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The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Local School Funding Measure

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Local School Funding Measure. Protecting our Neighborhood Schools. Why a Local School Funding Measure Now?. SANTA MONICA + MALIBU HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS. SMMUSD Student Achievement Far Exceeds the County and State.

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The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Local School Funding Measure

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  1. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School DistrictLocal School Funding Measure Protecting our Neighborhood Schools

  2. Why a Local School Funding Measure Now? SANTA MONICA + MALIBU HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS

  3. SMMUSD Student Achievement Far Exceeds the County and State Excellent achievement needs protecting Academic Performance Index (API)

  4. High Quality Programs and Teachers • SMMUSD Students: • Receive a strong foundation in math, science, reading and writing • Take AP classes and advanced courses to prepare for college and today’s careers • Perform consistently higher on state and national assessments • Are accepted at top colleges and universities • Learn from highly qualified and experienced teachers

  5. Why a Local School Funding Measure Now? CALIFORNIA’S STATE BUDGET CRISIS MEANS UNPRECEDENTED CUTS FOR SCHOOLS

  6. California’s School Funding Crisis • 71% of local school funds come from Sacramento • $10 million in State funding has been cut from SMMUSD each year for the past 2 years, which is approximately 15% of SMMUSD’s general fund budget • More cuts from the State are expected next year

  7. SMMUSD has made significant cuts • Due to State budget cuts, SMMUSD has made significant cuts to: • Administrators • Teachers • Staff • Programs

  8. What is the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Local School Funding Measure? • Provide critically needed local funding now for our schools that cannot be taken away by the State. • Generate $5.8 million for our schools • If passed, the local funding measure will: • Protect instruction and minimize cuts in reading, math and science • Minimize teacher layoffs • Keep class sizes as small as possible • Protect music programs • Keep school libraries open • Minimize cuts to counselors, who help students stay on the right track and help high school students aim for college and careers

  9. Fiscal Accountability • SMMUSD’s record of excellent fiscal responsibility has prompted Standard & Poors to give the district one of its highest credit ratings as one of the top school districts in the state. Additional accountability for the measure include -- • ALL funds used in our local schools – cannot be taken away by Sacramento • No funds for administrator salaries • Includes optional senior exemption to ensure not a burden to those on a fixed income • Independent citizens’ oversight committee will ensure funds are spent appropriately • Annual audits and annual reports to taxpayers are required • Temporary measure – will be in place for five years

  10. What Will the Local School Funding MeasureSupport? • Protect reading, math and science programs • Students receive outstanding instruction in reading, math and science. • The local school funding measure will protect instruction and minimize cuts to core academic programs.

  11. What Will the Local School Funding MeasureSupport? • Minimize Teacher Layoffs • The local school funding measure will prevent the layoff of up to 60 of our 580teachers.

  12. What Will the Local School Funding MeasureSupport? • Maintain Smaller Class Sizes • Small class sizes help ensure students receive quality instruction. • The local school funding measure will maintain smaller class sizes at all levels, and allow K-3 classes to remain at 25:1

  13. What Will the Local School Funding MeasureSupport? • Protect Elementary Music Program • SMMUSD provides outstanding music education taught by credentialed teachers • The local school funding measure will support elementary music education

  14. What Will the Local School Funding MeasureSupport? • Keep School Libraries Open • SMMUSD libraries are centers for technology and literacy • The local school funding measure will maintain staffing at elementary school libraries and keep school libraries open

  15. What Will the Local School Funding MeasureSupport? • Maintain School Counselors • School counselors provide personal attention to help students stay on the right track and help high school students prepare for college and careers • The local school funding measure will minimize cuts to middle and high school counselors

  16. What Will the Local School Funding MeasureSupport? • Maintain Security Officers • Security officers help to ensure the safety of students, teachers and staff • The local school funding measure will minimize cuts to middle and high school security officers

  17. The Local School Funding Measure • Is critically needed to protect our great schools from a serious decline in the quality of our schools • Will allow SMMUSD to maintain the great teachers and strong academics that make our district among the best in the state • Benefits the entire community as our great schools help keep kids engaged, maintain property values and keep our community a safe and desirable place to live

  18. How Can I Vote on the Local School Funding Measure? • The measure will be on a May 25 special all-mail ballot • LA County will mail ballots to all registered voters in Santa Monica and Malibu on April 26. • Ballots must be received by May 25. Postmarks do not count. • All ballots must be cast by mail. No polling places will be open on Election Day.

  19. How do we as parents help pass the local school funding measure? • Must receive support from 2/3 of those who vote – a very high threshold to reach • Getting our message out is critical to success • Funding a strong campaign will help communicate directly to voters

  20. How can YOU help pass the measure? • Phone bank • Donate to the campaign • Endorse the measure • Advocate for the measure with friends and family

  21. Financial contributions are key to our success! • Educating voters makes an enormous impact! The campaign committee pays for • Direct voter contact • Advertisements • Public information • Volunteer coordination • Get out the vote campaigns

  22. Contribute Campaign to Protect Quality Public Schools 2118 Wilshire Boulevard #264 Santa Monica, CA 90403 • PTA Units may contribute up to 5% of their annual budget to legislation • PTA Council has voted unanimously to urge each unit to contribute 5% to the campaign • PTA Council has already voted to make its 5% contribution

  23. More info at www.smmpta.org

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