Santa Monica College trustee candidates set presidential priorities
At the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees candidate forum, the next president’s task came into focus: stabilize finances while helping more students succeed.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — question, amendment number seven to agreement, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
Candidates at the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees forum put staff morale, student retention and state funding on the next president’s agenda.
The next college president will inherit hard choices on day one. At the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees candidate forum, candidates put fiscal stability, student success and staff morale at the center of the discussion. One candidate said layoffs have hurt morale and called for a plan to address retention and dropout rates. He linked those concerns to enrollment and said the incoming president should work with employee groups and communicate clearly across the college.
Another candidate urged the next president to press state lawmakers for funding changes and build the college’s fund balance. He said two of three bargaining units had settled contracts and called the faculty contract a major task still ahead. He wanted the student housing project to keep advancing, too, and said a smooth leadership transition would help the college return to financial stability.
A third candidate argued that Santa Monica College should align its measures of equity and student outcomes with the state’s funding system. He called for clearer data, transparency and regular accountability as the college adjusts to the end of a funding protection period. The first candidate noted that about 95% of Santa Monica College students are not residents of the district’s two cities. He said the next president must help students who come to the college succeed.
Amendment Number Seven to Agreement: Malibu Middle/High School Alternative Power Projects (Schneider Electric; Measure-related work)
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved a seventh amendment to its alternative-power agreement. It adds battery storage at Webster Elementary School and an elementary school in Malibu, along with related construction and electrical work. District staff said the first phase, scheduled to begin October 12, will install controls that can switch the schools to backup generators during utility outages.
At the middle and high school campus, plans call for hillside solar panels, a large battery and a control center to manage solar, batteries and generators. The contractor said the projects are intended to provide backup power during outages and reduce school closures caused by power shutoffs. It projected about 210,000 dollars in annual energy savings across the campuses.
Staff told the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education that elementary school construction could run into November. A member raised concerns about flooding and slides near the proposed Webster Elementary School battery location; staff said they would evaluate protective measures. Existing generator connections will remain available as backup, though some will be relocated.
Parent questions records behind special education decisions
At a Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education meeting, a parent of a Santa Monica High School student with ADHD questioned whether records support special education goals, services and placement decisions. The parent said students in co-taught classes may miss needed help even when those classes are presented to families as offering additional support.
Families need records showing whether promised support was provided and whether it helped their children.
Teacher reports persistent heating and cooling problems
At a Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education meeting, a teachers’ union representative reported payroll problems, while a middle school teacher described unreliable heating and cooling in school buildings. The teacher said construction noise and routes between the middle and high school campuses also complicate the school day.
The teacher said students need workable classroom temperatures and enough time to reach classes across the campuses.
College trustee candidates debate remaining budget deficit
At the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees candidate forum, candidates proposed different ways to address the deficit left after earlier position cuts. One urged more revenue and closer alignment with state funding rules; another sought state funding changes. A third favored keeping any further cuts away from classrooms and reviewing administrative staffing.
The choices could affect course staffing and the college’s ability to maintain programs without further layoffs.
College trustee candidates weigh access to full classes
At the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees candidate forum, candidates discussed how students could get into high-demand classes. One favored leaving sections open longer to attract enough students; another raised enrollment by bots and the strain of overfilled classes. A third proposed priority enrollment for residents of the college district’s two cities.
Students seeking required courses could face delays if full sections cannot accommodate demand.
- Santa Monica Planning Commission. Multiple speakers addressed the airport conversion project. Several urged inclusion of market-rate and affordable housing options in the EIR and criticized the survey process as biased; others supported a Measure LC-compliant great park and emphasized open space, health history of the airport, and long-term implementation.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. A public commenter speaking as a parent of a Santa Monica High student with ADHD described difficulties obtaining data and documentation supporting IEP decisions and expressed concern that services and placement recommendations are not consistently supported by records. The commenter also questioned how co-taught/SAI supports function in practice for students with ADHD.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. A public commenter (PTA-related advocate) urged the district to organize a two-day policy conference in November focused on AI in education, citing rapid workforce changes and the need for safeguards and preparation. The commenter referenced a California State PTA AI resolution and asked to use district working group input and include student leaders.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. During the early public comment period for items not on the agenda, the board reported that one student had signed up but left before speaking. Staff indicated the student said they would return at the next meeting or could email comments.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
SANTA MONICA had 38 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEClosed Session Report: Settlement Agreement DN10005. The board reported approval of settlement agreement DN10005. The district agreed to reimburse parents $4,209 for a privately provided AAC device, pay attorney’s fees not to exceed $4,500, and return the student to district programming in 2026–2027 with a triennial evaluation in spring 2027.
- GOVERNANCEClosed Session Report: Settlement Agreement DN 100003 / 100004. The board reported approval of a settlement agreement identified as DN 100003 / 100004. The summary included compensatory education and “stay put” IEP provisions, with district funding not to exceed $615,000 for the 2026–2027 school year.
- GOVERNANCEQuestion: Support for a Future SMC Bond Measure. Candidates discussed whether they would favor a future Santa Monica College bond measure. They said support would depend on demonstrated need, audits, and the master facility plan, especially given declining enrollment. They also discussed continuing student housing phases, including a first phase of about 750 beds and a potential phase two to expand housing for students and employees.
- GOVERNANCEQuestion: Immigration Enforcement, Campus Safety, and Support for Undocumented Students. Candidates discussed SMC policies and actions related to immigration enforcement and maintaining a safe, inclusive learning environment. They praised staff and faculty efforts, referenced legal principles supporting access to education, described coordination and preparedness for potential enforcement actions, and cited support resources such as student groups and a campus food pantry.
- GOVERNANCEQuestion: Expanding Unique Benefits for Santa Monica and Malibu Residents. Candidates discussed how Santa Monica and Malibu residents uniquely benefit from SMC despite most students coming from elsewhere in LA County. They cited community access to campus amenities and programs, dual enrollment opportunities, priority enrollment for residents, community-building events, and workforce retraining initiatives tied to emerging industries and AI-driven job changes.
- GOVERNANCEUnion Report: SEIU Local 99 (Ryan Emerson, via Zoom). SEIU Local 99 criticized the district’s 2.5% wage proposal for classified employees and described hardships faced by workers, including long commutes and difficulty paying bills. The speaker also cited stalled bargaining and workplace issues, while acknowledging progress on healthcare eligibility and addressing denied benefits and overtime.
- GOVERNANCEQuestion: Citizens Bond Oversight Committee and Management of Bond Funds. Candidates discussed the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee’s role in managing facility bond funds, emphasizing transparency, audits, accountability, and construction delivery methods. They also discussed local hire and local procurement goals, and one candidate described prior service on the oversight committee and suggested making it more externally facing to engage the community directly.
- GOVERNANCEPublic Comment (Late): Artificial Intelligence Policy Conference Request. A public commenter (PTA-related advocate) urged the district to organize a two-day policy conference in November focused on AI in education, citing rapid workforce changes and the need for safeguards and preparation. The commenter referenced a California State PTA AI resolution and asked to use district working group input and include student leaders.
- GOVERNANCESuperintendent’s Report (Dr. Shelton): Recognitions, Rankings, Events, and Emergency Preparedness. Dr. Shelton recognized staff achievements, described a superintendent classroom visit, highlighted civic education recognition, reported districtwide student leadership connections, announced U.S. News high school rankings, invited the community to a State of the Schools event, and provided wildfire and El Niño preparedness updates including facilities work and Malibu HVAC attention.
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