1 David Yakobson
From: Danielle L <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 3:16 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Agenda Item 16 B - Measure Letter of Support
Attachments: Measure Support Letter .pdf
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
August 26, 2024
Dear Members of the Santa Monica City Council,
Subject: Support for Measure QS - Enhancing Our Schools’ Infrastructure I am writing to express my strong support for Measure QS, which is crucial for the future of our educational facilities within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD). As a concerned resident of Santa Monica, I urge the City Council to endorse this measure, which aims to address the pressing infrastructure needs of our local schools.
The quality of education in our district is a testament to the dedication and excellence of our educators, staff, and administrators. However, the buildings housing our schools have been deteriorating over the past 30 to 70 years. The general fund for education in California falls significantly short of meeting the needs of these larger improvements.
Measure QS represents a critical step toward ensuring the additional funds needed to enable necessary repairs, upgrades, and ongoing maintenance to preserve the integrity of our educational infrastructure. Safe and sound school buildings are fundamental to providing a conducive learning environment and ensuring the longevity of these facilities for future generations.
Our neighborhoods and community rely on having robust and functional school structures. By supporting Measure QS, we are investing in the safety and future of our students and the overall well-being of our community. The measure will help us maintain the high standards of education that Santa Monica is known for and address the urgent need for building repairs and updates.
I respectfully urge the Santa Monica City Council to support Measure QS and advocate for its passage. This measure is an essential investment in the future of our schools and the continued success of our students.
Thank you for considering my request. Your support in this matter will have a lasting positive impact on our community.
Sincerely,
Danielle Litak
Resident and Roosevelt Elementary Parent
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: Ted Winterer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 1:17 PM
To: Lana Negrete; Gleam Davis; Jesse Zwick; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Phil Brock; Caroline Torosis
Cc: David White; councilmtgitems
Subject: Item 16-B 8/27/24 -- Please endorse Measure QS
EXTERNAL
Councilmembers,
I'm writing in my capacity as co-chair of Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS). As you know, CEPS has been advocating for our children and our public education institutions since 1999. We have, of course, endorsed Measure QS.
First, an anecdote. Several years ago when our son had just finished his first day at Santa Monica High I asked him how it went. He replied with great enthusiasm about most of his classes which were in the new Discovery building, extolling without prompting from me the virtues of learning in bright, airy classrooms with modern amenities and equipment. He's a kid who has a hard time focusing, but the environment of this new building built with bond financing really helped him to pay attention. But he then lamented that he had one course in the much older Language building, which he complained was a cramped, hot and stifling classroom in which he couldn't pay attention at all. I won't repeat the obscenities he used.
Over the years I've learned his peers at Samohi share his feelings, that they don't learn as well in the old Language building. And the teachers likewise prefer working in the newer 21st century facilities.
Our children are coming of age in a world fraught with peril and challenges: the intractable polarization in our country, diminishing prospects for lower and middle income households, unaffordable housing and the impacts of climate change, to name a few. We owe it to them to ensure they receive the best possible education so they will have the opportunity to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
So I urge you to endorse Measure QS, as there is still much capital work to be done at our Santa Monica school campuses, particularly the elementary schools where the foundation for future academic success is set. Set aside politics and support our kids and teachers please: it's the right thing to do.
Oh, and last week our son started senior year. Many of his classes are in the new Exploration building.
He's particularly excited about the new engineering facilities that have rekindled his interest in a class for which he'd lost his enthusiasm junior year. And he still dislikes going to his other classes in the Language building.
Please endorse Measure QS.
Regards,
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
3 Ted
--
Ted Winterer
Realtor @Compass, 2115 Main Street Santa Monica
DRE #02047989
To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Marc Verville <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 11:56 AM
To: Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick; Gleam Davis
Cc: David White; Douglas Sloan; councilmtgitems
Subject: SMCC 2024-08-27 Item 16.B. - City Council endorsement of SMUSD Bond Measure QS
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor Borck and Honorable Councilmembers,
Re: SMCC 2024-08-27 Item 16.B. - City Council endorsement of SMUSD Bond Measure QS.
This leƩer is in strong opposiƟon to any City endorsement of this poorly conceived bond iniƟaƟve. It is a complete disservice to the students of the district and the taxpayers of this city.
Below are the specifics of my opposiƟon.
1. There is no legally binding project list.
The district is not publicly and legally commiƫng to specific projects. This indicates that the money can be used to cover old project overruns, new unannounced projects or modificaƟons on exisƟng projects.
2. DiscreƟonary district spending eliminated the discipline to idenƟfy and prioriƟze specific needs to address and risks to resolve, shiŌing the prioriƟzaƟon away from the students’ needs. Consequently, this bond is “fixing” the same things the previous bonds promised to fix.
a. Repair leaky roofs - They allowed student exposure to mold at John Muir Elementary School and required closure. How many other schools have mold and leaky roofs? b. Install HVAC at all schools - Promised in 2016 within four years for $33 million. SƟll not done. They also refused to install the filters recommended for clean air by mulƟple agencies.
c. Update security systems - Promised since the 2012 Sandy Hook incident d. Replace portable classrooms - Only 15 were replaced with the last bond and only 9 would be replaced with this bond, leaving 37. Yet, a post-educaƟonal Discovery building has gone up in the meanƟme.
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
2 3. There is no accountability
Lacking a legally binding project list, the endlessly-hyped “audit” provisions allow the district’s Bond Oversight CommiƩee to cerƟfy only that the bond money was spent on construcƟon and not operaƟons.
4. District financial controls appear to remain woefully inadequate I conducted a review of the district’s capital projects financial controls in 2021. That review can be found here and discovered that:
a. There were no formal (and recurring Ɵmely) capital project financial reporƟng controls that allowed the detecƟon, correcƟon and accountability for project overruns.
b. The concept of standardized capital project financial reporƟng with locked iniƟal budgets and clear tracking of changes in esƟmated final costs was neither designed nor implemented in project and financial management
In addiƟon, the financial accountants tracking project spends conƟnue to report to the project management and not to the district’s head of finance. This violates the fundamental tenet of basic financial internal control of financial staff having a hard organizaƟonal reporƟng line to district financial management financial and only an indirect reporƟng line to operaƟng management. This is industry standard pracƟces to ensure independent oversight of organizaƟonal spending. This ongoing control defect suggest that the accountants can be exposed to undue influence of those spending the funds.
Conclusion
Since 1998, the district (excluding Malibu) has been voted $1.2 billion. With interest, that’s around $2 billion in taxpayer funds. In all this Ɵme, the issues noted above have been allowed to fester and accountability has not improved.
The residents have shown their consistent good faith support for, and prioriƟzaƟon of, the kids in our schools by approving bond aŌer bond. The bonds have given the district wide laƟtude to demonstrate that faith was well placed. The outcomes have clearly proven otherwise. What the district has clearly demonstrated is that it is a real estate operaƟon with an educaƟon side hustle.
City endorsement of any future bonds must be conƟngent on the district inserƟng legally binding project commitments, accountability, and fixing the myriad capital project financial control voids that allows financial problems with the spending to conƟnue unabated and disrespects the sacrifices of the taxpayers in providing the funds.
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
3 This bond must not be endorsed.
Respecƞully,
Marc L. Verville
Sunset Park
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
4 David Yakobson
From: Nikki Kolhoff <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 11:44 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; Gleam Davis; Phil Brock; Christine Parra; Lana Negrete; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis; Oscar de la Torre Subject: 16B - Endorsement of SMMUSD Bond for Santa Monica - OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council -
I urge you to OPPOSE an endorsement of SMMUSD's school construction bond for Santa Monica.
This is another HALF A BILLION DOLLAR blank check to the school district. SMMUSD's facilities staff has botched construction on many projects with the prior $1.12 BILLION in bond funds and failed to maintain the facilities we already have. District facilities staff are failing to manage the program and the school board is derelict in its oversight obligations. While school bonds will be needed to fix our schools, residents are demanding an AUDIT of all prior spending and results BEFORE approving another bond.
SMMUSD's bond ratings have decreased because of deficit spending and dwindling reserves. They do not know how to manage construction or spending and we are entitled to an audit to determine where the problems are and what needs to change before moving forward with more construction.
You all know little to nothing about SMMUSD construction and should not be making a decision about an endorsement without educating yourselves on all the problems and reviewing the arguments against the bond. Supporting this bond means saddling your constituents with paying for bond waste for another 30 years. This is unacceptable
Furthermore, the FPPC said Lana Negrete has a conflict of interest on school district items because her business has contracts with the district. She shouldn’t be pushing this or voting on it and must recuse. She also signed the ballot argument for the bond with her Vice Mayor title and that should be investigated for its propriety.
Thanks,
Nikki Kolhoff
Santa Monica Resident of 26 years
Former SMMUSD Parent for 15 years
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Elizabeth Lerer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 9:15 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Christine Parra; Oscar de la Torre; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Item 16.B. - SMMUSD Facilities Bond
EXTERNAL
Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor, and City Councilmembers,
Please oppose item 16.B. SMMUSD Facilities Bond.
Until there is an audit and accountability I ask you to oppose any new school bond.
Thank you,
Elizabeth Lerer
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Dan Charn. <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2024 2:32 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Council Mailbox; David White; [email protected] Subject: CC MTG 8/27/24 ITEM 16 B- OPPOSE QS
EXTERNAL
The School Board has shown us that they are build happy and irresponsible to our students and City taxpayers.. no more money to them- they should have taken care of this before and not build such absurd buildings that are not needed ... Tired of their lack of concern to the City in all ways.. no more money to them for a thing ..
Danielle Charney
B. Request of Vice Mayor Negrete and Councilmember Davis that the City Council support and endorse the Santa Monica Schools Repair/Improvement Bond Measure QS.
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documentStaff Report Printouta. 072424_Resolution_SFID 1 Bond Nov Ballot_attachb. 072424_Resolution_SFID 2 Bond Nov Ballot_attach Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Debbie Mulvaney <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2024 1:27 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: Yes on Measure QS
Attachments: image001.png; Mulvaney letter to City Council.pdf
EXTERNAL
Please have this letter entered into the record for tomorrow night's meeting.
Thanks.
Debbie Mulvaney
310-600-1864
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
August 26, 2024
Dear Mayor Brock, Mayor Pro Tem Negrete and Councilmembers Davis, Parra, de la Torre, Torosis and Zwick
I am writing to you as the treasurer and longtime member of Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS) to urge you to support the Santa Monica school bond – Measure QS – on this November’s ballot. I hope you will join CEPS mission to advocate for excellent public schools in our community.
Measure QS will help our schools remain among the best in the nation and provide our teachers and children a safe and 21st century learning environment. General obligation bonds are the only way the District can make these critical repairs and upgrades to classrooms and learning labs.
You may have been told that Measure QS does not include a project list. That is false. Measure QS includes a robust project list for all 12 schools that was developed with parent, teacher and resident input, in addition to District inspections of school sites.
You may have heard that the Measure QS is unfair because it does not allow for a senior exemption. State law specifically precludes a senior exemption for general obligation bonds, of which Measure QS is one.
We can count on Measure QS funds to be spent responsibly and as promised, as it has financial oversight through the Citizens’ Oversight Committee, and independent performance and financial audits that ensure funds are spent in accordance with the bond language. Additionally, the District has demonstrated remarkable fiscal responsibility as evidenced by its Moody’s Aa1 bond credit rating and Standard and Poor’s AA+ superior bond credit rating. The District's fiscal prudence has saved taxpayers $50 million over the past 10 years alone.
Our community must come together in support of this bond. We owe it to our dedicated teachers and our children.
Sincerely,
Debbie Mulvaney
Treasurer, Community for Excellent Public Schools
Principal, Mulvaney Business Management
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Victoria Robinson <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 6:11 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Re: Item 16B - SMMUSD Facilities Bond - OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
Dear City Council -
The school district has already received $1.13 BILLION in school bonds and much of this has been wasted. The same things have been promised for decades and not delivered, many of the new projects don't work, and they have failed to maintain what we have. This doesn't benefit our students or teachers.
Santa Monica residents are entitled to an AUDIT of the past spending before approving another bond. I urge you to vote NO on this endorsement so the residents can get the accountability they deserve.
Thank you.
Victoria Robinson
SAMOHI Parent & SM Voter
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
2 David Yakobson
From: LYDIA MURARO <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2024 11:05 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Phil Brock; Lana Negrete; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Gleam Davis; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Subject: Item 16B - SMMUSD Facilities Bond - OPPOSE
EXTERNAL
City Council,
The school district has Carey Upton in charge and it is a disaster. SO MUCH money wasted, things are breaking, malfunctioning left and right and nothing is getting fixed on massively expensive buildings. Millions of dollars need to be set aside to fix what we have (including the brand new buildings). There are no plans for maintenance. It is RIDICULOUS. SMASH is demolished down to its studs and that building wasn’t even 35 years old. Yeah, mold, is what settled after complete neglect, what do you think will happen to the new buildings? How long will they last? Please vote NO on this. Take a break and a step back. Give the kids and the teachers a break from constant construction, pollution and noise. Please AUDIT the past spending BEFORE approving another bond. It is just the right thing to do.
I urge you to vote NO on this endorsement. You should require the school district to be accountable. You need your residents to think of you as diligent and to trust you.
Endorsing this bond will produce the exact opposite.
Thank you.
Lydia Muraro.
(818) 216-7378 mobile
Former SMMUSD parent (my last kid was class of 2024)
Santa Monica Business Owner
Santa Monica resident for over 25 years
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
1 David Yakobson
From: Peter DiChellis <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2024 2:24 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: ITEM 16 B Measure QS.
EXTERNAL
Oppose.
Why are such measures only funded by taxing homeowners and businesses? Do renters not have a stake in improving schools and education system? Do renters have no children in our school system?
Sincerely,
Peter DiChellis
Santa Monica
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024
Item 16-B
August 27, 2024