By Sofia Williams
Managing Editor
The Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) Board held a meeting on Wednesday at 5 p.m. to discuss funding to projects within the district and approve new contracts and requests.
During the meeting, Costa cheer was recognized for its tenth-place finish in game day cheer and its second-place finish in traditional cheer at the Universal Cheerleaders Association National High School Cheerleading competition. Following the recognition of the cheer team from the board, senior ASB vice president and school board representative Dylan Okamoto updated the board on recent events at Costa.
“[Costa Cheer] just returned from the National High School Cheerleading Championship in Orlando on Monday night, and [MBUSD Resource Officer] Hibah [Samad], who is in charge of the PR for the district, called us and said that they’d like to recognize us tonight,” said Costa cheer coach Travis Neese.
Manhattan Beach resident Erin Levin gave a public comment in support of the board and its appointment of board member Bruce Greenberg, who replaced former board member Jason Boxer. Superintendent Dr. John Bowes then gave announcements on recent events at all MBUSD schools, including Costa’s Black History Month assembly, winter sports games, and the All-District Orchestra and Band festivals, among other topics.
“I was able to attend Mira Costa’s 10th-annual Black History Month celebration, and the theme was ‘A Celebration through the Decades,’” said Bowes. “We want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who participated and put this together to showcase the diversity on the Mira Costa campus.”
The board voted to accept the 2021-22 audit report. Additionally, the board elected six candidates as representatives to the California School Boards Association for Region 24, or Los Angeles County. The board also voted in favor of funding increases for the MBMS music building and Pennekamp modernization project, and approved increased payment to the California Child Victims Act.
“The annual audit is required, and the district is required to hire an independent auditor who reviews the district financial records and provides financial statements to the district,” said MBUSD Deputy Superintendent Dr. Dawnalyn Murakawa-Leopard. “One of the auditor’s functions is to review the district’s preferences and make sure the financial statements are accurate and ensure that we are carrying out procedures properly.”
The board voted to approve the Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP), which California schools are required to approve and adopt by March 1 of each year. The CSSP, which was drafted by Dr. Tom Stekal, is designed to address potential campus risks and prepare for emergencies.
“[The CSSP] was super comprehensive,” said Board President Kathy Graves. “In this year’s plan, I’m noticing more site-specific details than years past. I’ve looked at these [reports] for four years, and I’ve seen the progression. It’s more application and less board policy, and that is exactly what schools need, especially in case of emergency.”
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