The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to approve a separation package that would split the nearly 70-year-old district into two independent entities, marking a major milestone in Malibu's decades-long quest for local control of its schools.
The 7-0 vote during a special meeting Dec. 1 approved three foundational agreements establishing the financial, operational and governance frameworks needed to create an independent Malibu Unified School District alongside a Santa Monica Unified School District.
"Last night's unanimous approval is a historic milestone that brings Malibu one step closer to achieving the local control our community has worked toward for so many years," Malibu Mayor Marianne Riggins said. "This is a victory for the future of students in both Malibu and Santa Monica."
The separation package includes a Property Tax Revenue Sharing Agreement allocating revenues between the two future districts, an Operational Transfer Agreement outlining the transition of staffing and facilities, and a Joint Powers Agreement creating shared governance to oversee the process.
Board Member Jon Kean, who serves on the unification subcommittee, said the agreements meet critical criteria for approval.
"Both cohorts of students will benefit, and each cohort will receive a comparable education on the last day of SMMUSD as they will on day one of SMUSD and MUSD," Kean said. "Delivering local control while not harming students is driving my decision."
The Malibu City Council will consider the same separation package at its meeting Monday, Dec. 8, at 5:30 p.m. If approved, both bodies will pursue necessary special legislation and state approvals to formally establish the two independent districts.
Malibu's push for an independent school district stretches back to informal efforts in the 1970s. The campaign gained momentum in 2011 when Malibu parents and officials formed Advocates for Malibu Public Schools to champion local control.
The Malibu City Council formally resolved to pursue an independent district in 2015, leading to negotiations that stalled and restarted multiple times over the next decade.
In December 2017, Malibu submitted a formal petition for unification to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. The district offered a compromise in 2018, proposing a 50-year revenue-sharing plan if Malibu would pause its petition.
After renewed attempts at separation, both sides entered formal mediation in late 2021. Throughout 2022 and 2023, negotiators made significant progress, reaching a breakthrough in October 2022 with a joint term sheet outlining key points of a deal. Negotiations continued after the County rejected a version of the split, culminating in the November 2025 finalization of the separation package now approved by the school board.
Malibu supporters have long argued that their roughly 1,100 students face unique challenges, including wildfire evacuations and lengthy commutes, that require focused attention from local administrators. They contend that Malibu schools, representing under 15 percent of district enrollment, have been overshadowed by the much larger Santa Monica schools.
Santa Monica officials initially expressed concern that separation could drain funding and harm their schools. Superintendent Ben Drati previously warned that early Malibu proposals were "unconscionable" and would leave Santa Monica in fiscal distress.
The negotiated agreements appear to address those concerns. Board members emphasized that the separation package benefits students in both communities by allowing each new district to focus on distinct needs and long-term planning.
At the Dec. 1 meeting, the teachers' union president took a neutral stance, urging the board to prioritize the best interests of students and teachers. Roughly six members of the public provided in-person comments, with two additional online comments.
If the Malibu City Council approves the agreements Dec. 8, the two bodies will work together to secure special legislation and state approvals needed to complete the separation.
The agreements establish frameworks for dividing resources, assets and liabilities to ensure the fiscal health and educational success of both successor districts.
For more information and complete agreements, visit MalibuCity.org/MUSD.