School District Issues Call for BB Advisory Group Members

• Application Deadline Is April 30

BY SUZANNE GULDIMANN

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is currently seeking to fill vacancies on the SMMUSD Measure BB Advisory Committee, which meets in Santa Monica on the Monday before the board of education’s twice monthly Thursday meeting.
According to the district Web site, the purpose of the committee is “to provide the board of education and district staff with the community’s perspective regarding school site construction projects using funds from Measure BB, which was voted on and passed November 7, 2006.”
The committee’s charges include advising district staff in “identifying potential project managers needed to implement construction projects;” providing input on “health and safety priorities” for the first phase of projects; working with district staff and consultants to review projects “that reflect board, district and site priorities, including issues of equity, during all phases of planning, design and construction; and providing the board with progress reports.
A district press release states that “The district is seeking to fill this committee membership with qualified candidates who meet the criterion, in accordance with the Measure BB Committee Charges.” The district Web site states that “All attempts will be made to include members of the community who will bring different views to the committee, including relevant expertise (e.g., technology implementation and requirements, construction, safety, curriculum/fine arts, environmental concerns, issues regarding cultural relevance; etc.), cultural backgrounds, geographical areas of the district, representatives from Santa Monica and Malibu, SEIU, Santa Monica College, and the teacher’s union.”
The majority of the current committee members are Santa Monica residents.
BB-funded improvement plans for Malibu’s schools have been generally well received in the community, with the exception of several aspects of the Malibu High School plan. MHS’s proposed athletic field lighting plan has met stiff opposition from residents of western Malibu, who have raised concerns that the proposed lighting violates the school’s Coastal Development Permit issued by the California Coastal Commission and the City of Malibu Land Use Plan.
MHS’s improvement plan has also been blasted for not adequately addressing fire safety and traffic and parking issues. Recent plans for septic system improvements that call for a wastewater re-injection system have also drawn criticism from residents who charge that the district’s consultants have again failed to research the City of Malibu’s code requirements.
The deadline for applications is Thursday, April 30. The appointment is scheduled to be made at the May 21 board of education meeting at Santa Monica City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street.
Application forms are available on the district Web site: http://www.smmusd.org/measureBB/measureBBDAC.html.