‘Month of Thanksgiving’ includes three-pronged fundraising approach
With next year’s budget woes in mind, a group of education leaders went before the City Council on Tuesday to praise it for giving extra money to local schools this year.
The presentation was part of a three-pronged effort this month to thank local officials and residents for their ongoing support of the cash-strapped school district.
Schools spokeswoman Rebecca Kennerly said this is the earliest ever that school groups have begun community outreach. Because of the dire situation with the state budget in Sacramento, the group anticipates needing extra money for the 2004-2005 school year.
“The district is strong,” Kennerly said before the Tuesday presentation. “We want to make sure we let them know when good things are happening — and when the next funding crisis comes up, which is going to happen this next school year.
“We want to let them know we haven’t taken their money and disappeared into the sunset.”
“We want to let them know we haven’t taken their money and disappeared into the sunset.” — — REBECCA KENNERLY Schools spokeswoman
Due to extra cash donations from the cities of Santa Monica and Malibu, as well as revenue from Measure S, a flat $225 parcel tax approved by voters in June, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District was able to maintain class offerings this school year despite heavy funding cuts from Sacramento. It was facing a multi-million dollar budget shortfall this year until the district received the extra cash.
Mat Millen, a local attorney who campaigned against Measure S, said he hopes the council agrees to give more money to schools when the issue emerges again next summer.
“I hope that they’re successful because I don’t want them to come back with another tax increase,” he said. “Our position was always that the City Council has the money. There’s no reason why our taxes should be raised. It’s a matter of priorities — we wanted them to put school children over keeping themselves in office by building low-income housing for their campaign workers.”
Although the $2.25 million donation given to the cash-strapped district by the Santa Monica City Council in June was considered a one-time donation, council members in recent years have repeatedly voted to give extra money to schools. The money is in addition to City Hall’s annual $3 million contribution to the district, and several million more in after-school and other programs.
City Councilman Herb Katz said he will meet with committee members sometime this week to discuss their long-term goals. Before any more money is given to the district, Katz said the group needs to convince council members they aren’t already giving enough.
“Our schools are important, but there is a bottom to this pit,” he said. “We give and give, and then they say, ‘Give us some more.’”
Parent Teacher Association president Marcia Rodriguez began Tuesday’s presentation by introducing a cross-section of the school community, including teachers, parents, students, administrators and classified workers.
Superintendent John Deasy then made a few comments to the council before two brothers, both students at Franklin Elementary School, and two other elementary students, presented to council members a replica of a banner made by a class of kindergarten students that thanks the elected officials.
On Monday night, a similar presentation was made to the Malibu City Council.
Also part of the “Month of Thanksgiving” effort is a letter-writing campaign to local media outlets that expresses gratitude to residents for passing Measure S. Area schools throughout Santa Monica and Malibu also display dozens of banners that read, “Thank you for making this school year possible by passing Measure S. Strong Schools = a Strong Community.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 12, 2003. Read the original PDF.