2009 Grand Prize Sustainable Quality Award City of SM, SM Chamber & Sustainable Works
310-444-4444
20th Anniversary
Hybrid • Mercedes-Benz
not valid from hotels or with other offers • SM residents only • Expires 8/31/10
SM to LAX $30
SantaMonicaTaxi.com
SEPTEMBER 25-26, 2010
Volume 9 Issue 273
Santa Monica Daily Press
GO SLOW AROUND SCHOOL BUSES SEE PAGE 4
We have you covered
THE WE WILL MISS YOU CONNIE ISSUE
Cuneo to step down as SMMUSD chief BY NICK TABOREK Daily Press Staff Writer
SMMUSD HDQTRS Tim Cuneo, superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, has announced he will step down when his contract ends in June. His departure means the district’s board will have a major decision to make in the month’s following November’s election, when four of seven seats will be decided. “It’s going to be a great loss. He really has been a really incredible leader,” said SMMUSD board president Barry Snell. “His leadership has helped guide the district though some of the most difficult times we’ve ever had.” Snell said the board did not pressure Cuneo, who has been at the district’s helm SEE CUNEO PAGE 7
2010 ELECTION
Get in the know with candidate forums
CUTS FOR A CAUSE
Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com Kristen Moore (center) along with other volunteers, gets her hair shaved off to raise money for kids with cancer at the Santa Monica Firefighers Local 1109 annual St. Baldrick's event at Barney's Beanery on the Third Street Promenade on Friday afternoon.
Black students stumble as district boosts test scores BY NICK TABOREK Daily Press Staff Writer
SMMUSD HDQTRS African American students in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District did worse on state standardized tests this year compared with 2009, despite significant improvements by the overall student body on the exams. The average SMMUSD student received a score of 844 on the California Department of Education’s Academic Performance Index this year, an 11 point increase from the year before. But in a setback for the district’s goal of closing the achievement gap that separates minority students from others who attend SMMUSD, African American students’
average test score decreased 7 points this year, from 727 to 720. While several board members said the results were a sign the district needs to change its approach to teaching African American students, officials called the 2010 results an anomaly. Maureen Bradford, director of educational services, pointed out African American students’ scores have steadily increased from an average of 661 in 2004. “There is an expectation that each year there will be ups and downs,” she said. “Seven points is a big dip, but it’s one year and this is a really small group. It’s much easier to make an impact overall if there are fewer students.” The results reflected the scores of 360
African American students, out of 8,547 students in the district who were tested. The API scores are compiled from several statewide standardized tests, including the California Standards Test, which measures students’ abilities in English language, math, science and social studies. Asian American students performed best on the tests, with an average score of 911, down one point from 2009, followed by white students, who averaged 888, up from 877 the year before. Hispanic students increased their average score to 763, from 749 in 2009. The statewide API goal is for scores to improve by five points per year until they SEE SCORES PAGE 8
The Santa Monica municipal elections on Nov. 2 are less than two months away. A number of forums will be held in the coming weeks to keep the community informed and educated on the candidates for City Council, school board and Rent Control Board as well as the measures that will appear on the ballot, including a half-cent sales tax increase and enhanced protections for tenants facing eviction. Here are the forums: •MONDAY SEPT. 27
CEPS / LEAD Candidate Forum School board candidates: 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. City Council candidates: 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Main Library Multipurpose Room 601 Santa Monica Blvd. Open to public For more information, contact CEPS Chair Rebecca Kennerly at (310) 453-6305 or rebecca@kennerly.com.
SEE FORUMS PAGE 7
DOES TURKEY! LIST KRONOVET, IZZY'S DELI Fresh Roasted Turkey START PACKING!
SAVE MONEY Buy Quality Used Instruments
WITH
AND
(310) 453-1928
Go Samo!
1901 Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica www.santamonicamusic.com
310-829-9303
Robert Kronovet is a California Association of Realtors Director.
DRE # 01128992
sales@Kronovet.com
TURKEY MEATLOAF • TURKEY BURGERS • TURKEY CHILI TURKEY SALAD • TURKEY SAUSAGE • TURKEY BACON TURKEY GUMBO SOUP • TURKEY DINNERS TURKEY SANDWICHES
1433 Wilshire Boulevard, at 15th Street
310-394-1131 | OPEN 24 HOURS