Task Force Meets the Public

By Teresa Rochester

More fiscal control for schools, more permit students, new partnerships and better use of electronic communications were a few of the suggestions made to the school district's Financial Task Force Wednesday amid pleas to spare the district's music program from impending budget cuts.

Program cuts aren't the task force's domain; instead, the group - hand picked by Superintendent Neil Schmidt - is charged with scrutinizing the district's spending habits and looking for new sources for funds in an effort to alleviate a potential $5 million shortfall.

"The work of this group is unrelated to the work that I and the board are doing to balance the budget for the 2000/2001 school year," Schmidt told the crowd gathered at the school district headquarters in Santa Monica. "This committee is not looking at programs to cut."

Several people in attendance attributed the outpouring of concern over the future of the district's music program to an e-mail that said the program would be sacrificed to balance the budget.

"The board did not make a decision to do this, and the board has not even entered into discussions about this," Schmidt said.

The committee turned to the public Wednesday night looking for suggestions on ways the district could spend its money more wisely and places where it could find additional funds.

Giving more fiscal control to schools, encouraging more permit students, exploring potential partnerships with the city and utilizing electronic communications were a few of the suggestions made to the task force amid the pleas for the music program's survival.

"The purchases made through the district for equipment usually cost much more and are inferior," Philip Brock, chairman of the Sports & Physical Education Advisory Committee, told the task force.

Brock suggested schools should be given the responsibility of purchasing their own sports equipment. He also suggested that control over the leasing of athletic fields should be turned over to school sites with funds going to the individual school and not to the district's general fund.

David Cole, who is active in the PTA, suggested the task force look into partnerships with the city, citing as an example the city's offer to partner on energy, which the school district turned down.

In comparison studies of the school district's expenditures and other comparable districts, Cole said his group found that Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District spends significantly more money on principals, aides and maintenance and operations.

"These are not the rumblings of curmudgeons," Cole told the task force. "None of my board or myself are running for office."

The task force was also encouraged to bring in more permit students in order to generate more money. The district receives from the state approximately $4,200 per student - money that goes into the general fund.

"We need to maximize our enrollment in the best way possible," Joanne Leavitt said.

Leavitt also suggested the district take advantage of modern technology. "We are not making the best of electronic communication," she said. "I can read my school agenda just as well on e-mail as I can on paper."

Levitt argued that the district could save substantial money on paper and copying costs. The notices, she said, could be posted on a web site that could also be used as a marketing tool. Acknowledging the project would cost money, Leavitt suggested the board look for a commercial sponsor.

Several audience members called for a more open process, criticizing the district for a lack of information on financial matters.

"Little is known about what is going on among the district," Peter Mezza said. "I think you have to open up the project."

"I don't have the information to ask questions," Ralph Mechur told the task force. "What it leads me to ask you is what are you going to give me at the end of this?"

Task force members said they are still in the information gathering stage and don't anticipate making any recommendations until after the new year. Members encouraged community members to e-mail or write them with suggestions. The group also is looking for volunteers for subcommittees.

The task force met with community members in Malibu on Tuesday night.

If you would like to submit suggestions to the Financial Task Force on ways the school district can spend its money more wisely and where the district might find additional revenue sources e-mail Barbara Inatsugu at inatsugu@smmusd.org.