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# Schools spend city’s $2.25M donation
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/schools-spend-citys-2-25m-donation/
- Published: 2003-06-28T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:26:03.000Z
- Author: John Wood
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*School millions go quickly*

The local school district voted unanimously Thursday night to restore $2 million in jobs for next year.

More than 45 positions will be restored as a result of the decision, which follows last week’s commitment by the City Council to give the cash-strapped district $2.25 million in one-time funds.

In addition to the restored positions, a $250,000 summer school intervention program will be brought back.

The remaining cash will be used to hire six new teachers for Santa Monica High School, at approximately $440,000.

Along with a one-time $380,000 commitment by Malibu officials, the district plans to bring back the following positions:

Four elementary library coordinators, one high school library assistant, one health coordinator, three computer technicians, eleven administrators, two personnel workers, two special assignment workers, one financial supervisor, one textbook coordinator, more than three nurses, more than one middle school library assistant and more than 10 physical education specialists.

In order to create the six new teaching positions at Samohi, board members voted to wait on restoring more than seven positions Superintendent John Deasy recommended be brought back.

Those positions are: One high school library assistant, four custodians, one personnel worker and more than one classroom aide.

Dr. Jose Escarce, vice president of the school board, made the motion to substitute the teachers for the other workers. Board members said they still need to hire four to six teachers before the ratio of students to teachers is the same at Samohi as it is at Malibu High School.

School supporters expressed mixed emotions at the board’s decision.

482,“The school board made tough choices,” said Cheri Orgel, former president of the Parent Teachers Association. “All those positions are important. But the plain fact remains — there’s still not enough money to do all the things we need to do to make our schools whole again.”

Earlier this month, the district restored more than 108 positions based on income that will be generated by a school parcel tax, which was narrowly passed by voters June 3.

The flat $225 tax, which is estimated to generate $6.5 million annually for the district, will be levied on all properties in Santa Monica and Malibu for the next six years.

Santa Monica’s one-time contribution to the district complements its annual $3 million contribution to the district. And Malibu’s pledge to give $380,000 comes in addition to its $110,000 donation for next year.

Even with the new money, the district is still underfunded by more than $4 million for next year. Some council members wanted to give the schools more money, but because the city had to bridge a $16.1 million deficit of its own, there was not enough support for a larger donation.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 28, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/062803.pdf?ref=smdp.com)