directly to the school system. There is a huge inequity in this permit system. The residents of Santa Monica and Malibu are subsidizing well over a thousand Los Angeles residents. This is not fair and should end.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 7, 2007. Read the original PDF.