LAUSD Election Results

School funding measures at both state and federal levels local level appear to be on a path to success, meaning billions of dollars in funding for school repairs, maintenance and new construction in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Who will ultimately be responsible for spending that money remains to be seen. With the majority of LA County votes now counted, candidates in two of the three open seats on the LAUSD school board appear to have a solid lead. The only incumbent player has a small margin over his opponent.

The seven members of the LAUSD board oversee the nation’s second-largest school district, with more than 538,000 students enrolled. The district is also the county’s second-largest employer, with more than 74,000 teachers, administrators and support staff on its payroll.

School financing measures

LAUSD asked voters to approve Measure the USan increase in property taxes to fund $9 billion in renovation and repair projects. Early results show voters are ready to do this.

If California voters also approve it Proposal 2 — and vote totals so far suggest this will be the case — that could mean an additional $700 million in matching funds from the state.

Throughout California, 38% of primary and secondary school students attending schools that do not meet the minimum standard to be considered clean, safe and functional. Poorly maintained schools are susceptible to disruption during extreme weather conditions The September heat wave and last winter’s historic storms. They can even pose health risks to students and staff.

Research links higher student achievement to better quality schools — it’s easier to learn in clean, well-lit, climate-controlled classrooms.

The money borrowed through Measure US would be repaid through a new property tax that could last up to 35 years, although the amount of the tax would likely decline in later years of the bond. The district estimates that the bond would cost property owners living within LAUSD boundaries just over $25 per $100,000 of assessed value per year.

Sheena Porter voted at a South LA elementary school on Tuesday. She said she generally supports education measures and wants schools to be made more resilient to climate change.

“The fact that they don’t have (working) air conditioning in the classrooms, that’s a big problem,” she said. “As the climate changes and temperatures increase, it is difficult to concentrate when you sit in a hot classroom for hours.”

Voters in LAUSD have historically felt the same way, approving six bonds since 1997.

“Whatever schools need, that’s what I’m voting for,” Porter said, “because that’s our next generation.”

Administrative district 1

In Administrative district 1Sherlett Hendy Newbill, a veteran teacher at Dorsey High School, leads community organizer Kahllid Al-Alim by 40 percentage points. The winner will represent the LA neighborhoods of Mid-City, Crenshaw, Arlington Heights and Westmont on the school board.

Hendy Newbill’s experience more closely matches current District 1 board member (and mentor) George McKenna, who is retiring. Hendy Newbil, who most recently served as an education policy advisor in McKenna’s office, has decades of experience as a high school leader and has strong support from incumbent board members and other political leaders.

“I have learned that the people of this community desperately and honestly want representation for this community,” Hendy Newbill said. “It’s been an honor to listen to people while I’m knocking on the door.”

She said voters told her they want to know their voices are being heard by LAUSD leaders.

“They want to know that there is a door open for them, that they can come and share their ideas and views,” she said. “That there is an opportunity for them to see change within the administrative district.”

Al-Alim told LAist in an email before the election that he planned to spend election night with family and friends. “Thank you to everyone who helped me reach this point,” Al-Alim wrote. ‘It has been a wonderful journey and a life-changing experience. District One deserves a bold leader who is not afraid to challenge the opposition to make all students in general, especially Black and brown students, successful and productive citizens.”

Al-Alim’s campaign lost a groundswell of support the support of the powerful teachers union after social media posts endorsing anti-Semitic ideas resurfaced during the primaries. Al-Alim has since apologized. Since the primary, Al-Alim’s campaign has returned more than $2,000 in contributions and raised zero dollars during the most recent filing period, which ran from July 1 to September 21. His campaign spent just $18 during that same period. He also closed his campaign website.

Administrative district 3

Incumbent Scott Schmerelson represents an exciting match against challenger Dan Chang, a high school math teacher who has worked in the charter school industry for years. Chang has benefited from more than $5 million in outside spending, mostly from charter school supporters.

The winner will represent West San Fernando Valley and Studio City.

The candidates diverged most when discussing how the district should handle independently operated charter schools. Schmerelson supports limiting their access to traditional public school campuses in high-needs communities, while Chang says co-locations benefit students and families from both schools.

Administrative district 5

Since Wednesday morning, it has been former special education teacher Karla Griego’s turn has a strong lead about Graciela “Grace” Ortiz.

The winning candidate will replace outgoing LAUSD Board Chair Jackie Goldberg. And they will represent the unusually shaped administrative district that runs through a wide variety of neighborhoods: the Eastside communities of Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, parts of Silver Lake, Hollywood and Koreatown, as well as Vernon, Maywood, Huntington Park and South Hek.

This race divided support from major school labor groups. Griego’s agenda is closely aligned with that of the teachers union and focuses on systemic changes such as increasing investment in alternatives to school police. Ortiz spoke about finding compromises on some of the most contentious issues, including charter schools and school police.

They both believe that schools still don’t have the financial resources needed to help students thrive. Both were critical of the district’s decision to eliminate a literacy program, Primary Promise, aimed at students in kindergarten through third grade.

What’s next?

The Los Angeles County Registrar expects to update election results Wednesday afternoon.

Voters told LAist they expect a return on their vote.

Roxane Hernandez waited in line for more than an hour to vote at Gage Middle School in Huntington Park. She has a daughter who will be starting high school next year and wants to make sure she has access to programs and opportunities that will prepare her for college.

“I feel like some schools are very limited in certain things,” she said, “I want kids to feel confident that they’re going to school and know they’re getting the help they need.”