INSIDE SCOOP
COMMENTARY
ENTERTAINMENT
STUDENTS SAVING THE DAY PAGE 3 ARLINGTON WEST IS APPROPRIATE PAGE 4 RECENT DVD RELEASES PAGE 13 Visit us online at smdp.com
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2007
Volume 6 Issue 171
Santa Monica Daily Press KOBE WANTS OUT SEE PAGE 15
Since 2001: A news odyssey
THE SLAP IT, RIP IT AND SHIP IT ISSUE
THE INDUSTRY
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL
Moms Moms want want recording recording industry industry to to muffle muffle the the hate hate STORY STORY BY BY KEVIN KEVIN HERRERA HERRERA PAGE PAGE 12 12
Fabian Lewkowicz fabianl@smdp.com
Choosing ‘gag orders’ or money District may have to abandon practice to please City Council BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer
CITY HALL Despite a City Council decision last week to withhold $750,000 from the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District until school officials address the issue of confidentiality agreements, all hope is not lost.
At its regular meeting on June 12, the council is expected to present a proposal to the Board of Education to release the funds so long as school administrators agree to revise the district’s policy on confidentiality agreements — clauses in contracts that have raised concerns in recent mopnths about the district’s transparency and accountability. Until recently, former Chief Financial Officer Winston Braham was contractually restricted against speaking about the district’s financial matters. Braham abruptly resigned in late 2006 amid rumors that he disagreed with an impending 5-percent teacher salary raise and cautioned against its effects on the district’s financial health.
IZZY’S DELI
PLAY IN A BAND
SERVES SUPER ’07 DINNER SPECIALS
WORKSHOP
15TH AND WILSHIRE IN SANTA MONICA
(310) 453-1928
SIGN UP NOW!
FROM 4PM-10PM
310-394-1131
OPEN 24 HOURS
www.santamonicamusic.com
1901 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica
Last year, parents of special education students accused former Assistant Superintendent of Special Education Services Tim Walker for brokering so-called “secret deals” with their children’s Individualized Education Plans (IEP). The IEP outlines an educational program specific to the needs of a special education student for the school year. The parents alleged that their children lost out on services in the “secret deals” — so-called because the parents signed confidentiality agreements not to discuss the contents of the respective contract with a third party. SEE GAG PAGE 11
GABY SCHKUD (310) 586-0308 The name you can depend on!