February 10th Deadline for SMMUSD Claim Forms to be Submitted

A lawsuit against the school district has resulted in the disbursement of funds to certain parents. Parents will be reimbursed if they paid for after school activities, field trips, binders, books and other school supplies required by Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District schools, from 2016 to 2018.

The lawsuit arose from California law that public school must be free. SMMUSD was accused of not being free but instead forcing students to pay for supplies, for-pay field trips, and participation in certain for-credit activities, such as the fee to buy uniforms for sports.

Asst. SMMUSD Superintendent Mark Kelly has sent an email to parents, warning them that the deadline to submit a claim for the settlement funds is February 10th. Kevin Shenkman, attorney for the plaintiffs, has sent similar emails. 

"All of the money you have spent since July 2016 on the categories listed on the claim form will be reimbursed to you," writes Kelly. "All you need to do is submit the claim form provided in this email."

"Checks for 100% of the amount you state on the claim form will be sent once the court's approval of the settlement is final.  It really is that simple," writes Shenkman.

The case is entitled de Baca, et al. v. Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Shenkman says claim forms may be emailed to him before the deadline, at smmusdcase@shenkmanhughes.com.