The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education has unanimously approved an emergency resolution to fast-track the installation of backup power systems after losing 22 school days last year.
The emergency measure allows the district to bypass normal procurement processes to meet a late September deadline for installing generator quick-connect equipment.
"We lost 22 school days in Malibu this last year for various reasons, but one of those being the shut off of power, the public safety power shut-offs from SoCal Edison," said Carrie Upton, the district's chief operations officer, during the board meeting.
Southern California Edison has warned the district that there will be more power shutoffs this year than in previous years due to fire safety concerns during the traditional fire season, which runs from August through January.
All seven board members present voted in favor of the measure.
Under the emergency authorization, the district can immediately install quick-connect systems that will allow schools to seamlessly switch from Edison's power grid to backup generators when shutoffs occur.
The district initially planned to incorporate the generator connections into an existing solar and battery project with Schneider Electric Buildings Americas Inc.
"We would not be able to meet our deadline of having that ready by the end of September; instead, it was going to be ready sometime at the end of March, which is after when we need it for this year," Upton explained.
The district is simultaneously working to purchase its own generators for approximately $600,000, funded through Measure MM bond proceeds. Those generators are expected to arrive in November or December due to manufacturing delays.
Until the purchased generators arrive, the district may need to rent backup power equipment, which would require general fund money rather than bond funds. However, Upton said the district is negotiating with Southern California Edison to loan generators for the interim period.
"We've explored the process of renting generators, and we find that if we have a season like we had last year, we'll spend significantly more money than it would cost us to buy generators," Upton said.
The Santa Monica-Malibu district operates under the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act, which allows for informal rather than formal bidding processes in certain circumstances. This designation helped facilitate the emergency procurement approach.
Because of its emergency status, the resolution will return to the board for review at each monthly meeting until the work is completed.
Boardmember Stacy Rouse praised the district's proactive approach, acknowledging the difficulties of the previous school year.
"This last year was so hard," Rouse said. "Losing 22 days — it was more or less at different places. We all want our kids in school."
The power shutoffs affected not only classroom instruction but also created logistical challenges for families and staff. The emergency resolution aims to ensure that power outages will no longer be the sole reason for school closures.
In addition to the power infrastructure improvements, the district is working with Los Angeles County on a separate grant application to reinforce hillsides along Las Virgenes and Malibu Canyon Road, where falling rocks frequently cause road closures that also disrupt school operations.
The emergency work is expected to begin within two weeks, with completion targeted for late September, just as the peak fire season typically begins in the area.