Charter Schools, SpEd, Vaccine Mandates, and Other Answers

“If a child is not feeling well, then he is not learning well.”

– BD3 Candidate Richard Ramos

On Saturday, November 18, 2023, the candidates for the BD3 LAUSD School Board seat (minus no-show Elizabeth Badger) spent just under three hours answering questions from the community about the direction of the School District. The following is a summary of the questions and their answers, starting with the opening statements:

Raquel Villalta: Running to "protect the kids."

Andreas Farmakalidis: "Music has a rightful place in education."

Janie Dam: Wants to bring the lessons of charter schools to public schools.

Richard Ramos: Sees himself in students. The "sense of hope is diminished. We need the courage to fight." Need to challenge Primary Promise.

Dan Chang: Running to bring change, but did not specify what that change would be.

Scott Schmerelson: Kids are the same no matter where you go. His goal is to "Push for excellence in education."

• The LAUSD has an $18.8 billion budget that must be approved by the LAUSD School Board. How would your experience ensure that you understand this complicated document before voting on it?

Raquel Villalta: Served on her child’s school site council. Claims the district is running at a deficit. Would improve the public’s access to the budget.

(Author’s note: From Jacobin: “The LAUSD ended the 2020–21 school year with an $800 million surplus and the 2021–22 school year with a $500 million surplus. It is poised to end the current 2022–23 school year with an incredible $1.5 billion surplus.”)

Andreas Farmakalidis: Has managed the budgets for multiple Chambers of Commerce. Is a business owner. Noted that much of the funding for COVID is expiring. He would seek alternative sources of funding like grants.

Janie Dam: Her experience as a mother and teacher is most important but she was previously a business attorney and is familiar with corporate budgeting. As an attorney, she prosecuted financial crimes.

Byron Gutierrez: Has an MBA and managed division-level budgets at major companies. Hard to decipher what the district presents, the District seems to "move money from one bucket to another without transparency.”

Richard Ramos: Concern about how money is spent. Why are we using vendors outside our own communities instead of using our budgets to support and grow our communities? Why are we paying an outside organization for tutoring when we could be using High School students? Has managed schoolwide budgets.

Dan Chang: Has managed multi-million dollar budgets. Will focus on getting more funding.

Scott Schmerelson: Broke down the budget categories for the District: salaries, supplies, and capital outlays. Meets with the District’s financial team monthly and says that they are “tricky people.”

(Author’s note: It was disappointing that none of the candidates mentioned consulting with an expert in budgeting who is independent of the District’s staff.)

• Crime and Safety

Scott Schmerelson: In favor of School Police at schools. Only school police run into the problems. Continues to fight for the School Police.

Dan Chang: Highlighted the incident at Van Nuys High School. The administration of schools has their hands tied and is prevented from removing the "few bad students." Believes in the effectiveness of restorative justice.

Richard Ramos: A loss of hope brings violence. The Board needs the courage to change policy so that school principals have the ability to suspend problem students. There should be an extension of Social Climate advocates instead of police. This is the key to reaching the most difficult students.

Byron Gutierrez: When behavior affects the school community we need to look at suspensions. Keeping kids safe is foundational.

Janie Dam: Opposed to guns. Refers to the current situation as "Divorce Court schools." Parents and professional educators need to work together. Data is important.

Andreas Farmakalidis: Addressing mental health is an important component in solving this problem but only 18% of that budget has been used. We need to spend more on policing our schools.

Raquel Villalta: Stands with School Police. Violence is a consequence of "Defund the Police." If the School Board is protected by police so should the students.

• Students in some schools receive special education services in stairwells and closets because PROP-39 was used to take away their classrooms. It was recently revealed that, contrary to what school communities have been told for years, treating space without a rostered teacher as “empty” is not the law, but a choice the LAUSD Charter School Division made. How would you ensure that children in public schools are not harmed when space is allocated to charter schools?

Andreas Farmakalidis: We need transparency. Supports all models of schools, what matters is quality.

Raquel Villalta: Charter schools play a significant role in educating our students. Parents should be put in charge.

Scott Schmerelson: Has never been more disappointed than when he learned the "great lie." “Every one of us on the Board was shocked. Visiting co-located schools, one side had brand new furniture while the LAUSD school had a "mish-mosh" of furniture from the 50's.

Dan Chang: No school should have to teach Special Education students in a closet. Facilities need to be shared equally. We need to make all co-locations work.

Richard Ramos: We need to push back. LAUSD students should have first dibs at District facilities. Let's be fair to students in traditional LAUSD schools.

Byron Gutierrez: This problem is a symptom of mismanagement. The District should have built more facilities.

Janie Dam: PROP-39 was voted on by the voters. The proposition says that every child has a right to public facilities. We should convent empty office space to school facilities.

(Author’s note: PROP-39 was primarily focused on lowering the threshold needed to pass school bond measures. The portion that allows privately operated charter schools to take space from their public school counterparts was a provision added in to gain the support of the charter school industry. )

• In June Saticoy Elementary faced violent protests for holding a Pride Month assembly where a book was read that stated “Some children have two mummies or two daddies.” Does the District have an obligation to be inclusive to all types of families?

Byron Gutierrez: Referenced his Los Angeles Times Editorial which called for ensuring that “every school has access to a full-time nurse and psychologist.” Blamed "Problem Students "on lack of parent engagement.

Richard Ramos: Compared what happened at Saticoy to what Ruby Bridges experienced; adults making kids feel unwelcome at school. No children should be excluded. We need to be respectful of students and Civil Rights. We're in the 21st Century.

Dan Chang: As a teacher, his first job is to ensure that every student is respected. Children learn when they feel respected, included, and loved. Welcomes a conversation with any parent who questions why we have these policies.

Scott Schmerelson: Revealed that Saticoy’s principal received death threats. Was at the school, read the book, and thought "This is what people are getting crazy about?'' This is a different world. Kids need to learn about other people and to respect them.

Raquel Villalta: As a teacher, she loved every one of her students. These topics are for family discussion, not for schools. Claimed Saticoy protesters were attacked.

Andreas Farmakalidis: LAUSD should respect everyone including those with differing beliefs.

Janie Dam: Conflict is the price of diversity and it is worth the price. The District needs to do a better job of letting people know what their opt-out rights are.

• The Citizens of the World Charter School is embroiled in a controversy over alleged anti-Semitism by school staff. During the last election, the California Charter School Association’s (CCSA) political arm engaged in a campaign against the incumbent that many considered to be anti-Semitic. As a school board member, how would you combat the rising levels of hate in our society, including against the Jewish people?

Richard Ramos: Poverty is contributing to rising levels of hate. Talks to the parents of students at his school and they say "I don't let my kid come out of the apartment" because it is not safe. Hope is provided by education and challenges hate, it challenges anti-Semitism and it challenges anti-black rhetoric. By confronting poverty we remove fuel for hate.

Dan Chang: The school environment needs to be one where every student is made to feel safe. The District needs to do its part to stop anti-Semitism and take a strong stand.

Scott Schmerelson: “Ignorance is the enemy and education is the solution.” An ethnic studies curriculum is being developed. You gain compassion for others when you learn about your history.

Raquel Villalta: It is our job and our duty to protect Jewish students; all students.

Andreas Farmakalidis: Zero tolerance for hate. We should partner with outside organizations to provide lessons to students.

Janie Dam: Would promote “schoolwide social contracts.”

Byron Gutierrez: People need to feel safe at school and anti-Semitism is unacceptable. Educate people on why we are where we are now. How are ethnic studies going to solve anything?

(Author’s note: It was disappointing that all the candidates, including those supporting the Charter School Industry, failed to call out CCSA’s acts of anti-Semitism during the 2020 election.)

• Despite the District’s data and anecdotal evidence from teachers, parents, and students showing that Primary Promise was highly successful at increasing early literacy, it was eliminated by Superintendent Carvalho without public discussion. As a Board Member, how would you ensure there are opportunities for the public to provide input before these types of decisions are made?

Dan Chang: Good example of the relationship between Superintendent and Board Members. As a Board Member, it will be “my Job, to hold the Superintendent accountable."

Scott Schmerelson: Agrees with Dan. Sent out a questionnaire to principals to find out how the replacement program is performing. “Primary Promise was a great program, but not as many kids were being helped."

Raquel Villalta: Claims that public schools are failing. Primary Promise was highly effective. Successful programs should not be defunded.

Andreas Farmakalidis: We need to understand why the program was eliminated. The Board should collaborate with the superintendent for long-term planning.

Janie Dam: Cannot believe the program was cut. All stakeholders should have been involved in decisions like these.

Byron Gutierrez: Primary Promise was clearly working, it should have been maintained. Every student deserves an IEP.

Richard Ramos: Primary Promise was working but it was not only the program, it was the professional development that went along with it. "The Board of Education is the boss of the Superintendent."

• There are students attending school in the district who are either medically fragile or who have members of their family who are. Under what circumstances would you re-implement masking protocols?

Janie Dam: Schools need to do what public health professionals decide.

Byron Gutierrez: People should have the option. We cannot force people to abide by these protocols

Richard Ramos: Conflicted about the process of the closure and bringing people back who were unvaccinated. We need to study the actions we took so we know what to do in the future. Would not bring back masks if it was not mandated by the county.

Scott Schmerelson: Follow the lead of the county. People should not be harassed for deciding to mask.

Raquel Villalta: Opposes forcing kids to wear a mask. The District failed families by closing schools.

Andreas Farmakalidis: The Government should lead the decision-making. Better ventilation should be pursued.

• Question from the audience about CPR Training.

Raquel Villalta: The District should invest more in training.

Andreas Farmakalidis: Favors training and assessment of existing programs.

Janie Dam: CPR is important. If the District can afford legal settlements, it can afford training.

Byron Gutierrez: Staff should get a bonus if they are trained. "Our job is to educate students." How does providing health care services "help education?"

Richard Ramos: AEDs are inspected yearly. This should be part of professional development.

Dan Chang: All teachers should be trained in CPR.

Scott Schmerelson: Everyone on campus should know where the emergency equipment is.

• Question from the audience about music improving reading and math scores. Would the candidate support daily instruction?

Scott Schmerelson: Art is not an extra. These classes help keep kids in school. Will bring this question back to the Board.

Dan Chang: Make it easier for outside organizations to come into schools.

Richard Ramos: Kids run to music electives. Instituted Mariachi programs at the schools he has led.

Byron Gutierrez: Never any money for these classes, but how much are we spending on consultants?

Janie Dam: She does not just love the arts, she respects the arts. Brings people together. PROP-28 funds are being siphoned off for administrative costs.

Andreas Farmakalidis: Music saved his life by moving him out of Special Education.

Raquel Villalta: Music helps with academics and emotional development. Suggested prerecording lessons for weekly sessions.

• Question from the audience about community schools. Are there any negatives and how would you protect parental rights?

Raquel Villalta: We do not have the funds to provide wrap-around services. Bring in outside organizations. Will not help kids with academics.

Andreas Farmakalidis: Has benefits and challenges. Complications in implementation. We should focus on education, our main priority.

Janie Dam: Afraid that community schools are viewed as a one-size-fits-all approach. The entire community has to agree on the model. Suggested that implementation was catering to unions.

(Author’s note: This was a strange answer considering Dr. Dam began the evening by stating that she was focused on social justice.)

Byron Gutierrez: This is tilting at windmills. Focus on what you are supposed to do: education. This is diverting resources from where we have to be focused.

Richard Ramos: His school just voted to become a community school. If a child is not feeling well, then he is not learning well.

Dan Chang: Community schools have the highest academic results. Would love to see more.

Scott Schmerelson: You have to care about kids to be a board member. Most of our kids are really suffering and need wrap-around services.

• Question from the audience about vaccine mandates.

Raquel Villalta: She is a bold warrior for freedom, faith, and Constitutional rights. The COVID-19 vaccine was not studied before approval.

(Author’s note: One of these things is not like the other. The First Amendment guarantees a separation of church and state, including school boards. Also, the vaccine was tested prior to being given emergency authorization and continued to be monitored during this time.)

Scott Schmerelson: The District was making decisions in a time of great stress.

Dan Chang: There was a religious exemption for the LAUSD’s vaccine mandate. He supported the vaccine mandate. Does wish that the schools had opened sooner.

Richard Ramos: We were in no-man’s land. The effects of COVID-19 were real.

Byron Gutierrez: Questioned if the mandate complied with the Nuremberg Code’s prohibition on human testing without voluntary consent.

(Author’s note: As already noted, the COVID-19 vaccine was tested prior to approval. Furthermore, equating a public health mandate with the atrocities committed by doctors at Nazi concentration camps diminishes the horror experienced by millions in these camps.)

Janie Dam: She is 1000% in support of medical freedom and religious freedom. The District moved too slowly in reviewing these policies.

Andreas Farmakalidis: Supports Individual freedom and medical freedom.

• Closing statements:

Scott Schmerelson: This will be his last term. Two big remaining priorities: Black Student Achievement and Community Schools.

Dan Chang: Cut bureaucracy downtown, empower local schools, and reduce mandates

Richard Ramos: He is the fighter that BD3 needs. ”The LAUSD broke my family's cycle of poverty. I want to fight so every student has that opportunity"

Byron Gutierrez: We need to embrace change.

Janie Dam: Wants to be a Board member so she can be a louder voice for social justice and parity.

Andreas Farmakalidis: "Arts saved my life." Fighting for "true change."

Raquel Villalta: I am in it for the love of children and love of education. Is against Black Student Achievement. Community schools are a road to Communism. Ethnic studies promote division.

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Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD’s District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him “a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles.” For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.