After months of disruptions due to frequent power outages and Public Safety Power Shutoffs, Malibu’s public schools have finally received generators. The Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) installed the generators on January 23, addressing the concerns of parents who had repeatedly voiced their frustration over the loss of instructional time.
The installation was prompted by parents’ growing concerns about the increasing number of school days lost. However, just days after the generators were set up, another challenge arose. On January 27, storm and fire-related road closures forced the district to close all four Malibu schools—Malibu Elementary, Webster, Malibu Middle, and Malibu High—again. District officials had to cancel school for the day, as students, staff, and teachers could not safely reach the campuses. They promised to work with local agencies to explore other solutions for future closures.
Before the generators were installed, Malibu Elementary School (MES) had already missed 120 hours of instruction due to the power outages following the Franklin Fire on December 9. Unfortunately, the generator at MES was not working properly on the day of installation, leaving classrooms in the dark. By the following day, however, all four schools were back in operation—only to face further closures due to unsafe road conditions and the potential for mudslides.
The generator installation was seen as a major win for Malibu parents, many of whom had long felt ignored. A group of concerned parents had been pushing for generators to ensure that their children could attend school despite power outages. Some parents expressed frustration that their concerns were initially dismissed, but their persistence eventually led to the school district’s response.
Richard Raymond, a parent, voiced his frustration, saying that power outages shouldn’t determine when schools open or close. “No one wants to open a school during a red flag warning,” Raymond said. “But when power goes out, homes in Malibu get generators, but the schools don’t. That’s confusing for kids.”
Raymond also pointed out the broader issues Malibu families face, explaining that the distance from Santa Monica makes it hard for the district to understand Malibu’s specific challenges. “It’s heartbreaking to see the kids learning in pitch-black classrooms,” he said, adding that the generator installation was a small but important step.
Now, many parents are looking for a more permanent solution, such as solar power or full-time generators. “We need a way to keep schools open during power outages, even when there’s no imminent danger,” Raymond explained. “This should have been done much sooner. It’s a good first step, but we need a permanent fix.”
Mark Di Paola, another parent, echoed Raymond’s frustration. He had reached out multiple times to the district, requesting generators. After receiving a response that the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) wouldn’t allow them, Di Paola contacted AQMD directly and was told otherwise. “I followed up five times,” he said. “The silence was frustrating.”
Di Paola also criticized the district’s lack of urgency regarding education. “This is a legitimate emergency, and the district wasn’t prioritizing our children’s safety and education,” he said.
Despite the delays, Raymond and Di Paola are hopeful that the district will continue to take action and address the issues that have caused educational disruption for Malibu students. “Let’s keep the momentum going to ensure Malibu students don’t face these educational setbacks again,” Raymond said.
The installation of the generators marks a significant step forward in addressing the power outage disruptions, but many parents are hopeful that this is just the beginning of a long-term solution to the ongoing challenges faced by Malibu’s public schools.
