By Louise Jaffe and Shari Davis Co-chairs Community for Excellent Public Schools
The quality of our schools and of our community is in jeopardy. The governor’s new proposed budget tries to “soften the blow” to education. For our school district, the governor’s May revised budget, should it be accepted, does no such thing.
The new budget proposal will still result in the required cuts of $13 million that we have been anticipating in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. We cannot overemphasize the negative impact of these cuts, most notably the increased class sizes next year (meaning overcrowded classes!) due to the elimination of 91 unfunded teaching positions.
Whether the governor’s budget passes as is or is revised substantially by the Legislature, one thing remains certain: Children are the victims of California’s budget deficit.
As funding from the state has declined in the 25 years since Prop. 13, Santa Monica- Malibu has struggled mightily to hold the line on quality in our public schools. Other districts long ago eliminated elementary libraries, school nurses, music and the arts but Santa Monica-Malibu, with the help of a solidly pro-public education community and the dedication of PTA and Education Foundation volunteers, has managed to maintain these programs. We also have teachers and administrators who deliver for our students and our community.
Our schools have continued to improve. Our high school drop-out rate has been reduced from a high of 9 percent in 1992 to less than 1 percent today! Since the implementation of class-size reduction in the primary grades and a renewed focus on reading and math, SMMUSD test scores are up.
As reported in the September 2002 Education Standard, “For the past five years students across Santa Monica and Malibu have been celebrating as test scores continue to rise. The latest SAT-9 test results for each grade have just been released and they are among the best ever for the district.”
On the state’s Academic Performance Index, on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the highest, five of our 13 schools are a 10, four are a nine, none is lower than a seven and most have exceeded the state’s improvement target, some spectacularly.
Schools throughout the district have received numerous high-profile awards for distinguished accomplishments in education, including two “Blue Ribbon Schools,” four “Distinguished Schools” and a Disney Spotlight on Education National Winner.
Our entire community has benefited from and become more desirable because of the success of our public schools. These benefits can be seen in increased public safety, high property values and a strong sense of community.
Without Measure S, all this will change. Our schools will deteriorate. Our students will suffer.
We do not believe this strong community wishes to see our schools and our children become a casualty of the mess in Sacramento. We urge everyone to be part of the local solution and to vote yes on S.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 2, 2003. Read the original PDF.