Smmusd and Malibu finalize school separation agreement
Dalia Puchalt / The Samohi
The SMMUSD district building on 4th is home to the administrators responsible for the Sept. 13 separation package.
On Sept. 12, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) and the City of Malibu announced they would finally separate, allowing Malibu to become an independent district. The current separation package is ready for public review.
The City of Malibu has been attempting to split off and establish their own school district for 13 years, attempting to distinguish themselves as the Malibu Unified School District (MUSD). They finally entered the mediation process with SMMUSD in 2022 and began the development of these agreements. If the separation package performs well under public review, the districts’ assets will ultimately be split semi-equally, with assistance from SMMUSD to help create services within MUSD schools. MUSD will encompass both Malibu and other unincorporated places within Los Angeles County, and SMMUSD will ultimately become the Santa Monica Unified School District (SMUSD).
The division process framework of the division process has been detailed within the following agreements: the Revenue Sharing Agreement, the Operational Transfer Agreement and the Joint Powers Agreement. These agreements will dictate how resources, operations and services will be split between the prospective new school districts before the official separation date next year. This will guarantee that both SMUSD and MUSD students will continue to receive quality education post-separation.
The Revenue Sharing Agreement details the process of distributing funding to both districts in order for them to maintain similar services in their schools. SMUSD and MUSD will each draw the majority of their funding from their local property taxes, meaning that Samo students will lose Malibu property tax revenue.
The Operational Transfer is an agreement dedicated to the allocation of staffing, operational processes and resources. The agreement states that the Special Education Director of SMMUSD will aid MUSD in its creation of its own special education services. There will also be discussion on food services, transportation and more.
Malibu has founded their own Education Foundation as well, as of this April. Following in Samo footsteps, Malibu will put a $395 million bond to improve their schools on their Nov. 2024 ballot. If granted, the money will be used to renovate old buildings, upgrade technology, improve school safety and increase support for struggling students, among other things.
The final agreement within the separation package is the Joint Powers Agreement. Which will set up a shared entity to oversee the division of SMMUSD. Specifically, this task-force will be responsible for overseeing and implementing the aforementioned agreements. Members will assist with the transfer of the certain assets, liabilities, equipment, supplies, agreements and services. They will also oversee any possible disputes within the Revenue Sharing Agreement or Operational Transfer Agreement. This entity’s purpose is to make sure that all succeed and benefit throughout the separation process.
The separation procedures have not been entirely smooth sailing leading up to this point, with a hiccup in the mediation process occurring in July. At that time, the City of Malibu proposed a vote on a 2017 petition outlining a separation process that was seen by many as putting Santa Monica students at a disadvantage. SMMUSD immediately halted the mediation process,strongly opposing this petition. In a statement released by SMMUSD on July 18, Attorney David Soldani strongly emphasized the district’s disapproval.
“Going back to a fatally flawed 2017 petition is a baffling decision,” Soldani said. “...The District has no choice but to fight the City of Malibu’s attempt to disenfranchise SMMUSD students residing in Santa Monica.”
The City of Malibu conceded, and the mediation process resumed.
Presently, the SMMUSD Board of Education and the City and Malibu are projected to finalize and approve the agreements by Oct. This will be done by public hearing, which will be scheduled by the Los Angeles County Office of Education County Committee on School District Organization. If approved, the two districts will fully split on July 1 for the 2025-26 school year. Although the separation process is not yet complete, the release of these agreements is a critical step in ultimate independence of MUSD. Mayor of Malibu Doug Stewart believes that the formation of a separate school district will better serve the needs of Malibu students, as he expressed in a statement on Sept. 13.
“This marks a crucial step forward for Malibu as we move closer to creating an independent school district that reflects the unique needs and values of our community,” Stewart said. “The Separation Package is a result of a collaborative effort aimed at ensuring both Malibu and Santa Monica students receive an exceptional education.”