COMMUNITY FOR
EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS)
History and Timeline
1999-2009
In the ten years since its origins, Community for Excellent Public Schools has been instrumental in garnering local resources that total close to $20 million annually for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
The efforts began in early 1999, when Linda Gross convened a “casual gathering” to discuss and strategize about assisting SMMUSD, specifically Superintendent Neil Schmidt, with communication and seeking revenue sources. The group, sought out to represent a broad political cross section (SMRR and Chamber, Education Foundation, PTA, vocal parents), generally meets over lunch on Fridays.
And from most recent activities, to its inception…
May 2009
Santa Monica City Council gives priority to $81 million in redevelopment debt capacity for Civic Center Joint Use Project, advocated for by Santa Monica High School coalition; CEPS endorses project and testifies at Council meeting.
April 2009
Santa Monica City Council approves three year renewal of Master Facilities Use Agreement (the “contract”), continuing the $7.4 million per year in funding, with annual cost of living adjustments.
March 2009
Gleam Davis appointed to Santa Monica City Council; resigns voting position on CEPS Steering Committee.
February 2009
CEPS and SMMPTA Council co-sponsor and organize the third State of Our Schools events in Santa Monica and Malibu, in conjunction with Public Schools Week.
January 2009
Santa Monica City Council votes to release $529,000 to SMMUSD.
July 2008
CEPS Steering Committee continues strategy sessions to advocate for release of $529,000 in funding from City of Santa Monica (portion of Master Facilities Use Agreement funds held back on condition of meeting Special Education improvement benchmarks).
Spring 2008
CEPS participates in collaborative strategy/problem-solving sessions on Special Education issues, alongside Special Ed DAC Chairs Ken Haker and Lee Jones, PTA Council President Rebecca Kennerly, Board Members Barry Snell and Kelly Pye, and Superintendent Talarico.
October 2007-February 2008
CEPS Chair Shari Davis becomes Chair of the Yes on Measure R Campaign, and joining other parent leaders from throughout the District, CEPS Steering Committee devotes 100% of its efforts to the campaign. Raising $275,000, producing 13 pieces of direct mail, and organizing massive volunteer voter outreach, Yes on R succeeds in garnering 73% of the vote, putting into place permanent funding of $11 million a year, plus annual cost of living adjustments, for SMMUSD.
November 2007
CEPS organizes and hosts with SMM PTA Council the second annual State of Our Schools forums in Santa Monica and Malibu.
Summer 2007
CEPS leadership serves as core of ad hoc committee to analyze and recommend to the School Board that a renewal of two parcel taxes with impending expiration dates, be placed on the February 5, 2008 ballot.
January –June 2007
Focusing on terms of the Facilities Use Agreement between SMMUSD and City of Santa Monica, CEPS begins lobbying efforts to support increasing the annual amount of funding conveyed to the District from the City. In June 2007, City Council agrees to increase the approximately $7 million by $529,000, based on the City’s increased revenues, conditioned upon certain provisions to improve delivery of services in the realm of Special Education, including imposing a moratorium on requiring parents to sign confidentiality clauses.
September – November 2006
CEPS cultivates questionnaires to solicit input from candidates for School Board, SM City Council and SM College Board; decides to endorse 8 candidates and rate 4 others; Education Voter Guides sent to 19,000 voters twice regarding these candidate recommendations and supporting Measure BB; voice messages telephonically sent to voters endorsing Gleam Davis; ads placed in all local papers.
June 2006
CEPS endorses Gleam Davis for Santa Monica City Council.
May 2006
State of Our Schools event created and organized by CEPS, highlights achievements of Santa Monica High School and Malibu High School, with presentations in both communities.
November 2005
CEPS joins PTA in opposing one of Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed initiatives in California’s statewide special election. Mail pieces created and sent to 20,000 voters.
May 2005
RAND holds Forum on California’s K-12 Funding, co-sponsored by CEPS.
April 27-28, 2005
Caravan for Kids comprises 8 press conferences at school sites in California’s major media markets, hundreds of students and parents boarding buses bound for Sacramento, and a 2,000-person rally for “Making California Schools Great Again” on the steps of the State Capitol.
January 2005
CEPS launches effort to advocate at the state level for greater funding for public schools, establishing partnership with California State PTA and creating two day event: Caravan for Kids.
September 2004
CEPS hosts Candidates Forum to provide opportunity to have voters hear City Council and School Board candidates’ views on supporting education. CEPS decides to endorse three School Board candidates and to rate City Council candidates in the November 2004 election. CEPS runs one “voice blast,” and produces two mail pieces, created in partnership with SMMCTA, mailed to large targeted list of voters in the District.
CEPS also endorses and campaigns in support of Measure N, a 2% increase in the City of Santa Monica’s hotel visitors tax, with the understanding that it would “ease the burden” of increasing school funding via the Joint Facilities contract.
May 2004
Terms reached between Supt. Deasy and City Manager McCarthy, subsequently agreed to by CEPS, School Board and City Council, yielding $6 million per year via a Facilities Use Agreement. CEPS commits to not turn in signatures that would trigger placement of the Charter Amendment on the ballot
January 2004
CEPS files proposed amendment to the Charter of the City of Santa Monica.
Between January and May, CEPS raises over $100,000 and gathers 15,000 signatures to qualify proposed charter amendment for the local ballot in the November 2004 municipal election.
Summer 2003
CEPS convenes meetings to discuss the drafting of an Amendment to the City Charter creating an annual contribution formula from City of SM to SMMUSD. CEPS hires legal counsel and drafts measure, anticipating November 2004 election.
December 2002-June 2003
A series of efforts begins to solve the financial crisis facing SMMUSD; CEPS plays the role of having deep involvement in various aspects of these efforts:
- Ad Hoc Committee convenes to discuss options available to the Board – CEPS members serve in leadership roles on this committee. Committee recommends Special Election and Board approves placement of Measure S, a $225 per parcel levy, on ballot.
- Pink Slip Parade – SMM PTA Council organizes major participatory event to bring public attention to the severe budget situation; thousands of parents, students and community members march several blocks and hold rally on the 3rd Street Promenade. CEPS participates in organizing, publicizing and logistics of Pink Slip Parade.
- Over 1,000 education supporters converge on City Hall for City Council’s January mid-year budget review meeting, promenading through Council Chambers and presenting scrolls of signatures to request City Council’s financial assistance during dire financial crisis caused by state budget woes. Council Members comment that it is the most people ever to show up to a Council meeting on one issue.
- Measure S Campaign -- Campaign committee comprises broad group, including most of CEPS members. INTENSIVE ORGANIZING EFFORT goes into the implementation of this campaign. Measure S passes on June 3, 2003 with a 66.7% majority.
- June 10, 2003 Santa Monica City Budget Adoption meeting – PTA, SMMCTA, SEIU, CEPS sponsor boisterous rally with hundreds of parents, students, and other supporters, on lawn of City Hall (including Jackson Browne). Council approves short term funds for District, but does not commit to long term funding.
During this period, CEPS officially becomes a political action committee and encourages parents and others supporting excellent public schools to become members. Louise Jaffe and Shari Davis become co-chairs.
Fall 2002
CEPS members become fully committed to working to pass Measure EE. Measure EE fails, garnering 62% of the vote, but falling short of the required 66.7%.
Spring 2002
Financial impact of looming state budget cuts becomes apparent; SMMUSD decides to analyze the feasibility of an additional parcel tax election. CEPS becomes a key backbone of the ad hoc committee and the subsequent Measure EE campaign committee.
2000-2002
Members continue to meet on regular basis. Each year prior to key points in the City of Santa Monica’s budget cycle, members lobby City Council members and prepare remarks for Council meetings: January for mid-year budget review and priority sessions; May for budget priority setting; June for annual budget adoption.
CEPS starts considering the possibility of sponsoring a ballot measure to ensure a reliable, ongoing, long-term stream of funding from the City of Santa Monica. Such a measure would require a simple 50% majority, versus a parcel tax measure, requiring a 66.7% majority.
Fall 2000
School Board places Measure Y on the ballot to renew the parcel tax at $98 per parcel. Members of the group that eventually becomes known as CEPS play key leadership roles in Measure Y campaign. Measure Y passes easily.
Early 1999 – The initial meetings of a concerned group of citizens convene.
The group eventually becomes CEPS.