By Rudabeh Shahbazi
Assistant Perspectives Editor
Despite the fact that California schools were ranked 38th in the nation last year, the state faces a $5 billion budget cut in public education. To help counter-act mandatory budget cuts, the Malibu High School Parent-Teacher Association has been distracted from its traditional duty of allocating funds, instead spending time and energy raising money for much-needed school improvements.
Malibu parents have organized the Shark Fund, a new nonprofit program founded to relieve the PTA by raising money for library books, computers, new bathrooms, air conditioning and ventilation systems, a sports stadium and prevention programs, among other things. The aim of the Shark Fund, which was established last year, is to raise an additional $500 for each of Malibu’s 1,270 students in grades 6 through 12 annually. The Shark Fund finances no teaching or staff positions.
The Shark Fund seeks direct private donations not only from parents, but also from Malibu residents, businesses and alumni. So far the methods of fund raising have not extended beyond requests for direct donations through the mail.
The first $150,000 raised by the Shark Fund will fund the PTA budget, including the Athletic Booster Club and the Art Angels. According to Malibu High principal Michael D. Matthews, although the exact amount raised by the Shark Fund to date is unclear, it is apparent that it has not exceeded the nearly $200,000 raised by the PTA last year.
The passage of Measure S also brings new hope for the school district, which affects Pepperdine student teachers, the children of faculty and everyone else involved in local public education. Passed by a 67 percent vote in June, the measure is a $225 annual district parcel tax for six years in the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District, to restore approximately 50 percent of funds lost by state cuts.
The passage of the measure will help maintain critical positions of teachers, nurses, librarians and others who would otherwise be let go because of money shortages. It will also help keep class sizes at current levels and continue music, art and intervention programs.
SMMUSD Superintendent John E. Deasy was pleased about the decision.
“This affirms the community’s position that our public schools are their priority,” he said. “I am most pleased that the children will continue to receive the outstanding education they deserve.”
Despite these improvements, Malibu High School has still suffered from the budget cuts. There is no computer technician, and one football player suffered unnecessarily when he was not given immediate medical attention for his injury on the field because the school no longer can afford an athletic trainer.
However Matthews is optimistic and said there has been a good response to the Shark Fund’s initial mailings so far. He is also excited about the passage of Measure S. “It saved our school,” he says, noting that there were 12 teachers who would otherwise be laid off. Its passage also kept classes sized down and allowed for Advanced Placement courses, art and music classes that were on the brink of being terminated. When the school found out the measure passed, he said, “It was a huge sigh of relief.”
For more information on the Shark Fund, contact info@TheSharkFund.org, or call (877)205-8199.
September 18, 2003