By Jessica E. Davis
All six candidates discussed a variety of issues impacting the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, including the district’s financing, the possibility of creating two districts and Malibu representation.
Envisioning a possible future in which both Proposition 30 and 38 did not pass, all six candidates agreed that increasing revenues and cutting costs was the clear path ahead for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
The candidates—incumbents Ben Allen, Jose Escarce and Maria Leon Vazquez and Malibu challengers Craig Foster, Karen Farrer and Seth Jacobson—met for the first debate of the election Wednesday at Malibu City Hall. The forum was sponsored by the Santa Monica League of Women’s Voters and the Santa Monica Malibu PTA Council in partnership with the City of Malibu.
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Unification
In another round of questions, the moderator asked candidates about their position on the possible separation of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
Leon-Vazquez was the lone voice of opposition to unification, the term used by education officials for the process to separate school districts.
“There really hasn’t been any factual arguments made within Malibu that we have been unfair and the children of Malibu have not fared well,” Leon-Vazquez said, spurring some comments of outrage from the Malibu audience.
Foster, Farrer and Jacobson all supported unification, citing analysis from the district and an independent consultant.
“Anybody who doesn’t think we are entirely different communities who need to be left to local control hasn’t been paying attention,” Foster said.
Farrer lambasted Santa Monica board members, except for Allen, for not coming out to Malibu on a regular basis.
“The present staff and board of education does not have the time and the interest to come out here,” Farrer said.
Allen, who said he wants to make sure all parties are on board for the complicated process, said he thinks the proposal makes sense, especially since Malibu has matured as a community and a city.
“We’re moving very close to where it makes sense for us to separate,” Allen said.
Escarce also said he is willing to support unification if the facts show it is viable for both communities.
“This is a complicated process and unfortunately, for better or worse, it is a highly political process at the county and state level,” Escarce said.
To read more (including comments on Malibu representation on the school board), go here.
Advocates for Malibu Public Schools 