An Open Letter from the Board of Education to the Residents of Santa Monica and Malibu

To the residents of our two communities:

As members of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, we wish to express our sincere thanks for your wisdom, foresight and generosity in approving Measure S.

We recognize that these are uncertain economic times, which makes your overwhelming and unflagging support for our schools, and your desire to reach into your own pockets to help, all the more admirable and humbling.

It is clear to us that your long tradition of valuing and supporting excellence in public education is alive and well. Your vote will make it possible for our district to blunt the most damaging and difficult-to-reverse effects of our state’s budget crisis.

For our part, we pledge to you that we will redouble our efforts to make the SMMUSD a model public school district in every way. With the assistance of our Financial Oversight Committee, we will continue to uphold rigorous financial oversight of our operations.

Working with our dedicated teachers, we will continue to develop stronger curricula and foster improved classroom instruction at every level. Under the guidance of our talented superintendent and school principals, we will continue to raise academic achievement for all students while narrowing the achievement gaps that affect schools nationally. The confidence you have shown in our schools demands nothing less.

Congratulations to all of us, for we all win when our schools excel. And thanks again, on behalf of all our students and employees.

Sincerely,