Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
Meet LA’s New School Board Member: Tanya Ortiz Franklin To Be Sworn In Today
Tanya Ortiz Franklin is running to represent South L.A. and San Pedro in LAUSD Board District 7. (Courtesy of the Ortiz Franklin campaign)
The newest member of the Los Angeles Unified School Board will take her oath of office today.
Tanya Ortiz Franklin won last month’s election for the open LAUSD seat in District 7, which covers South L.A. and several South Bay communities. She’s replacing termed-out incumbent Richard Vladovic.
Franklin’s victory was politically important because it denied LAUSD’s teachers union the chance to install a majority on the board.
Deep-pocketed supporters of charter schools funded a huge ad campaign in support of Franklin, although she doesn’t have much of a history with charters. She’s a former Teach for America member who left teaching to earn a law degree. Franklin then went on to become an administrator for the Partnership for L.A. Schools, which operates several LAUSD campuses on the district’s behalf.
Three other incumbent board members will also be sworn in for new, four-year terms today: Jackie Goldberg, George McKenna and Scott Schmerelson — who won an especially expensive re-election battle for his seat in the West San Fernando Valley.
Last month, I shared a few thoughts about what the LAUSD election results could mean. You can also learn more about where Franklin stands from her pre-election Q&A with us.
By the way, school board members will also choose a new board president on Tuesday. The title doesn’t come with much extra power — but it is often a good sign of which way the LAUSD political winds are blowing.
Sponsored message
READ MORE:
- Early Results Of LAUSD’s Most Expensive School Board Election Ever: What Do They Mean?
- LA School Board Election 2020 Candidate Q&A: Tanya Ortiz Franklin
- A Field Guide To 2020's Super-Expensive, Bitterly Fought LAUSD School Board Elections
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
