By Kevin McKeown Santa Monica City Council
My personal thank you and congratulations go to the parents of the talented students who performed this week at the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s “Stairway of the Stars” concert.
Anyone who heard the astonishing level of student performances knows congratulations are in order. I say also “thank you” because family support at home contributes so greatly to the experience we shared at our historic Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Fully 47 percent of our district students — up from 28 percent just a year ago — now participate in SMMUSD music programs taught by certificated music teachers.
The recently released “Creative Capital” report documented how important the arts are to Santa Monica, and the “Stairway” concert demonstrated the great value our community receives from its willing support of excellent public schools.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 24, 2007. Read the original PDF.