"It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the dominant factor in society today.  No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be." 
Isaac Asimov

Change can be scary.  It can be unsettling.  Each of us has a natural degree of fear of the unknown – it’s a self-preservation instinct.  Change involves risk and therefore often invokes trepidation.  But it need not be reckless.  The careful and thorough study of options, the evaluation of position, the formation of goals gives one the opportunity to envision orderly transformation heretofore unimagined, unarticulated, or long deferred.  School district reorganization and education innovations are no exception.

The crucial aspect of change is the potential for growth, rather than an abandonment of things past.  The charting of a new course, fueled by fresh energy, novel ideas and reorganized forces presents a platform for inspiring new heights of achievement and self-determination. 

Innovation - the introduction of new ideas, new tools, new methods, is at the heart of progress.  The inspired progression of a reorganized educational institution presents vast possibilities for all involved: students, teachers, administrators, staff and the community at large.

No extraordinary change comes easily.  It is definitely a challenge, a long-term project with triumphs to celebrate and setbacks to evaluate.

Why do it?  For me, and for many people I speak with, it is an idea whose time has come.  Since the 1980’s, many reorganization attempts have been made, some with more momentum than others.  The one constant is this: this need and the powerful factors which drive it are not going away.  Local control does matter.  It matters to our community, and not just to families with children currently in public school.  Self-determination is a universal theme, and our community is no different. 

I respectfully ask everyone reading this, in both Malibu and Santa Monica, to get involved. Learn more about the factors, the finances, the challenges, and the impacts in both our communities. Consider the opportunities this change presents. Please imagine what innovations you would like to see in our schools. What can we do with our own school district to better help our children to meet the world as it will be?

We all know that change can be scary.  Let’s affect positive change together for all the children of SMMUSD while continuing to support our students and our schools during the transformation. 

It is an effort we can all be proud of.

Karen Farrer
Executive Vice President
Advocates for Malibu Public Schools
[email protected]