January 30, 2008

Dear parents & guardians,

The First Day of Second Semester certainly gave us an opportunity to learn about being prepared! Lincoln Middle School and John Adams Middle School both received what now appear to be prank calls yesterday, indicating suspicious activity on those campuses. Police searched the schools and found nothing suspicious. Student safety and security were the first priority at all times. I believe the most important lesson we learned yesterday was that our schools are prepared.

Last Friday, our Santa Monica and Malibu secondary schools finished their final exams. Report cards are being prepared and will be distributed next week. As an educator, I am always pleased to share this milestone in your children’s educational year. It marks the half-way point of this important year in your child’s school life and signals the beginning of the journey toward year-end; promotion for some, and graduation for many!

In addition to marking this mid-way point, this January brings some very troubling news about California’s State budget crisis and its impact on our schools. We have all worked very hard to create an outstanding school district. Student performance is very high; staff members throughout the district are deeply committed to doing the best for our students and schools; our facilities will be going through some exciting upgrades and transformations. We have built and are committed to sustaining strong partnerships with our cities and, in turn, our community residents are generous in their support and appreciative of our role in making Malibu and Santa Monica desirable places to live. It is therefore very upsetting to learn that despite our efforts, we will suffer as a school district because the State government has been unable to develop stable and adequate funding for our schools.

I have been working diligently with my senior leadership, and school site administrators are joining with educators across the state to make sure the Governor and Legislature understand that this is unacceptable. No one can say what the final budget will be at this date. However, there is one thing that we do know. Santa Monica and Malibu schools are undoubtedly facing significant reductions.

SMMUSD is extremely fortunate to be part of two extraordinary cities that not only appreciate and understand the value of public education, but repeatedly affirm their support through local funding. Our schools and our students have been able to weather unpredictable and inadequate funding from the state in the past only because of local funding.

There is an important school funding measure on the ballot on February 5 -- Measure R, The Santa Monica-Malibu Schools Quality Education Funding Renewal Measure. I encourage you to read your ballot pamphlet and make an informed decision when you vote next Tuesday. But most importantly, I encourage you to vote next Tuesday!

Your support and your involvement in advocating on behalf of our children is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your support.

Dianne Talarico
SMMUSD Superintendent of Schools