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Parents, teachers press board at Measure R hearing over proposed elementary music cut
Summary
During an April 23 Measure R public hearing, parents and teachers urged the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified Board not to approve an annual plan line that would reduce elementary music staffing by 1 FTE and reallocates Measure R funds toward technology and other items. Speakers said the plan lacks program detail and demanded fuller community engagement.
Parents, teachers and community members filled public comment time on April 23 to object to a proposal in the Measure R annual plan that would reduce elementary music teaching by one full-time equivalent teacher.
Assistant Superintendent Gerardo Cruz introduced the Measure R annual plan and read parts of the ballot language governing public review and an independent financial oversight committee. After the staff overview, multiple speakers said the plan’s budget lines — including a projected drop from 10 to 9 elementary music teachers and increases in technology staffing — were presented without sufficient program-level detail. "I am going to ask you to stop gaslighting the parents and students who make the huge effort to attend these meetings and speak out," one parent said during public comment, urging the board to treat the hearing as a substantive review rather than a formality.
Speakers cited page 3 of the proposed plan that lists a reduction of an elementary music teacher tied to school closures and curriculum updates, and several asked how that change squared with Measure R’s stated purpose "to preserve programs and replace funds lost or reduced due to inadequate state funding." PTA and music-program advocates pressed district staff to explain how Measure R allocations to technology and new certificated positions for Mariachi/Folklorico would preserve the broad elementary music program and requested a clear plan tying staffing to student-facing services.
Board members closed the public hearing after the testimony; staff and the financial oversight committee will review comments before the plan advances with the annual budget schedule. No board vote was taken on program changes at this meeting. The district said a separate board item focused on music programs and any contemplated changes will be scheduled so parents and faculty can participate.
