LAUSD

District 1 - Mid-City, Arlington Heights, Westmont, Crenshaw

Kahllid Al-Amin vs. Sherlett Hendy Newbill

TLDR: WHO SHOULD I CHOOSE FOR DISTRICT 1’S SCHOOL BOARD SEAT?

If you want someone fighting for improved funding for underserved communities, and don’t care about their social media endorsements or re-posting of pornographic, pro-gun, and anti-semitic content, vote for KAHLLID AL-ALIM.

If you want someone prioritizing equity in education, community engagement, and improved funding for schools, and who shares most of outgoing member George McKenna’s policies and platform, vote for SHERLETT HENDY NEWBILL.

KAHLLID AL-ALIM

Background

  • Al-Alim is a LAUSD parent.

  • Supported by Democratic Socialists of America

  • The subject of controversy after he shared content related to Louis Farrakhan on social media (he later rescinded).

Experience

  • Worked as a janitor and community organizer

  • Campaigned for fairer distribution of resources, including for special education.

Platform

  • Advocates for improved funding and resources, especially for underserved communities.

  • Supports addressing systematic inequalities, will fight any privatization of schools (including charter schools).

  • Was fueled by United Teachers Los Angeles Union funding until social media activity (recent and from several years ago) was discovered to endorse pornographic, pro-gun, and anti-semitic content.

SHERLETT HENDY NEWBILL

Background

  • Born and raised in District 1, attended local public schools.

  • Mother of two sons who attended LAUSD schools.

  • Longtime community member.

Experience

  • Served for two decades as a teacher, coach, and dean at Dorsey High School, which she attended.

  • Currently serves as education policy advisor for the outgoing representative

  • Endorsed by Karen Bass and several local community groups.

Platform

  • Advocates for smaller class sizes and better funding, aiming to improve academic success and student well-being.

  • Wanted to engage parents and families further in education to foster a better learning environment.

  • Committed to addressing inequities in education, especially underfunded schools.

District 3 - West San Fernando Valley and Studio City

Dan Chang vs. Scott Schmerelson

TLDR: WHO SHOULD I CHOOSE FOR DISTRICT 3’S SCHOOL BOARD SEAT?

If you want someone who advocates to cut bureaucracy and is committed to college and career readiness while being funded by an anti-union activist, vote for DAN CHANG.

If you are happy with the current board member, who advocates for focuses on smaller class size and modernization, vote for SCOTT SCHMERELSON.

DAN CHANG

Background

  • Resident of LA for over 20 years.

  • Degrees from UC Berkeley and UCLA

  • Father of three all enrolled in LAUSD schools

  • Funded by Bill Bloomfield, a former LA resident who moved out of state but still works to fund candidates opposing the teachers’ union

Experience

  • Currently a math teacher at James Madison Middle School, has worked for over 20 years to improve LAUSD schools

  • Co-founded the LA Fund for Public Education

  • Previously served as board of Valley Charter Schools

Platform

  • Advocates for reducing bureaucracy within LAUSD to empower individual schools.

  • Emphasizes creating a joyful and safe classroom environment.

  • Committed to ensuring all students are prepared for college and careers.

SCOTT SCHMERELSON

Background

  • Joined LAUSD in 1978 and worked as a teacher and principal before joining the board.

  • Advocated for public school improvements over his 45-year career.

  • Serving District 3 since 2015 and running for re-election in 2024​.

Experience

  • Served as teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and principal​.

  • Helped secure nearly $1 billion for modernizing district schools​.

  • Supported the UTLA teacher strike for better wages and conditions​.

  • Has worked to limit the space that charters can take in an LAUSD campus

Platform

  • Supported the UTLA teacher strike for better wages and conditions​.

  • Advocates for safe, environmentally friendly school modernization​.

  • Prioritizes improvements in special education policies​.

District 5 - Some of Eagle Rock and Silverlake, Hollywood, Koreatown, Vernon, Maywood, Huntington Park, South Gate

Karla Griego vs. Graciela “Grace” Ortiz

TLDR: WHO SHOULD I CHOOSE FOR DISTRICT 5 LAUSD BOARD MEMBER?

If you want a board member with a clear agenda and plans running on a platform of mental health, reducing class sizes, and equity for underserved students, vote for KARLA GRIEGO.

If you want a board member who is prioritizing equitable resource allocation, student support services, and community advocacy, vote for GRACIELA ORTIZ.

KARLA GRIEGO

Background

  • Griego is an immigrant from El Salvador and a mother to an LAUSD student.

  • She has 19 years of experience teaching special education in LAUSD.

  • Griego has been deeply involved in advocating for marginalized students and working to amplify community voices.

  • Is the community school coordinator at McAlister High School for students under 18 that are pregnant or parents

Experience

  • She played a key role in the 2019 UTLA strike as an elected leader in the union, advocating for better working and learning conditions.

  • Griego has dedicated her career to working with LAUSD's most vulnerable student populations.

  • She has been a strong voice for social and economic justice in education, participating in multiple campaigns for educational rights.

Platform

  • Griego emphasizes the need to reduce class sizes and hire more counselors and social workers.

  • She advocates for increased mental health resources and programs, especially for at-risk students.

  • Her platform includes ensuring safe, welcoming environments in schools, with access to clean water, green spaces, and comprehensive safety measures​.

GRACIELA (GRACE) ORTIZ

Background

  • Ortiz grew up in the district and is a lifelong resident of Huntington Park, giving her firsthand experience with the district’s needs.

  • Like Griego, Ortiz is also a former LAUSD student and the parent of children attending district schools.

  • She has significant experience working in various roles within the LAUSD system.

Experience

  • Ortiz has been a district administrator for over 20 years, managing complex operations within LAUSD schools​.

  • Ortiz is an active advocate for equitable funding and support for under-resourced schools.

  • She has also served in local government, gaining experience in shaping public policy for education.

Platform

  • Ortiz focuses on ensuring equitable funding and resources are available for schools in underserved communities​.

  • Her platform prioritizes improving student outcomes and providing necessary academic support.

  • Like Griego, Ortiz supports boosting mental health services for students.

Charter Amendment LL: LAUSD Redistricting

TLDR: DO YOU THINK AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION SHOULD REDRAW LAUSD BOUNDARIES?

If you prioritize removing political influence from the process of redrawing LAUSD districts, VOTE YES ON CHARTER AMENDMENT LL,

If you think board members should be able to redraw district boundaries for LAUSD, VOTE NO ON CHARTER AMENDMENT LL.

WHAT TO KNOW

Background: Charter Amendment LL was introduced in response to concerns over gerrymandering and political manipulation in LAUSD redistricting. Advocates believe an independent commission will lead to more equitable district boundaries that reflect the diverse student population.

Impact on Angelenos: If passed, the amendment could result in more balanced school board representation, potentially improving the quality of governance and ensuring fairer representation of students and communities in the redistricting process.

Budget Implications: The creation of an independent commission may incur additional costs related to its operation, including hiring staff, conducting research, and organizing public hearings. However, proponents argue that long-term benefits, such as fair representation, outweigh the financial impact.

DETAILS

Charter Amendment LL proposes the creation of an independent redistricting commission to redraw LAUSD Board of Education district boundaries every 10 years. The commission would be tasked with removing political influence from the redistricting process, ensuring fair representation for students and communities. The amendment follows similar reforms applied to city council redistricting.

Yes Vote: A “yes” vote means voters support establishing an independent commission to oversee the redrawing of LAUSD Board district boundaries, aiming for a non-partisan and fair redistricting process.

No Vote: A “no” vote would keep the current system in place, where LAUSD district boundaries are redrawn by elected officials, allowing for potential political influence.

Measure US: LAUSD Facilities Bond

TLDR: DO YOU THINK AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION SHOULD REDRAW LAUSD BOUNDARIES?

If you don’t mind another property tax increase of approximately $25 per $100,000 of property tax to upgrade school infrastructure, improve safety, and enhance student learning environments, VOTE YES on MEASURE US.

If you are done with further property taxes and don’t care about how LAUSD is funded, VOTE NO ON MEASURE US.

DETAILS

Measure US is a $9 billion bond aimed at modernizing and upgrading aging LAUSD school facilities. The funds will be used to improve safety (e.g., earthquake retrofitting), upgrade infrastructure (HVAC, plumbing, electrical), and provide technology enhancements for 21st-century learning. The bond will also support green initiatives, such as outdoor classrooms and electric school buses.

Yes Vote: A “yes” vote means voters support issuing up to $9 billion in bonds to fund critical repairs, safety upgrades, and modernizations of LAUSD facilities, funded by a property tax increase.

No Vote: A “no” vote would prevent the issuance of the bond, leaving the district with limited resources to address facility improvements and potentially delaying necessary safety and infrastructure upgrades.

WHAT TO KNOW

Background: LAUSD has aging infrastructure, with more than 60% of its school buildings over 50 years old. The district estimates $80 billion is needed to address all its facility needs, and Measure US aims to tackle the most urgent priorities, particularly in underserved areas where facilities are in dire condition.

Impact on Angelenos: If passed, Angelenos can expect improved school environments that could positively impact student safety, health, and learning outcomes. However, property owners will face an increase in property taxes to fund these improvements.

Budget Implications: Measure US will result in a property tax increase of approximately $25 per $100,000 of assessed value, which could last until 2059. This would generate the necessary funds to address immediate and long-term facility needs in the district.