Board of Education hears teachers’ union report on school conditions
A September 10 Wi-Fi outage at John Adams Middle School and classroom temperatures were among the concerns raised as contract talks continue.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — union report, public comment (items not on agenda), and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
At the Board of Education meeting, the teachers’ union urged members to apply for professional development funds, saying few had submitted the forms.
Beach to School Night lost Wi-Fi midway through the event. In a report to the Board of Education, a teachers’ union representative said John Adams Middle School went without Wi-Fi, including during the September 10 gathering. The representative raised another facilities concern: classrooms were still hot, though conditions were improving. As colder weather approaches, the union wants the district to make sure classrooms are heated well.
The union reported that negotiation dates remain scheduled. Its representative praised the district’s negotiations and management teams. Union leaders and executive board members had been canvassing and knocking on doors for Measure ES, the representative said, and the union hoped for favorable results on that measure and a state proposition. The representative said CTA state council would take up statewide issues at its January meeting.
The report turned to resources teachers can use now. The representative highlighted $250 in professional development reimbursement and another $450 available, saying few members had filled out the forms. The union mentioned free access to the Calm app as a CTA member perk. It is seeking a secretary candidate because its former secretary moved into the treasurer role. Fire the Board of Education, the report brought together immediate classroom concerns and negotiations that remain on the calendar.
Public Comment (Items Not on Agenda): Safe Routes to School Policy/Regulation and Traffic Safety Reporting
Two public speakers asked the Board of Education to put more detail behind its Safe Routes to School policy. A PTA leader supported the policy but said its accompanying administrative regulation appeared shorter than expected. The speaker asked for a district point of contact to help schools plan safer routes, rather than leaving that work to volunteers.
The PTA leader called for regular reports to the Board of Education, including crash data, and closer work with city partners. To explain the need for reporting, the speaker said a driver had hit two children riding kick scooters to school on a recent Friday. The speaker welcomed a change order for a post-construction traffic assessment near the school and said the PTA was already tracking traffic patterns.
A second speaker urged the Board of Education to support lower speeds near schools. Citing differences in survival rates at 20 mph and 40 mph, the speaker pointed to vehicle code provisions that could allow 15 mph limits in school areas. Both speakers sought a clearer connection between district policy, traffic data and changes on streets near schools.
Students flag classroom heat at two high schools
At the Board of Education, a Malibu High School student representative reported classrooms reaching 91° and described 50 temporary cooling units as loud and not always effective. A public speaker urged faster HVAC fixes at both Malibu High School and Santa Monica High School; the student said the heat disrupted lessons and attendance.
Students and teachers need classrooms where temperature problems do not interrupt lessons or keep students from attending.
Board of Education reviews school-route safety plan
The Board of Education reviewed a Safe Routes to School policy and regulation covering safety education, bike and walk days, and coordination with law enforcement. Members asked for more crash data and discussed reduced crossing-guard coverage; staff said the proposal would return for action November 19.
The proposal could shape how schools report traffic injuries and work with cities on routes students use daily.
SEIU presses Board of Education on worker pay
At the Board of Education, an SEIU representative criticized a proposed contract raise and raised concerns about benefits, overtime assignments and long commutes. The representative asked for a stronger offer at the next bargaining session and more chances for workers to advance into maintenance and operations jobs.
The next bargaining session could affect pay and job opportunities for cafeteria workers, custodians and other school staff.
Speaker seeks district storm plans before Thanksgiving
At the Board of Education, a public speaker asked the district to explain its storm-season plans to families before Thanksgiving, including how it would handle outages and road closures. The speaker requested guidance on remote instruction and emergency communications, along with links to local resources on a new preparedness website.
Families need to know where to get updates if storms close roads, cut power or interrupt school.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. An online public speaker quoted allegations about YouTube’s addictive design and harmful content and argued it is contradictory for the district to sue YouTube while allowing access on student devices. The speaker urged disabling YouTube, addressing ads, limiting non-instructional device use, ensuring informed consent for data collection, and relying on independent evidence for AI decisions.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. Two parents described widespread gaming and inappropriate content access on student Chromebooks via links and proxy workarounds, urged stronger filtering (e.g., allow-lists/GoGuardian scenes), restrictions on device use during free time and at home base, and faster action beyond YouTube changes.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. A parent of a student with disabilities criticized the district’s ability to show educational benefit and revise ineffective IEPs, argued the process drives families to legal representation, and cited settlement-related costs including a $420 device and $4,500 attorney fees and two compensatory education settlements totaling $615,000 and $1.2 million.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. A public speaker urged the district to communicate storm-season preparations ahead of a predicted strong El Niño, including site resilience investments, outage procedures, communication channels, remote instruction plans for road closures, and links to city/county resources, and noted a Malibu School Safety Committee meeting on Nov. 4 at Webster.
- Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. Two public speakers supported the Safe Routes to School policy and urged stronger administrative regulation language, a designated district point of contact, regular reporting (including crash data), and use of speed-management tools and vehicle code provisions to reduce injuries and deaths near schools.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
SANTA MONICA had 17 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEDistrict reviews student technology use and YouTube access. Parents raised concerns about YouTube, gaming, inappropriate content and student device use outside instruction, and urged stronger restrictions and filtering. A board member requested information about non-instructional use, while the superintendent said an instructional technology working group had preliminary findings, including YouTube access changes and purpose-driven guidelines.
- GOVERNANCEBoard approves special education settlement with services and attorney fees. A parent criticized the district’s handling of ineffective IEPs and cited legal costs and prior compensatory education settlements. The Board approved a settlement providing an independent evaluation, tutoring, counseling and a functional behavioral assessment, along with $4,500 in attorney fees.
- GOVERNANCEMalibu Education Foundation Quarterly Report. The Malibu Education Foundation reported on year three operations, donor growth (43 individual donors since July 1; 54% increase), coordinated fundraising with PTAs and the Shark Fund, support for athletics and academic recovery tutoring (including a $19,000 grant), upcoming gala (Nov. 7), and other community events.
- GOVERNANCEResolution: United Against Hate Week (October 18–24, 2026). The Board adopted a resolution declaring support for United Against Hate Week (October 18–24, 2026) and encouraging participation in educational and community events.
- GOVERNANCESchool Site Presentation: Webster Elementary School. Webster Elementary’s principal presented updates on library relaunch, student leadership passes, SEL implementation, PBL learning expos, math “thinking classrooms,” attendance initiatives, major campus construction (playground replacement, mural, microgrid), and PTA engagement including 100% family participation in the Whale Fund.
- GOVERNANCERatification: Contract Amendment No. 4 — Franklin Elementary Early Education Classroom Site Improvements Project. The Board ratified Contract Amendment No. 4 for the Franklin Elementary Early Education Classroom Site Improvements Project in the amount of $408,000, described as a delta related to switching to a “super grass field” as part of a field study. The item passed unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEPTA Council Report. The PTA Council report highlighted PTA work across 13 schools, noted Malibu PTSA’s AI-in-education resolution adopted by California State PTA for National PTA consideration, encouraged informed voting via a board candidate forum recording, reiterated PTA nonpartisanship, and invited board and district leaders to the annual holiday breakfast on December 1.
- GOVERNANCEBoard Member Remarks: Recognition of Dolores Huerta. A board member offered remarks honoring Dolores Huerta following news of her passing, emphasizing her leadership, organizing, and impact on justice and education, and proposing recognition of her birthday (April 10).
- GOVERNANCEResolution: National Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month. The Board adopted a resolution celebrating National Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month, reaffirming commitment to remembering contributions and honoring the unique heritage of the country’s first inhabitants.
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