December 14, 1999

What IS the Santa Monica Leaders Club?

I read your story on Susan McCarthy's presentation to the "Santa Monica Leaders Club"...but I don't know just who these self-appointed "leaders" are. I've never seen notices of their meetings. It seems it's a private club of self-appointed people--like exclusive clubs of the past.

I'll offer some free advice to them. Rather than getting together and sitting around to feel important, get out and do something for the community. Santa Monica has a long tradition of groups that provide public service to the community including: League of Women Voters, Community Corps of Santa Monica, Ocean Park Community Center, Chamber of Commerce, WISE Senior Services, National Conference on Community and Justice, Westside Food Bank, Chrysalis, to name a few.

Make a New Year's resolution to volunteer with one of these organizations--because
that's where the really important people of Santa Monica are every
day.

Pam O'Connor
Mayor (until later today...)

December 15, 1999

Just want to thank you for a very balanced, very well written article (on the Arcade hours).

Ellen Brennan

December 15, 1999

The SMMUSD music program is essential to our childrens' education. Please do not cut back in this critical area of instruction. Knowing, as you must by now, how strongly this entire community feels about music and its schools, why keep threatening us with such cut-backs? If cut backs are needed, cut back on administrative salaries not on the childrens' learning opportunities. We urgently request that you listen to the citizens. We vote every time to approve School Bonds. Let our children have a decent education.

Our 9th grader was a Special Education Resource student from 1st through 7th with a disability in auditory processing. We thought he shouldn't take music but he wanted to. Now in High School, his participation in the Marching Band has been the single most positive experience in his schooling to date. How do you cost that success?

To eliminate or cut back on the school music program is to interfere with a program that is working, Why mess with something that keeps student on track and involved? Such a short term fiscal saving will result in long term fiscal costs. If music is not offered at the elementary level, the music program will be set back significantly. Please recognize the value of this program and vote to save it from cuts.

Sincerely,
Sue O'Brien and James O'Connor

December 17, 1999

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

I attended the Santa Monica Board of Education meeting last night and was appalled to hear that the state of California is 42nd among all states in funds allotted to public school education.What are you elected officials doing about this? I am not only a concerned parent, I am also a voter, and if increasing money to public schools isn't one of your primary, publicly-expressed concerns, you can forget about my vote - and my wife's - at the next election.

Let's get on the ball here!

Bennett Tramer

December 18, 1999

Dear SMMUSD School Board Members and other concerned people:

I am in the seventh grade, and play violin in the John Adams Middle School Symphony Orchestra. I was extremely shocked and disappointed when the director of my orchestra informed myself and my fellow orchestra members that you are considering completely cutting the elementary school music program.

The Elementary School music program has been extremely important to both myself and my younger brother(a fourth-grade student at Grant Elementary School who is currently participating in the program). Ever since
kindergarten I had wanted to play the violin, and I looked forward to fourth grade because I knew that I could begin to learn the instrument then. I was extremely happy when I could take the lessons in fourth grade. If it hadn't been for the elementary music program, I would be two years behind where I am currently in my violin studies.

If the step of eliminating grade school music is taken, it will have a negative effect on the middle school music program that I am currently participating and on the high school music program which I plan to be in. Students who began their musical education with elementary school, like I, would miss two years of musical education, which would have a bad effect on the higher musical programs.

One of the most outstanding things about the Santa Monica Malibu School District is the excellent music program. SAMOHI, which I intend to attend in the future, is going to play at the prestigious Midwest Band and
Orchestra Clinic. This is the first time a California orchestra or band has played at this convention since forty-six years ago. If elementary music had been cut, they probably would not be playing at this convention. And if it is cut in the future, this group will lose much of the talent which has made it possible for them to play at the
convention.

Music has also been shown to be good for children academically. In studies, it has been found that students who play an instrument do better in school, especially in math and science. Music can help a child perform better in school as well as providing happiness.

In closing, I would like to implore you to retain the elementary school music program. It has provided happiness for many children who otherwise would probably never learn to play an instrument. It is one of the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District’s greatest strengths, and many people like myself would be hugely disappointed to see it be lost at the elementary level. Please do not eliminate this wonderful program.
Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,
Etha Williams
John Adams Symphony Orchestra