By Jorge Casuso

December 4, 2025 -- The School Board on Monday took "a decisive and historic step" when it unanimously approved three agreements that pave the way for Malibu's separation from the District.

The 7 to 0 vote at a special meeting comes eight months after a key LA County education committee voted down a plan proposed by the City of Malibu that was strongly opposed by the District.

District officials said Monday's vote "signals the culmination of years of dedicated negotiations" between District officials and the City of Malibu.

The Malibu City Council will vote next Monday on the Property Tax Revenue Sharing Agreement, Operational Transfer Agreement and Joint Powers Agreement approved by the Board.

The three documents "establish the framework for the equitable division of resources, assets, and liabilities to ensure the fiscal health and educational success of both successor districts," District officials said in a statement Wednesday.

School Board Member Jon Kean, who is a member of the subcommittee negotiating a separation, said the agreements "meet our two most important criteria."

"Both cohorts of students will benefit, and each cohort will receive a comparable education on the last day of SMMUSD as they will on day one of SMUSD and MUSD," Kean said.

"Delivering local control while not harming students is driving my decision," he added.

During public comment at Monday's meeting, Malibu Mayor Marianne Riggins praised the "effort and work" involved in taking this next step."

Next week's vote in Malibu City Hall comes 14 years after the Malibu City Council voted in November 2011 to set the gears in motion to secede from the School District.

District officials believe "it has become increasingly clear over many years that operating a school district that combines schools in Santa Monica with those in Malibu has become complicated to the degree that" forming independent districts "is the best option."

Since Malibu began exploring forming an independent District nearly two decades ago, the parties have come close to an agreement only to see negotiations fall apart.

If approved by the Malibu Council, District officials said "both bodies will then work together to pursue the necessary special legislation and state approvals required to formally establish the two independent school districts."