Happy Monday, Venice families.

Two big items this week: our 2026 Halloween roundup is live and the Governor just declared a state of emergency for what forecasters say could be the strongest El Niño on record. Plus a couple of real updates from the three districts.

Let's get into it.

In this issue: ALL DISTRICTS · LAUSD · SMMUSD · CULVER · EVENTS

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October 31 falls on a Saturday this year. No school-night trick-or-treating, no rushing home from work to shove a kid into a costume. You can do a full daytime event AND trick-or-treating that night without anyone melting down over bedtime.

Our full Halloween roundup covers every free and low-cost event across Venice, Santa Monica, Marina del Rey, Playa Vista, Culver City, and Westchester.

Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency Sunday to get California ahead of what federal forecasters say has a 75% chance of becoming the strongest El Niño on record.

In plain English: it's a paperwork move that lets the state pre-position sandbags, pumps, road-closure gear, and the National Guard before the storms hit. It also fast-tracks flood-protection permits so local agencies aren't stuck waiting on red tape when things get real.

Why we should care on the coast:

What to actually do this week:

We'll flag any local watches or warnings in the newsletter as the season develops.

The board pulled a scheduled vote last Monday on a $960,000 contract with Alvarez and Marsal, the consulting firm hired to build a framework for potential school closures, mergers, and reconfigurations. Community pushback over the weekend killed the vote, but Superintendent Andrés Chait said the district still needs outside help and community conversations will start in the next few weeks. More details are expected at the Sept. 22 board meeting.

The pressure behind all this: enrollment is down almost 4% this year alone - nearly a full point worse than projected. Every 1% drop is about $20M/year in lost state funding for three years. LAUSD's $20.6B budget is currently running a $2B deficit.

What this means for Westside LAUSD families: no campus list exists yet, and no closure decisions have been made. The Sept. 22 meeting is the next thing to watch. If you want to weigh in during the community-conversation phase, that window is opening in the next few weeks.

Lincoln Middle School's Legacy Building reopened after modernization, with a ribbon-cutting on Sept. 10. Nine new math, science, and general-ed classrooms. Part of the district's ongoing facilities overhaul.

Santa Monica school field access negotiation - City Council ordered negotiations to preserve public access to SMMUSD fields, gyms, playgrounds beyond 2027, with a parcel tax on the November ballot. Big deal for youth sports families.

Culver City Council voted on Sept. 14 to raise CCARP fees 50% - the city's most affordable afterschool program for CCUSD elementary students - with a plan to raise fees a full 100% over two years. Weekly cost goes from $51 to $127.50 for 2026-27, then $153 in 2027-28.

Subsidies are still available: Category 1 is 100% off for families experiencing homelessness, foster care, or CPS involvement; Category 2 is 50% off for income-qualified families; Category 3 is 15% off for CalFresh/WIC/SNAP households.

Can parents still weigh in? Yes, just not on this specific vote. Long-term CCARP fees get revisited during the citywide fee study in late FY 2026-27, and that's where the subsidy percentage gets set. If affordable childcare matters to your family, email council directly (full list of council emails) and consider showing up at Parks & Rec Commission meetings between now and next summer.

Communitywide disaster drill this Thursday - Speaking of prep: Culver City is running its annual communitywide drill Thursday, Sept. 24, 7–9 PM at El Marino Park. You'll hear Hi-Lo sirens across the city - the same tone used during evacuation orders. No action required beyond making sure your family knows what the sound means. If you haven't already, sign up for CulverAlerts through the city's emergency management page.

Tuesday 9/22
Toddler Tuesdays: Travelin' Storytime | 10:30am–11am or 11:30am–12pm | Tue | 9/22 | Pico Branch library, ages walking to 3. Two sessions back-to-back, first come first served. Free.
Toddler Storytime | 12:30pm–1pm | Tue | 9/22 | Mar Vista Library. Thirty minutes of songs, stories, wiggles. Free.
Volunteer Club (grades 6–12) | 3pm–5pm | Tue | 9/22 | Mar Vista Library. The listing literally says "if you need hours for school." Free.

Wednesday 9/23
LEGO Club | 2:30pm–3:30pm | Wed | 9/23 | Ocean Park Branch library. Ages 18 months to 11, all materials provided. Free.
Baby Time | 11:30am–12pm | Wed | 9/23 | SMPL Main Library. Lap sit storytime for pre-walkers. Free.

Thursday 9/24
Bright Horizons Fall Family Festival | 3pm–4pm | Thu | 9/24 | New Playa Vista campus in the Brickyard. Free, open to everyone, tour welcome even if you're not enrolled.
Teen RPG (grades 6–12) | 4:30pm–5:30pm | Thu | 9/24 | Mar Vista Library. Collaborative dice-driven storytelling. Free.
LEGO Club | 4pm–5pm | Thu | 9/24 | SMPL Main Library. Ages 18 months to 11. Free.

Friday 9/25
Bilingual Storytime + more at the Wende | during Fri–Sun museum hours | Fri | 9/25 | Cold War museum in Culver, always free, families welcome under 11 with adult. Kick off the weekend with a low-key art visit.

Saturday 9/26
Hispanic Heritage Celebration | 12pm–3pm | Sat | 9/26 | Tellefson Park, Culver City. Live muralist, crafts, food, entertainment. Free.
Dog Man: The Musical | 11am, 3pm, or 7pm | Sat | 9/26 | Kirk Douglas Theatre, Culver City. From Dav Pilkey's series, hilarious for K–5. Tickets from $40.
Family Fun Day at Help Group Culver City | noon | Sat | 9/26 | 12095 W Washington Blvd. Concert plus activities, one-of-a-kind community event.

Sunday 9/27
Family Day: Dream Museum at the Wende | 12pm–3pm | Sun | 9/27 | Design your own imaginary museum. Free.
Free Chess Tournament | 9am–6pm | Sun | 9/27 | Wende Museum. All ages, all skill levels. Free.
Dog Man: The Musical | 1pm or 5pm | Sun | 9/27 | Kirk Douglas Theatre.