Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District

Superintendent’s Message: Welcome to the 2025-26 School Year

August 28, 2025

Dear Parents, Guardians, Staff, Students and Community Members,

Welcome back to school!

Welcome back! I hope you found time this summer to rest, recharge and enjoy special moments with family and friends.

Over the past two years, our District has been on a journey, first reflecting on ourselves as individuals, then strengthening our identity as a community. Now, we are stepping into our biggest challenge yet: disrupting systems that no longer serve all students. Disruption means asking bold questions, removing barriers, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.

As we move into this school year, our work is grounded in the values of equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, curiosity and empowerment. These values are more than words on a poster; they are the compass that guides how we teach, lead and support one another.

On Aug. 18, more than 1,000 staff members gathered for our annual convocation. This year’s theme, Superheroes, reflects the unique strengths each of us brings to our schools. Every hero has a story that sparks their power, and in the same way, each of us contributes compassion, creativity and resilience.

At convocation, we explored what it means to recognize and use our individual “superpowers” in service of our students. Just as heroes rely on courage, teamwork and purpose, our staff rely on collaboration, innovation and care to support student growth. When we combine our talents, we become a united team capable of removing barriers, inspiring curiosity and guiding students toward success.

The superhero theme reminds us that student success is not about extraordinary powers, but about everyday actions that make a difference. From the classroom to the playground, from the arts to athletics, our work together ensures every child feels empowered to reach their full potential. I invite you to watch highlights from the convocation here: https://bit.ly/Convocation2025Highlights.

Our work continues to be guided by the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP).

Goal 1: College and Career Readiness
All students will be college and career-ready through socially just pathways rooted in curiosity, belonging and empowerment.

Goal 2: Multilingual Learners
Multilingual learners will become proficient in English while engaging in a rigorous, culturally and linguistically responsive, standards-aligned core curriculum.

Goal 3: Connection and Belonging
All students and families will feel connected and informed while engaging in safe, well-maintained and culturally responsive schools that support future-ready learning.

Our mission remains an extraordinary achievement for all while closing the achievement gap. To achieve this, we will focus on six district priorities: reclassification, special education, transformative approaches, maintenance, fiscal services and a guaranteed viable curriculum.

Community Engagement
Parents are essential partners in this work and will learn more about our plans and goals through back-to-school nights and PTA meetings. We encourage parents, guardians, staff and secondary students to join PTSA at their school site. We are fortunate to have an engaged and supportive parent network at every school, along with our SMMPTA Council. Visit your school’s website or smmpta.org to learn more. Grandparents, relatives, friends, neighbors and other community members are also welcome to join and support our schools.

We are also grateful to the Santa Monica Education Foundation and the new Malibu Education Foundation, for their continued support of our district priorities. Contributions to these foundations directly fund programs that benefit all students. Please consider donating and encouraging others to do the same. It truly takes a village.

Cellphone Policy
The SMMUSD Board of Education has adopted a revised Mobile Communications Policy (BP 5131.8) with new administrative regulations that set clear expectations for smartphone and mobile device use across all grade levels. The policy is designed to limit classroom distractions, protect student privacy and ensure devices are only used when appropriate, such as in emergencies, with staff permission, or as required by an IEP or 504 plan. The district is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged devices.

At the elementary school level, students are expected to turn off their devices and store them in their bags for the entire school day, retrieving them only after dismissal. At John Adams, Lincoln and Malibu middle schools, students will be using Yondr pouches. Upon arrival, devices are turned off and locked inside the pouch, which remains with the student but sealed for the duration of the school day. Students unlock their pouch at dismissal to retrieve their devices. At the high school level, students must silence their devices and store them in the teacher’s designated location at the beginning of each class period. Devices remain stored unless authorized for instructional use and may be retrieved only after class is dismissed.

These expectations will support student well-being, improve focus and reduce conflicts related to mobile device use. Thank you for your partnership in helping us implement these practices successfully. The full policy and regulations are available on the SMMUSD website.

Transitional Kindergarten Expansion
California has expanded transitional kindergarten (TK) so every 4-year-old has the opportunity to attend a TK program. This statewide effort reflects a commitment to giving students a strong foundation in literacy, numeracy and social-emotional learning before they begin kindergarten.

In alignment with this plan, SMMUSD has continued to expand TK programs across the district. This year, TK is now offered at both SMASH and Malibu Elementary School, in addition to our existing sites. This expansion increases access for families and ensures more of our youngest learners can benefit from an early start.

Districtwide, we currently have 20 TK classrooms serving nine schools with a total enrollment of approximately 350 TK students. These numbers will continue to grow as California moves toward universal TK.

School Safety
The health and safety of students and staff remain our highest priorities. Together we can create safe and secure environments for everyone. Concerns should be reported to any adult on campus, and in an emergency, please call 911. Threats or concerns may also be reported anonymously by calling 1-800-78-CRIME or visiting wetip.com.

Facilities Readiness and New Spaces
Thank you once again for your support of Bond Measure QS in Santa Monica and Bond Measure MM in Malibu, approved in 2024. With your partnership, we are reimagining and improving learning environments across the district.

This summer, we made significant progress on several projects. Will Rogers Learning Community opened a new early childhood building and parking lot. Grant Elementary completed modernization of its transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms. Malibu High School unveiled a new classroom building, while Santa Monica High School moved forward with new bleachers, athletic improvements, modernization of S House and the addition of infant and toddler restrooms. At McKinley Elementary, construction is underway on a new classroom and administration building, expected to open in January 2026. The Ocean Park Neighborhood school is expected to open in January 2026.

Additional projects beginning this summer include a new library and classroom building at Grant Elementary, a new library and early childhood building at Roosevelt Elementary, a STEM building at John Adams Middle School and modernization of the 500s building at Lincoln Middle School. Looking ahead, design is beginning for projects at Franklin Elementary, the Obama Center, Samohi and Malibu High School.

These improvements are only possible because of your continued support. We will share updates as projects move forward.

Illness Prevention and Attendance
We all play an important role in keeping our schools healthy. Please practice good hand hygiene, cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, and stay up to date on vaccinations. If your child feels sick, please keep them home until they are well enough to return, and notify the school attendance office if they are absent due to illness. Updated guidance is available through the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Stay Connected
Stay informed by visiting smmusd.org and your school’s website. Please make sure your ParentSquare notifications are turned on, and avoid opting out or reporting district or school messages as spam so you do not miss important information. For an easier way to connect with your school and the district, you can also download the free ParentSquare app.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Malibu Schools Pathway, Instagram (@smmusd_official), LinkedIn and on X (formerly Twitter) @smmusd and @MalibuPathway. I also share updates on X @Dr_AShelton. Families will also continue to receive Peachjar flyers by email from our nonprofit partners with opportunities for students and families.

Together Toward a Strong Year
Let us make 2025-26 a year of growth, innovation and joy. Together we will strengthen belonging across SMMUSD, spark curiosity and empower every student to come to school ready to learn, grow and thrive.

As we begin this new year, let us remember that our work is not only about academics but also about nurturing the whole child. When students feel seen, valued and connected, they discover the confidence to take risks, the resilience to overcome challenges and the curiosity to keep learning.

Like the superheroes who inspired our convocation theme, each of us carries unique strengths. When we bring those strengths together as one team, we create the power to remove barriers, open doors and help every child realize their potential. Our students deserve nothing less.

Sincerely,

Dr. Antonio Shelton
Superintendent