Ref Rodriguez and Scott Mark Schmerelson will join the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education July 1, replacing Bennett Kayser and Tamar Galatzan, while Richard Vladovic will begin his third term.
Rodriguez, the founder of a chain of charter schools known as Partnership to Uplift Communities, defeated Kayser, 53.55 percent-46.44 percent in Tuesday’s election in District 5, according to unofficial results released by the City Clerk’s Office.
Kayser, who has generally opposed charter schools, drew fire from the California Charter School Association, which put its financial might behind Rodriguez.
A former teacher and technology coordinator for the district’s Independent Studies program, Kayser had the backing of the powerful United Teachers Los Angeles union. According to the Los Angeles Times, UTLA spent about $800,000 in support of Kayser, but the Charter School Association invested about $1.8 million against him and in support of Rodriguez.
Rodriguez finished first in the March primary election but fell short of the 50 percent of the vote needed to unseat Kayser.
District 5 includes Eagle Rock, Boyle Heights, Bell, Cudahy, Los Feliz and Huntington Park
Schmerelson, a retired LAUSD teacher and principal, defeated incumbent Tamar Galatzan, a deputy Los Angeles city attorney, 54.61 percent-45.38 percent in the San Fernando Valley’s District 3.
Galatzan also had the support of the California Charter Association. Schmerelson had the backing of UTLA, which spent more than $440,000 on his behalf, The Times reported.
Galatzan congratulated Schmerelson on the victory and said she was proud of what the board accomplished over the past eight years “during difficult financial times.”
“I was an advocate for students before being elected to the school board,” she said. “I am an advocate for students as a board members and I will continue advocating on their behalf long after my time on the board.”
Vladovic defeated teacher Lydia Gutierrez, 55.91 percent-44.08 percent in District 7, which includes the Harbor area and reaches into South Los Angeles.
UTLA officials hailed the election of Schmerelson and re-election of Vladovic.
“UTLA is ready to work with all school board members in our fight for the Schools LA Students Deserve,” according to a union statement. “We have made progress in the past months, including securing a contract with the district that for the first time sets class size caps, addresses counselor-to- student ratios, improves learning and working conditions and offers employees fair compensation.”
—City News Service