Responses of Matt Dinolfo

Signed CEPS "Excellent Public School Pledge"

1. What is the significance for our community of ensuring adequate funding for our school district, its programs, early childhood education and after school programs? Please elaborate.
   
   I am strongly in favor of financial support for the school district that is generous, ongoing, and includes early childhood development and after school programs. I believe that excellent schools stabilize the communities they serve. They anchor families to the city itself, and are essential to our future. The additional availability of after school and early childhood programs serves to close the achievement gap and offers much-needed assistance to indigent and working parents. Excellent schools benefit the community by increasing property values and neighborhood safety. It is imperative that our schools receive the city’s financial support.
   
   
2. What priority would you attach to ensuring adequate funding for our schools, after-school programs, and early childhood development in the city budget?
   
   In my 2002 campaign and now, the provision of adequate, ongoing funding for our public schools was a cornerstone of my platform. I would, and have, assigned it the highest priority.
   
   
3. Are you familiar with and do you fully support the agreement negotiated for the City to provide funding to the School District?
   
   Yes. I also feel that electing me to the Council would help create a paradigm shift in the Council’s attitude towards funding public education such that these agreements might no longer be necessary.
   
   
4. Do you fully support providing the maximum level of funding for our schools under City-School District agreement? Under what circumstances would you not be willing to do so?
   
   I fully support the agreement. In the event of a financial crisis in the city budget, I would work to keep the agreement funded and give it high priority.
   
   
5. If the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District faced a budget crisis brought on by circumstances outside the District's control, such as by funding cuts from the State of California, would you be willing to support crisis funding to the District even beyond the City-School District funding agreement?
   
   Yes.
   
   
6. Please provide specific examples of how you have supported the district and the education of our youth? How have you shown leadership to ensure adequate city funding for our schools? As a council member, what kind of leadership will you show to address school funding?
   
   I have been a supporter, committee member and donor to the For the Arts, For Every Child capital campaign conducted by SMMEF. In addition, I have been a member of CEPS since 2002.
   
   In my 2002 City Council campaign, I spoke in every venue about the necessity of achieving ongoing, generous funding by the City of the public education system. I included Measure EE endorsement stickers on all of my personal campaign literature, including my website. I walked precincts for Measure EE with other education advocates and donated to the Measure EE campaign. I also distributed Measure EE materials when I walked for my own campaign.
   
   When Measure EE failed, I joined the Measure S Task Force and participated in the process undertaken to design Measure S. I wrote letters to the local print media and spoke before the council during public comment. I precinct-walked for Measure S and donated to the campaign. I marched in the Pink Slip Parade. In addition, recently I circulated petitions that would have added the Ballot Measure to the November ballot.
   
   On a personal level, I have entrusted my children’s education to our public school system. My wife has served as the co-chair of the Site Governance Council at our children’s elementary school for six years. She is also a member of CEPS, has worked on the For The Arts campaign, and has spoken numerous times at the School Board and the City Council on behalf of the schools. This commitment to public education has been a labor of love for us, and one to which we are unwavering.
   
   As a leader in the Council, I intend to move the Council away from the processes in which it squanders its time. I plan to drive the Council towards achieving outcomes, establishing timelines and clear expectations throughout City government, and holding it accountable.
   
   Most crucially, I plan to critically evaluate the City’s spending priorities, and redirect them towards public education, public safety, and public health. I am confident that I have the credibility, intensity, and personality needed to work within the council membership to achieve these goals.
   
   Your support is much appreciated.