Hundreds Protest SMMUSD Layoffs

story and photo by
James Allardice
Mirror staff writer

   Protesting the layoff of over 200 Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) employees and rallying in support of Measure S, the district parcel tax measure headed for a June vote, over 1,000 people marched in downtown Santa Monica on Saturday, April 5.
   Taking part in the “Pink Slip Parade” were teachers — many who had been recently laid off and some who hadn’t — school district officials, community activists, parents and students.
   The SMMUSD Board recently made $13 million in budget cuts, effective next school year. Among the cuts were the jobs of 66 full-time classroom teachers, and 25 teachers in specialized programs, 56 staff members, including computer technicians, textbook coordinators and custodians also received pink slips.
   If additional funding isn’t found, the massive budget cuts will also bring an end to SMMUSD’s elementary music programs and force class sizes to increase to 30 students at the third grade level and 37 students at the high school level.
   “We are now being asked to dismantle programs we have worked so hard to build,” said parent and actress Marg Helgenberger.
   Marching together in Saturday’s parade were administrators who had to execute the layoffs, and teachers who may not be employed in the fall.
“We march today in total solidarity,” Superintendent John Deasy said.
   Measure S, which will appear on the June ballot, is a $225 parcel tax that would pump $6.5 million annually into the cash-strapped school district for the next six years. The measure was put on the ballot on the heels of the defeat last fall of Measure E, a $300 parcel tax.
   “This community can make a collective decision to support public education,” Deasy said. “We can successfully pass this measure [S]. We will not rest until I can stand before these teachers next June and say you are with us and with our children.”
   President of SMMUSD Classroom Teachers Association Harry Keiley said, “The rhetoric of ‘leave no child behind’ doesn’t even pass a reality check. In reality, we will leave our children behind.”
   Of the District’s $96 million 2002-03 revenue, 75 percent comes from the state. The rest comes from an existing parcel tax and other district revenue sources, such as its lease of the Madison School site to Santa Monica College and land lease to the Doubletree Hotel.
   Much of the money the District gets from the state comes from property taxes. Due to the state budget crunch, the District will not receive as much money back from the state, which forced the District to axe over $13 million from next year’s budget.
   Last year, the District received $3.5 million from the City of Santa Monica, and many have called on the City to help bridge the gap for the District by increasing its allocation. But, facing their own $16 million budget shortfall, City officials have indicated they would not be able to increase their funding.
   “The future of our children is more important than flowers on Pico, more important than speed bumps on the north side of Santa Monica or new trucks and buildings,” said District employee Richard Bartolomeo. “I call on the City of Santa Monica and Malibu to double their contributions. Don’t forget, children before you are also your constituents.”
   Speaking later at the rally, Mayor Richard Bloom said, “I pledge to you that we will not take a penny away from public education. And we will do everything in our power to increase funding.”
   The School Board has prioritized its budget cuts, calling for the restoration of jobs and programs in the event the City increases its allocation and/or the parcel tax measure receives the requisite two-thirds voter approval.
   “If we cannot pass this measure, we will lose our greatest asset, our teachers. Nothing can hurt more,” Mike Mathews, principal of Malibu High School, said. “We have a battle to fight. We might have an uphill battle to fight.”