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The good, the bad, and the ugly of the LAUSD school board campaign
It’s almost over, and there won’t be another LA Unified School board race until the next presidential election in November 2020. This year’s campaigns have become heated — absurd at times — and so we decided to take a look at some of the highs and lows. Some of this the campaigners may not want...
By Mike Szymanski | May 12, 2017
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If history is any indication, expect voter turnout to be light in LAUSD school board runoff
It’s tough to make predictions of voter turnout in Los Angeles city elections — not even the city clerk does it, but a surefire bet is that despite the most money ever spent on a school board election in U.S. history, there will still be a poor turnout. Past LA Unified elections show that interest...
By Mike Szymanski | May 11, 2017
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LAUSD board race breakdown: Here’s how Kelly Gonez and Imelda Padilla say they are different
Kelly Gonez and Imelda Padilla are two political newcomers who are running for the east San Fernando Valley seat on the LA Unified school board. Both are young Latinas who grew up in the district. LA School Report sat down separately with each of them to ask what differentiates them. In many ways, the District...
By Sarah Favot | May 11, 2017
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Here’s what’s really fueling the nation’s most expensive school board race ever
Los Angeles is days away from the finish line in the most expensive school board race in U.S. history. So it’s all about money. But what money, exactly? The $11.4 million in campaign spending? The $1.6 billion projected deficit for LA Unified? The nearly $1 billion in state funding that has left the district, as...
By Sarah Favot and Mike Szymanski | May 10, 2017
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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