Money doesn't always buy a seat in Los Angeles, but it sure tries. People expected the 2024 LA school board election results to be a massive, tectonic shift for the nation’s second-largest school district. There was a lot of talk about "flipping the board" or finally breaking the union's grip on policy. Honestly, that didn't happen.
Instead, the status quo basically dug in its heels. United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) didn't just survive the cycle; they tightened their grip. If you were looking for a charter-friendly revolution, you're probably pretty disappointed right now.
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The Big Three: Who Actually Won?
We had three seats on the ballot—Districts 1, 3, and 5. These weren't just random neighborhood races. They were high-stakes battles over how billions of dollars get spent and whether charter schools get to keep sharing space with traditional campuses.
In District 1, Sherlett Hendy Newbill basically cruised to victory. She replaced the retiring George McKenna, which makes sense because she was his advisor. She knows the building, she knows the players, and she won with a massive 71% of the vote. Her opponent, Kahllid Al-Alim, had a rough go after some old social media posts surfaced, and he never really recovered.
Then you have District 3, which was the real nail-biter. This was the West San Fernando Valley's chance to change things up. Incumbent Scott Schmerelson faced off against Dan Chang. Chang had big backing from charter school advocates. He wanted to shake things up. For a minute, it looked close. But Schmerelson—a former principal who’s been around forever—held on. He ended up winning by about 3 percentage points. It’s a narrow win, but in politics, a win is a win.
Finally, District 5 saw Karla Griego take the win. She’s a special education teacher and a hardcore union activist. She beat out Graciela Ortiz with about 61% of the vote. Griego is replacing Jackie Goldberg, a legend in LA politics, and it looks like she’s going to be just as much of a powerhouse for the labor side of things.
Why the Charter School War Isn't Over
You might think that because the union-backed candidates won, the "charter vs. district" debate is settled. Nope. It’s just getting more intense.
Last February, the board voted 4-3 to limit where charter schools can "co-locate." Basically, they said charters can't just take over space in buildings that serve high-needs students or special programs. Dan Chang’s whole platform in District 3 was about reversing that. Since he lost, that 4-3 majority is now likely a 5-2 or even 6-1 majority depending on the issue.
- Co-location struggles: Charters are legally entitled to space under Proposition 39, but the board is making it way harder to find that space.
- Funding fights: With enrollment dropping—LAUSD is down to about 428,000 students from a peak of over 700,000—the fight over every single "ADA" (Average Daily Attendance) dollar is brutal.
- Accountability: Expect more scrutiny on how charters are run and whether they’re actually serving the same demographics as the neighborhood schools next door.
The "Invisible" Victory: Measure US
While everyone was watching the names on the ballot, a massive $9 billion bond measure called Measure US was also at play. It passed. This is huge.
It’s the seventh time since 1997 that LA voters have said "yes" to a school bond. We're talking about serious cash for fixing leaky roofs, getting rid of lead pipes, and finally installing air conditioning in gyms that feel like ovens in September. People complain about the district, but they still seem to trust it with their tax dollars when it comes to infrastructure.
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What This Means for Your Kids
If you’re a parent in LAUSD, the 2024 results mean you’re going to see a continued focus on "Community Schools." This is the union’s big project. Instead of just being a place for math and English, schools are turning into hubs for healthcare, mental health support, and after-school programs.
Karla Griego and Sherlett Hendy Newbill have both been very vocal about the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP). They want more money for social workers and mentors rather than school police. If you were hoping for a return to more traditional campus security, you're likely out of luck. The board is moving in the opposite direction.
The Realities of Declining Enrollment
The elephant in the room that nobody likes to talk about? The district is shrinking. Fast.
When schools lose students, they lose money. When they lose money, they start talking about "consolidations"—which is just a fancy word for closing schools. This board is going to have to make some incredibly unpopular decisions in the next two years. They won their seats with union backing, but the union hates school closures. It’s a collision course.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Results
A lot of folks think the LA school board election results are just about local politics. They aren't. LA is a bellwether for the rest of the country.
When LAUSD moves toward a "community school" model and away from school police, other big districts like Chicago and New York take notes. When LAUSD restricts charter schools, it sets a precedent that other boards try to follow. This wasn't just a win for three individuals; it was a win for a specific philosophy of public education that prioritizes labor rights and social services over market-based competition.
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Practical Next Steps for Parents and Residents
The election is over, but the work is just starting. If you want to actually have an impact now that the seats are filled, here is what you should do:
- Find your Board District: Don't just assume you know who represents you. The boundaries changed recently. Use the LAUSD "Find My District" tool to be sure.
- Attend a "Coffee with the Board Member" event: Newbill and Griego are both big on "relational organizing." They actually show up to neighborhood meetings. Go to one.
- Watch the Budget Hearings: Now that Measure US passed, the board has $9 billion to play with. Watch the meetings to see if your local school is actually on the list for repairs.
- Join the SSC or ELAC: Every school has a School Site Council. It’s the most direct way to influence how money is spent at your specific campus.
The faces at the dais might be new, but the problems—falling enrollment, aging buildings, and the charter divide—are older than the kids in the classrooms. Stay loud, because the next two years are going to be a wild ride for LA education.
Actionable Insight: Check the LAUSD Board of Education website for the schedule of upcoming "Committee of the Whole" meetings. These are where the real policy debates happen before they ever get to a final vote. Showing up or submitting a public comment is often more effective than an angry tweet.