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# School district studies odds
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/school-district-studies-odds-2/
- Published: 2001-12-08T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-22T22:30:31.000Z
- Author: Andrew Fixmer
- Tags: Education, Malibu, #archive-import

A school district plan that would gamble millions in state funding to lower class sizes city-wide has been put on hold for more consideration by the school board.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified school board received the analysis of the district’s non-resident student policy at its Thursday meeting only to table further discussion of the plan for one month.

Specifically, the board wanted more time to consider suggestions made by the school district that would place a moratorium on accepting any new non-resident students, and not re-issuing permits given to non-resident students that graduate or leave the school district.

“I feel it was very well received,” said John Deasy, superintendent of schools. “The board has asked for it to come back so they can discuss it further.“ Increased enrollment from local students, combined with a high number of out-of-district permits granted by the school board, has led to overcrowded classrooms in many schools across the city.

Five years ago, the school district was under-funded and unable to cope with the financial weight of educating its students. So in order to raise money, the school board allowed many out of district students to enroll in Santa Monica.

With increased enrollment came extra money from the state. Now the school district boasts some of the top test scores in the state and a wide array of classes and extra curricular activities.

However, if the plan is enacted by the school board, the entire student population could be decreased by as much as 300 students a year, costing the district about $1.5 million in state funding.

Currently non-resident students make up 21 percent of the entire student body and bring in $12.3 million of state funding each year.

To make up for the dramatic decrease in funding, the school district will have the difficult task of finding new ways to make up for lost revenue.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 8, 2001.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/120801.pdf?ref=smdp.com)