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EXCLUSIVE: Greg Martayan endorses Steve Zimmer in LAUSD school board race
Greg Martayan, the fourth-place finisher in the primary election who received a crucial number of votes that could sway the outcome in the runoff, has endorsed Steve Zimmer, he told LA School Report on Wednesday. Martayan joins a number of other high-profile endorsements in the most expensive school board race in U.S. history. U.S. Senator...
By Sarah Favot | May 10, 2017
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Zimmer and Melvoin in their last debate: good guys with sharp tongues
They both agree the other’s a good guy. What they don’t agree on is whether LA Unified is a success. On Monday night, LA Unified school board President Steve Zimmer faced Nick Melvoin in their last debate before the May 16 runoff. The audience of about 75 at Palisades Charter High School was the most...
By Laura Greanias | May 9, 2017
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John Legend, Bernie Sanders, Barbara Boxer rush to make endorsements in the most expensive school board race in U.S. history
It’s not every day that national political figures like Bernie Sanders and Arne Duncan rush to endorse candidates in local school board races. But then again, very little about the intensifying Los Angeles school board showdown is typical. As we’ve reported extensively in our 2017 election series, this year’s board race — which concludes in...
By LA School Report | May 9, 2017
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300 students turn out to hear LAUSD school board candidates address college readiness
It’s difficult to measure whether voters are interested in the Los Angeles school board elections, which could shift the ideological balance of the board. But for those most affected by how well LA Unified delivers education, it was standing room only at a Saturday forum where students heard how the four candidates plan to make...
By Sarah Favot | May 8, 2017
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Outside spending tops $10 million, Zimmer steps up fundraising efforts in LAUSD election
Outside groups have poured more than $10 million into the LA Unified school board election, which already this spring became the most expensive school board race in the nation. When it comes to the money the candidates themselves have raised, board President Steve Zimmer stepped up his campaign fundraising efforts last month raising more than...
By Sarah Favot | May 5, 2017
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Hollywood and heavyweights endorse in LAUSD school board race
* UPDATED MAY 8 One of them was endorsed by an actor known (most recently) for playing creepy murderers. Another got the support of a guy who played the chauffeur in “Downton Abbey.” One sent out a heartfelt letter written by her mom, and another was endorsed by a woman who owns her own newspaper....
By Mike Szymanski | May 4, 2017
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Unified enrollment plan heads for a vote, but some board members remain skeptical
A unified enrollment plan that is supposed to make it easier for parents to apply to multiple magnet and pilot programs is scheduled for a vote next Tuesday, but some LA Unified school board members aren’t convinced it’s ready to be funded. During a presentation at the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday afternoon, board members expressed concerns...
By Mike Szymanski | May 4, 2017
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Gonez and Padilla meet in first and potentially only forum ahead of runoff election
In an intimate setting Tuesday night at a Sylmar charter school, LA Unified school board candidates Kelly Gonez and Imelda Padilla met for the first and possibly only time ahead of the runoff. Differences stood out in the candidates’ demeanor, but their platforms had some similarities. The forum for the board District 6 candidates at...
By Sarah Favot | May 3, 2017
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Just 3 of 4 LAUSD school board candidates are expected to participate in Saturday’s forum
It was going to be one of the only opportunities to see all four candidates for two LA Unified school board seats appear together ahead of the May 16 runoff election. But organizers of Saturday’s forum on college readiness hosted by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles only expect board President Steve Zimmer and...
By Sarah Favot | May 2, 2017
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All LAUSD school board candidates agree on the undeniable importance of the Latino vote
The strength of Los Angeles’ Latino community blazed through city streets on Monday as 100,000 people marched to support immigrants’ rights and other causes including public education. With the LA Unified school board runoff just two weeks away, all four of the candidates acknowledge how important the Latino community’s support is in a district that...
By Esmeralda Fabián Romero | May 1, 2017