Sacramento bill would create independent Malibu school district Play

A special legislative bill to create an independent Malibu school district, carved out of the century-old Santa Monica-based school district, is on the way.

Two powerful state legislators have drafted Assembly Bill 745 and will introduce it in Sacramento today.

Assistant city attorney Christine Wood tells KBUU that the bill is drafted by state Senator Ben Allen and state Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin.

Both are longtime legislators on their way out of office. Allen is running for state insurance commissioner, and Irwin is running for U.S. Congress.

Given term limits in the California Legislature, Allen and Irwin have great seniority and can call in debts to get their bills passed.

The special Malibu school bill must pass through two state Senate committees and survive a floor vote, then pass through the Assembly and be signed by the governor.

It could face opposition from the powerful California Teachers Association, the state teachers union. Santa Monica classroom teachers are worried that the school district divorce might cause veteran Malibu teachers to transfer to Santa Monica schools, bumping junior teachers who would have to drive to new job assignments in Malibu.

The proposed bill would still require the state Board of Education to approve the terms of a divorce between Malibu and Santa Monica.

Assistant city attorney Christine Wood calls the introduction of a special Malibu school district bill in the California Legislature a remarkable achievement.

Clearly, few thought this was possible a decade ago, when the Malibu independent school district was envisioned by Malibu parents. Indeed.