WHAT’S UP WESTSIDE ..................PAGE 2 MY WRITE ........................................PAGE 4 PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ....................PAGE 5 LETTER TO THE EDITOR ..............PAGE 7 MYSTERY PHOTO ............................PAGE 11
MONDAY
12.07.15 Volume 15 Issue 21
@smdailypress
Santa Monica Daily Press
Shortfall hangs over SMMUSD bond projects Measure BB money supporting facility upgrades throughout district BY JEFFREY I. GOODMAN Daily Press Staff Writer
The Santa Monica-Malibu school district is moving forward with facility upgrades as it attempts to deal with a bond shortfall, unresolved claim issues and concerns
about student welfare. The local Board of Education last month received an update from Jan Maez, the district’s chief financial officer, on projects funded by two bond measures that voters approved over the last decade. “We’re trying to fix as many
things as we can in a very organized and strategic way,” Maez said. One major obstacle to the wide variety of improvements across SMMUSD is a shortfall of more than $31 million in funds linked to Measure BB, a $268-million bond that voters backed in 2006.
That figure includes a roughly $10-million deficit in Santa Monica High School projects, according to Maez. The shortfall is also tied to projects at Edison Language Academy, Olympic High School SEE BOND PAGE 7
smdp.com
St. Monica launches rugby team Numerous football players join new winter sport BY JEFFREY I. GOODMAN Daily Press Staff Writer
SMC art mentor program shapes true creators BY GRACE SMITH Special to the Daily Press
Amsi Bustillo thought he knew his identity as an artist. After all, his love for art began very early - when
he was a student in Santa Monica’s Lincoln Middle School. As a student at Santa Monica High School (Samohi), he took advanced drawing classes. From Samohi, he headed to
Santa Monica College as an art major and was accepted into SMC’s Art Mentor Program (AMP), a unique learning experience for a select group of faculty-recommended students. Here, Bustillo
would discover his true passion: abstraction. “Before I was just making pretty images - no meaning or content
HOLIDAY SEASON
SEE ART PAGE 8
Matthew Hall editor@smdp.com
When Drew Shaw realized that the St. Monica Catholic football team needed help with its tackling skills this season, the coach turned to an unexpected advisor: a rugby expert. And as it turns out, the lessons imparted by parent volunteer Nick James didn’t just yield an improved defense on the gridiron. They also built momentum towards the recent establishment of a rugby team at St. Monica, the first such squad in school history. James is serving as coach of the new rugby program, which expands on the winter athletic options for students at the Santa Monica private school. “It’s becoming a much more popular sport,” Shaw said. “It’s going to be really good for us in the long run, not only for the football program but also for the recognition of our school and having that to offer. It’s a pretty cool thing.” The Mariners’ season, which is organized through Southern California Youth Rugby, began Dec. 4 with a match against Manhattan Beach-Mira Costa. Their campaign also includes tilts against Palos Verdes, Dana Point-Dana Hills, Los Angeles-View Park Prep,
Celebrations are in full swing locally including tree lightings, visits by Santa and neighborhood gatherings. Pictured are Montana Ave. and Main St. events. SEE RUGBY PAGE 6
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