School District Race Is Starting To Get Crowded

“My experience separates me from others who are running for Board District 3 and makes me hopeful that we can be the country's premier district together through building consensus and making strategic decisions”

– Richard Ramos

With a majority on the LAUSD School Board of just one vote, supporters of public education have no room for error in next year's elections. They currently hold three of the four odd-numbered board districts that will be on the ballot next year and losing any of them without defeating Tanya Ortiz Franklin will hand control of the Board back to the charter school industry.

As election day gets closer, most of the attention, and money, will probably be focused on Board District 5, which will be an open seat with incumbent Jackie Goldberg's retirement. However, there should be room for some fireworks in the other races, especially since supporters of the charter school industry are expected to dump millions of dollars in the races to defeat anyone who has not given total support to these publicly funded private schools.

It was not a surprise when the first candidate to challenge Board District 3’s Scott Schmerelson was revealed to be an employee of Granada Hills Charter School. Following in the footsteps of Marilyn Koziatek, Testing Coordinator Dr. Janie Dam, represents another attempt by the charter school to punish Schmerelson for being the only vote to deny their request to expand the charter school to grades TK through 12. Deviation from total support will not be tolerated.

Dr. Dam will not be the only privatization candidate vying for a place on the ballot since Dan Chang, a founder of Great Public Schools Los Angeles and a charter school industry supporter, has also filed with the LA City Ethics Commission. In past elections, Chang directed at least $100,000 in spending in favor of Alex Johnson, a protege of Mark Ridley-Thomas. He was also responsible for spending more than $143,000 in an attempt to protect Tamar Galatzan in the election where she was unseated by Schmerelson. On June 6, 2023, I sent emails to the addresses that Chang filed with the Ethics Commission, asking for an introductory comment, but as of the publication of this article, I have not heard back from him.

Richard Ramos is the most recent entrant in the race. When asked to tell readers a little bit about himself and his positions he provided the following statement (published as provided):

“Been with district for 27 years as teacher aide, teacher, instructional coach, Title 1/English Learner Coordiantor and elementary and middle school principal. Currently serve at Northridge Middle School.”

When asked if there is anything that he would say sets him apart from the incumbent he responded with the following (published as provided):

“The following separates me from the other candidates.

I am the only candidate running with the following:

1. I am on the front lines as a sitting principal bearing witness to how LAUSD handled the response to the California fires that impacted Valley Schools and the COVID-19 pandemic. Having been tasked with taking our middle school from brick-and-mortar learning to online in a matter of days with the support of our teachers, staff, scholars, and families was a monumental feat for all our school personnel. My knowledge of the current district systems positions me to hit the ground and tackle pressing educational issues.

2. My wife Irene works as a psychologist, my daughter Katrina is a school administrative assistant, my son-in-law is a plant manager, my nephew is a building and grounds worker, and yes, all of us work for LAUSD, and we are LAUSD Alum. Further, my grandchildren Ariana 7, and Mikaela, 5, attend a Valley LAUSD elementary school. We are truly homegrown San Fernando Valley natives, we love and support LAUSD.

3. I have experience as a former elected official, having served as City of San Fernando Councilmember in 1999, giving me working knowledge of how government systems work.

4. I was recently selected as Cahn Fellow for distinguished principals where we get to work alongside professors from Columbia Teachers College, a program funded to nurture principals nationwide.

5. In my first principal job at Haddon Elementary in Pacoima, I used my organizer skills to coalesce a faction of Parent Revolution towards supporting significant changes in what would become Haddon STEAM Magnet and Academy.

6. At my current middle school, I led the charge to bring Career Technical Education electives and founding a second magnet option for parents with the Liberal Arts Magnet for aspiring students seeking to become educators. Our first Magnet School, the Medical Health Magnet, has received the Magnet Schools of America School of Distinction Award for three consecutive years.

7. Lastly, my parents, who came to the USA with a 3rd and 6th-grade education, positioned me with an understanding to advocate for those that do not have a voice at the table where decisions are made about the future of LAUSD and their children. I am a passionate advocate, and my mission throughout my 27 years with LAUSD has been to serve our scholars, families, and staff.

My experience separates me from others who are running for Board District 3 and makes me hopeful that we can be the country's premier district together through building consensus and making strategic decisions.”

With a growing list of competitors, Schmerelson is going to have his work cut out for him during this campaign season. As a former principal, he should be particularly worried that Ramos is challenging him from where his support has been the strongest in the past.

Schmerleson has already proven in past elections that he believes in the importance of public education, but have his actions been enough to motivate his base for another election? His failure to take the lead in the fight to save Primary Promise or to pass protections for children with moderate to severe Special Education needs leaves him vulnerable and time is running out to change course.

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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.