SMMUSD Board of Education unanimously vote to split district

Art by Sara Polster

On Dec. 1, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) Board of Education voted unanimously to separate the two cities into their own districts, creating the Santa Monica Unified School District (SMUSD) and the Malibu Unified School District (MUSD). This split is set to go into effect in the next few months, according to board members. 

Malibu officials have been pushing for this split since 2015, arguing that Malibu schools required more local officials to match their specific needs such as wildfire evacuation procedures and longer commutes. Negotiations have been taking place since 2018 but board members have hit multiple road blocks regarding revenue and equality of education, as Santa Monica schools get a large portion of their funding from Malibu’s tax base. 

The decision marks the culmination of years of debate between officials and community members in both cities, with Malibu leaders consistently advocating for greater local control over schools. Supporters of the split argue that an independent district will allow Malibu to better address its unique geographic and safety challenges, including wildfire preparedness and traffic congestion along Pacific Coast Highway.

"[Dec. 1]’s unanimous approval is a historic milestone that brings Malibu one step closer to achieving the local control our community has worked toward for so many years," Malibu Mayor Marianne Riggins said.

Opponents of the separation have raised concerns about funding equity and the potential impact on Santa Monica schools particularly regarding shared resources and longstanding programs that currently serve students across both cities. Since Santa Monica schools, known for the high quality of public education, are funded largely by Malibu, it’s been worrying for students and parents that the split will result in a large revenue cut to SMUSD schools, lowering the quality of education drastically. Throughout negotiations, board members grappled with how to divide revenue, facilities, and administrative responsibilities while maintaining comparable educational opportunities for students in both districts. Caleb Altman (’27) described how the split could negatively impact Santa Monica students.

“Quality of our teaching might decrease, we might have less access to supplies… It just won’t 

be great for the district,” Altman said.

Under the approved plan, Santa Monica and Malibu will each operate their own school boards, administrative offices and budgets once the split takes effect. District officials stated that transition teams will be established to oversee staffing, student services and the reassignment of assets to ensure minimal disruption for families and educators. SMUSD has been guaranteed an annual revenue growth rate of 4 percent. If the district is unable to cover those funds, Malibu’s revenue will fill in the gap according to the Property Tax Revenue Sharing Agreement.

Board members emphasized that the unanimous vote was intended to provide clarity and stability after the long struggle on both ends. Board member John Kean explained that the decision finally went through because many members felt they had come to the most equal compromise possible.

"Both cohorts of students will benefit, and each cohort will receive a comparable education on the last day of SMMUSD as they will on day one of SMUSD and MUSD," Kean said. "Delivering local control while not harming students is driving my decision."

Parents expressed mixed reactions following the vote. Some Malibu families welcomed the move as they believed it would cause more tailored decision-making, while some in Santa Monica voiced concerns about class sizes, funding levels, and how the separation could affect districtwide programs.

Although the split is a beneficial decision for Malibu, aftershocks will reveal what this adjustment means for Santa Monica schools and the students that learn from them.