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Scott Schmerelson reelected to LAUSD school board
LAUSD board member Scott Schmerelson has won a third term representing the West San Fernando Valley's Board District 3.
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Courtesy Scott Schmerelson
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Topline:
Former principal Scott Schmerelson will retain his seat on the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education, representing Board District 3 in the West San Fernando Valley.
His opponent: Middle school math teacher Dan Chang conceded Wednesday morning and thanked his supporters in an email. “Our volunteers knocked on over 22,000 doors. We made thousands of calls and sent hundreds of thousands of text messages,” Chang wrote. “We did it with all the heart and effort we could muster. Thank you for making this campaign possible.”
Big campaign spending: Outside funders, including charter school backers, spent more than $5 million supporting Chang’s campaign — more than double the funding Schmerelson supporters mustered.
What's next: Schmerelson told LAist before the election that his top priorities for his third term include student safety and helping schools get resources to repair and update their facilities. “I've been working at schools all of my life,” he said. “I'm so happy to be able to help my schools on an individual basis… I work with principals to help them get things that they need for their schools. I just love my schools.”
The new board: Schmerelson's victory means two of the three open seats on LAUSD's board are now filled. Dorsey High educator Sherlett Hendy Newbill secured BD1 last week. In BD5, the race between Karla Griego and Graciela 'Grace' Ortiz continues, although Griego has held a sizable lead since election results started coming in on Nov. 5.
Go deeper on the LAUSD elections: Voters support school funding measures, union-backed candidates lead LAUSD board races
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