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# Some say tighten, some say give Last week, Q-line asked
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/some-say-tighten-some-say-give-last-week-q-line-asked/
- Published: 2002-11-22T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:58:57.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Malibu, #archive-import

“Should the voters bail out the school district and ensure the public education system won’t suffer? Or should the school board find a way to tighten their belts during these lean economic times just like everyone?”

Here are your responses: ■ “Yes, thanks for asking the question about Measure EE. I voted for it. I think it’s very important that we support the school district and I think that the tax override was... okay. I understand some of the shortcomings of the $300 per parcel tax, you might want to try a graduated parcel tax so that smaller properties would pay less, proportionally less. But in any event, I do support it, and I think that it’s important that we have this special election and see if we can’t reverse the defeat, get more votes for it. Thanks very much for asking the question.” ■ “First of all, a majority of the voters did support EE, but it did not get the two-thirds that it needed to pass. So the first order of business is to change state law to enable a simple majority to carry the day. Secondly, this whole thing was only necessary because the state had to cut back funds to pay for our now proved to be phony energy crisis. So I don’t think it’s right to ask the children of our district to tighten their belts until the greedy oil companies do the same thing. For the record, I’m a substitute at Malibu High School. Thank you.” ■ “Again, we’re asked to bail out the incompetence and inept people of the school board and the superintendent of this stupid EE measure that there was no support for, not enough support anyway to pass. I think the whole problem with the school district is, is that there’s a lack of discipline all the way down from the superintendent on down to elementary school level teachers, staff, whatever. And the biggest problem is that the money gets wasted and is not spent correctly and instead we have all these lame, stupid liberal programs that do nothing to promote the true educational qualities that we look for and it’s just another example of throwing money at a problem. Instead, we need a whole new school board and superintendent, and we need to get rid of some of these liberal educators and administrators at these schools and put in somebody that holds the students accountable until they’re 18 and they graduate. Thank you.” ■ “Yes, we do need to support our schools, but the school board should also tighten their belts. However, we need to listen to the opponents of Proposition EE and make the parcel tax fairer so the small homeowner does not have to pay the same amount as the owner of a large expensive home or an office complex. I believe if the tax was apportioned in a fairer manner, there would be no arguments against it and everybody could support it and it would get passed.” ■ “Since we are indeed in a weak economy, I advocate that the school district become realistic about its situation and cut expenses wherever possible. Comments from the SMMUSD superintendent and candidates running for the school board left the impression that they are extremely reluctant to do this. Yet at times like this when so many are striving to be more efficient, the school district should adopt this attitude and cease their pursuit of outside help.” ■ “It would be wonderful if all Santa Monica Unified School District alumni would send a one time tax deductible gift of 1 percent of one year’s income to be distributed equally throughout the Santa Monica school district. A way of saying thank you and contributing to a truly worthy cause.” ■ “The lottery was established here in California in order to provide money so necessarily needed for the school system of California. Why has that failed? Why is the money from the lottery not being used properly spent as was enacted so that the schools would get help? What is wrong with our lawmakers and our council members that are not enforcing the mandate that lottery money would be used for school systems? What is the problem here? Why has there not been a rectification of this matter? Why is the money from lottery not being used for our schools like it was promised? Thank you.” ■ “In response to should the voters bail out the school district, my response is no. I did not vote for Measure EE, and I will not vote for any upcoming special election in March. I think that the residential, commercial and industrial property owners should be able to pay in an equitable manner. As a property owner with no children, the cost of $25.00 per month that was proposed in Measure EE is not fair, as opposed to renters that may pay approximately three to four dollars a month. I believe that the majority of students attending these schools are predominantly renters. I don’t know what the actual statistics are on the numbers, I would like to see these numbers, on the number of students coming from homes as opposed to apartments as opposed to students coming out of the district. There are a lot of students whose parents work in the city, but they do not pay property taxes. And I do not feel that it is my responsibility at this time to pay for the school board. They need to manage the funds in a better way and there may be a blessing that a lot of these programs that are not necessary may not be needed. Thank you.” ■ “Deasy and those do-gooders say the school situation is cat-a-strophic. Well, I say bull-puppy, things is just gettin’ good. When schools were crowded and teachers few, the smart, tough kids find ways to survive and flourish, just like in real life. That’s the best education those molly-coddled, whipper snappers can get. And if they don’t like it and act out, let’s give them the thrashin’ they deserve.” ■ “Thank you for the opportunity. I am for EE. It’s not a question of fighting or tightening the belt, it’s a question of saving lives and minds of students and teachers. We need more counselors, smaller class size and also check the figures in relation to violence as well as health problems on campus. We need more counselors. I am a member of the health advisory group in the Santa Monica-Malibu United School District. Thank you, very much. I appreciate the opportunity.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 22, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/112202.pdf?ref=smdp.com)