Malibu Welcomes Sparkling New Buildings; Seniors Ready To Thrive

MALIBU, CA — Malibu schools are coming out ahead after a grueling year: last Friday, the city gathered to welcome two gleaming new buildings, and many of the class of 2021 - which has had its schooling interrupted by both the pandemic and the Woolsey Fire - are going to some of the nation’s top colleges.

On Friday, teachers and students from Malibu schools joined Malibu and SMMUSD officials to welcome a $51 million boat-shaped wonder on Morning View Drive housing three science labs, a new library and cafeteria, foreign language classes, computer labs, an outdoor play space, and administrative office space.

The unveiling ended 15 years of construction headaches and political wrangling over what to do with the old library and administrative buildings.

“To think about the buildings that aren’t here, and what was in them that isn’t here anymore,” said SMMUSD Board Member Craig Foster to applause, referencing the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that plagued the old buildings.

“This is just beautiful - the buildings are beautiful, the space is beautiful, and what goes on in the buildings are what really matters, and the teachers that are here, the staff that are here, and now the buildings are built for the kind of education our kids need to prosper in the future.”

Malibu High School Principal Patrick Miller said the new facilities are a powerful new selling point for a public school system facing perennial competition with nearby private schools.

“When I stood in front of 5th grade parents at prospective parent meetings, when I hosted back to school night at open house, we had to focus on people and programs: our people, our staff, our students, our parents, our community make this a great place...the breadth of programs we offer in a small school setting make this a great place,” Miller said.

“What I have not always been able to highlight is our physical plant, our facilities, and these two buildings are a step towards a bright future in regards to a facility that better matches the high levels of learning and care that our students benefit from every day.”

After SMMUSD Superintendent Ben Drati cut the ribbon, students showed guests the open, airy foyers, flexible desks that turn into islands, and mountain views that make the new building feel both high-tech and inviting.

“This is a new chapter for Malibu,” said Councilmember Karen Farrer, an ardent campaigner for an independent Malibu school district.

And what of the graduating class who get to enjoy the new facilities for a few fleeting weeks before embarking on their own new chapters?
Even though their senior year and nearly half of their junior year was completely curtailed by the pandemic, the 147 graduating seniors won a total of $30,000 in local scholarships and gained admission into some of the nation’s most selective schools.

Students were admitted to Brown, Cornell, UPenn, Amherst, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and many more. Common choices include UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCSD, UCSB, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Washington, and Santa Monica College. 90% of MHS graduates are attending college after graduation.

According to college and career counselor Linh Snyder, 45% of graduates are staying in California. Of those, 19 are attending UC schools, 11 are attending CSU schools, 9 are going to a private college, and 27 are attending community colleges. 45% of students are attending out of state colleges, and six are attending international schools: three at the American University of Paris, two at University of the Arts London, and one at McGill University in Montreal.

Students made their final selections on May 1, and took photos in college gear on Pennant Day on May 3.

“Generally at least 70% of our students go directly to a four-year college, and in spite of a change landscape for college entrance, Malibu High and its excellent teaching and counseling staff and college prep pathway helped these amazing students adapt to the new landscape,” Miller wrote in a statement. “I am so proud of them and delighted for these kids who truly rose to the occasion.”

Students also won a number of scholarships from a number of local organizations and funds, including the Malibu Woman's Club, Malibu High School PTSA , Malibu Association of REALTORS, Rotary Club of Malibu, Stevenson Family Foundation, Malibu Art Association, the Malibu Foundation, the Webster Organization, the Optimist Club, and more.

Kylie McNulty, who will attend Tufts University. Credit: The Shark Fund

“Malibu High consistently provided us with teachers who I know cared about me more than anything else in the world, no matter what else was going on in my life,” wrote Kylie McNulty, a graduation speaker headed to Tufts University to study history. “The last weeks back on campus magically feels like nothing ever changed.”