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# Schools get major cash
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/schools-get-major-cash/
- Published: 2008-03-15T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T18:53:06.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Education, Malibu, #archive-import

*Board concerned about infrastructure*

SMMUSD HDQTRS The public middle schools in Santa Monica and Malibu received much needed attention on Thursday when the Board of Education decided to spend $42 million toward facilities and infrastructure improvements at the secondary institutions.

The allocation includes $14 million for Malibu Middle School, a decision the school board had previously promised to Malibu parents after a fallout in October over what they alleged was an appropriations disparity strongly in favor of Santa Monica. The dispute arose after the board voted to spend $57 million for Santa Monica High School — an increase over an original district staff proposal — and fund only Malibu High School for the time being. Malibu parents argued that money was desperately needed for their middle school.

The funds are all part of a $268 million pot of money under Measure BB, a construction bond measure passed by voters residing in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District in November 2006.

The vote on Thursday, while addressing the concerns of Malibu parents, wasn’t without some debate as some board members felt that John Adams Middle School (JAMS) was being shortchanged compared to Lincoln and Malibu middle schools.

The Measure BB District Advisory Committee recommended that John Adams receive $12 million to Lincoln’s $16 million.

Board President Oscar de la Torre argued that John Adams Middle School — through which most of the district’s socio-economically disadvantaged students matriculate — should receive more of the Measure BB pie, challenging his fellow board members to act on the district’s mission of equality for all.

“We talk the talk, we have to walk the walk,” de la Torre said.

He suggested that $1 million a piece be taken from Lincoln and Malibu’s allocation and be reappropriated to John Adams, somewhat leveling the field.

Board member Ralph Mechur said that rather than taking money away from the two other middle schools, $2 million be pulled from the unallocated funds and added to John Adams. The suggestion was supported by board member Maria Leon Vasquez.

But the rest of the board said they weren’t comfortable with pulling money from the unallocated pot without having a better understanding of how that money would exactly be used at JAMS.

The board instead directed its staff to identify additional areas where JAMS could use money.

“As much as I am real concerned about equity, I’m also concerned about allocating monies without any real direction,” Board member Barry Snell said. “I cannot support adding $2 million without any real understanding as to where and why we are allocating.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 15, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/031508.pdf?ref=smdp.com)