School board approves $5,877,482 Samohi grading contract
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education cleared the next construction step for Santa Monica High School Student Services Building after earlier demolition work.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — amendment no, planning commission updates appeal representative selection, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
Board members asked one basic question before voting: whether the grading and shoring work fit the budget. Staff said yes, and the amendment passed.
The next phase at Santa Monica High School is now funded. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education approved Amendment No. 5 for the Student Services Building Base 4A project, authorizing Increment 2A work for grading and shoring at a cost of $5,877,482. The vote moves the project beyond demolition of the existing business building and into site preparation for the new facility.
Staff told the board this step follows “increment one,” which covered demolition already authorized by the board. Increment 2A is the groundwork before vertical construction can begin. During the discussion, a board member asked whether the amendment stayed within budget. Staff said it did.
The approval does not cover the full building job yet. Staff said a later phase, identified as Increment 2B, will come back to the board for approval when it is time to take up the actual building construction. Fire now, the district has authority to proceed with grading and shoring, a necessary step before the new Student Services Building can rise on the Santa Monica High School campus.
Planning Commission updates appeal representative selection rules
The Planning Commission used a routine appointment to open a broader rules debate. Commissioners selected a representative for an October 13, 2026 City Council appeal involving a conditional use permit for childcare on 26th Street in an R1 zone.
That decision led to a second question: how the commission chooses who speaks for it at City Council hearings. Commissioners asked staff to clean up the rules of order and bring them back for another look, with special attention to the process for selecting commission representatives.
The issue was procedural, but it matters because appeal hearings often turn on how clearly a commission’s reasoning is presented to the council. By asking for revised rules, commissioners signaled they want a more defined process before the next time a commission appointee is sent to defend or explain a decision.
Speaker presses board on camera privacy
During general public comment, a speaker urged the board to set clearer rules for security cameras and drones on Malibu and Santa Monica campuses. The speaker asked for transparency, expert input, audits, and firm standards for how images and data are collected, stored, and discarded.
Speaker urged stronger district rules on campus cameras and drones to protect student privacy.
Board approves employee settlement in closed session
The board reported approving a settlement agreement with a classified management employee, identified as employee number 00013296. The agreement provides for the employee’s resignation, a release of claims and disputes, and a severance payment, and the action passed 6-0 with one member absent.
litigation
Board reads student placement settlement terms
In open session, the board read a final settlement agreement identified as DN10002-26-27 covering private school reimbursement and attorney fees. The district agreed to reimburse up to $27,000 for unilateral private placement tuition and up to $4,725 in attorney fees and costs; the vote passed 4-0 with three absent.
litigation
HVAC complaints persist despite district response
District leaders said they are treating HVAC failures as urgent, using emergency payment authority, daily reporting, site visits, temporary units, and outside support. Union representatives and a public commenter said the Innovation and Discovery buildings still have leaks, flooding, odors, mold concerns, airflow problems, and unsafe classroom temperatures.
Classroom heat and building problems affect student learning, staff working conditions, and district repair spending right now.
- Santa Monica Planning Commission. Two members of the public addressed the Commission. One, identifying as a member of the Urban Forest Commission, invited commissioners to upcoming meetings and urged support for saving the Civic Auditorium and for a permanent billboard at the landmark building, while opposing removal of downtown trees. Another speaker raised concerns about an alley business use and alleged harassment and zoning violations, requesting code enforcement action.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. A public commenter urged the district to act with greater urgency on AI’s impact on education, referencing a Bill Gates memo and a PTA resolution on AI education. The commenter requested a district communication plan, working group reporting, alignment of learning outcomes, curriculum resources, and significantly enhanced teacher professional development.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. A public commenter addressed a consent agenda item related to facilities improvements and raised concerns about unacceptable classroom temperatures and ongoing HVAC problems in the Innovation and Discovery buildings, requesting board and community attention to unsafe and unhealthy conditions.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. The presiding officer asked if anyone else wished to speak during general public comment. No additional speakers came forward.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. A speaker during general public comment urged transparency and stronger policies regarding security cameras and drones on campuses, emphasizing privacy protections, data handling standards, and oversight to avoid creating a surveillance system. The speaker requested the Board prioritize the issue with expert input and audits.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
SANTA MONICA had 40 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEPublic Comment (Agenda Item J1): Classified Employees—Wages/Contract, Hours/Benefits, Workplace Conduct, and Brown Act Timing Dispute. Multiple speakers addressed agenda item J1, primarily raising concerns about classified employee compensation, contract negotiations, hours and benefits practices, and workplace conduct in food services. A procedural dispute occurred regarding a timestamped item and Brown Act timing, with calls to proceed to the timestamped item and objections that delaying it would violate the Brown Act.
- GOVERNANCEGeneral Public Comment: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education Urgency and District Planning. A public commenter urged the district to act with greater urgency on AI’s impact on education, referencing a Bill Gates memo and a PTA resolution on AI education. The commenter requested a district communication plan, working group reporting, alignment of learning outcomes, curriculum resources, and significantly enhanced teacher professional development.
- GOVERNANCEEstablishment of New Classification: Manager, Information Services. The Board approved establishing a new classified management position, Manager of Information Services, to support expanded district technology infrastructure and cybersecurity needs. Staff cited growth in systems across 15 sites, increased cybersecurity requirements, and a third-party review supporting the need for dedicated staffing.
- GOVERNANCEBoard Committee Feedback: Early Learning DAC and Special Education DAC Charges. The Board discussed committee feedback and DAC charges, including Early Learning DAC priorities (program awareness, staffing, waitlists, fiscal stability) and Special Education DAC work, including a new charge related to neurodiversity-affirming practices with a focus on parent education this year and documenting committee history.
- GOVERNANCEAmendment to Superintendent Employment Agreement (Extension to June 30, 2029). The Board approved an amendment extending the Superintendent’s employment agreement expiration from June 30, 2028 to June 30, 2029, with the Superintendent’s tax shelter annuity compensation stated as $23,000 per contract year. Other terms and conditions were stated as unchanged.
- GOVERNANCEBoard members share brief closing remarks. Board members offered brief comments and announcements, including promotion of the Malibu Chili Cook-Off, Labor Day wishes, and praise for Dolly Parton. No board business was taken up in these remarks.
- GOVERNANCESuperintendent Report: Start of School, Facilities Observations, Instructional Technology Working Group, and Meal Application Reminder. The Superintendent reported on the start of the school year, visits to campuses and new facilities, and updates from the instructional technology working group including survey response counts and next steps. The Superintendent also reminded families to complete free/reduced meal applications.
- GOVERNANCEStudent Board Member Report: Malibu High School. Student board member Parker reported on Malibu’s start of the year amid construction-related transitions, including split-campus class locations, parking and ticketing issues, academic changes such as a unified English grading scale and new math textbooks, and upcoming spirit events including a home football game and homecoming planning.
- GOVERNANCEFinancial Oversight Committee (FOC) Annual Report and Subcommittee Reports. District staff and the Financial Oversight Committee presented the annual report, introduced members (including new community and student members), and summarized work across multiple charges: budget recommendations, unfunded liabilities, bond oversight, financial communications, Malibu unification/separation agreements review, Measure R reporting, and nominations/student application process recommendations.
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