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Malibu parents and commenters press district on pesticide use and contamination concerns
Summary
Public commenters urged the Santa Monica‑Malibu Unified board to address pesticide spraying on Malibu campuses and alleged failures to comply with the Healthy Schools Act and local pesticide bans; commenters asked the board to commit to stop toxic chemical use or face escalation to the Department of Pesticide Regulation.
Two public commenters at the Feb. 5 meeting urged the district to address pesticide applications and lingering contamination after the Palisades fire.
Kevin Keegan, speaking for Malibu parents, teachers and students, cited a local news article and a study about health impacts of wildfire exposure and asked the board to take steps by June 2026 to address pesticide applications on Malibu campuses and contamination at Webster Elementary. "Please prioritize these 2 requests for the Malibu school community to benefit the health of our teachers and students," Keegan said.
Tiffany Murray followed with a detailed accusation that the district had applied toxic chemicals at Malibu High School in November without required signage or barriers. Murray said the herbicide applied "contains glufosinate ammonium, an EPA designated danger pesticide associated with neurotoxicity, reproductive, and developmental harm, and aquatic toxicity." She asked the board to state on the record that toxic chemicals would no longer be used on Malibu campuses or to allow escalation to the Department of Pesticide Regulation.
Board members did not record a formal staff response in the transcript record during public comment. The statements call for follow-up from district staff to determine whether pesticide applications complied with the Healthy Schools Act and local coastal program restrictions and whether additional notifications, remediation or policy changes are warranted.
