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What is the LAUSD school board and how can you hold its members accountable?

πŸ“° LAist πŸ• June 16, 2026 at 2:12 PM
An illustration with a blue background a Latina woman standing at a podium speaking towards a figure sitting at a dais and around her within shapes are various vignettes of children in a classroom, ICE coming to a school, a skyline against mountains, windmills, and various flags.
L.A. is the largest city in the country in which the mayor has no direct control over the school board. School board members have a lot of power.(Olivia Hughes / LAist)

More than 400,000 students attend traditional public and charter schools in Los Angeles Unified, the second-largest district in the nation. LAUSD runs the schools in several other cities in L.A. County, too, such as West Hollywood and South Gate.

The district is also the county’s second largest employer with more than 83,000 educators, administrators, substitutes and support staff on its payroll.

LAUSD doesn’t fit neatly into “city” or “county” categories. Although it’s enshrined in the L.A. City Charter, LAUSD operates independently of City Hall. That’s why you elect school board members directly. That also makes L.A. the largest city in the country in which the mayor has no direct control over the school board.

What can the school board do?

School board members have a lot of power. Among other things, school board members:

  • Hire, fire and evaluate the superintendent. While the school board sets policy, the superintendent manages day-to-day LAUSD operations. The board placed current superintendent Alberto Carvalho on paid administrative leave and appointed Andres Chait, a longtime administrator, acting superintendent in February.
  • Pass an $18.8 billion budget and decide how it will be distributed.
  • Work with parents and resolve disputes over schools, facilities and budgets.
  • Vote on every charter school that hopes to open in L.A. (The board doesn’t oversee day-to-day operations for independent charters; these campuses are run by separate, nonprofit organizations with a separate board.)

You might recognize the board’s work from:

How much money do school board members make?Β 

A committee appointed by local politicians sets the salary and benefits for LAUSD board members.

As of July 2025, LAUSD school board members receive:

  • $52,000 if they have another source of employment income.Β 
  • $130,000 if they do not have another source of employment income.Β 

These salaries increase 1% annually through July 2027.

Before 2017, the board’s pay was based on starting teacher salaries at the time, about $45,000 a year.

Nine people sit at a curved light brown wood dais. From left to right there is a woman with dark skin tone, dark brown hair and a red jacket, a woman with medium light skin tone and dark brown curly hair, a man with light skin tone, light brown hair and a beard, a man with medium skin tone wearing a navy blue suit with a tie and white shirt, a man with light skin tone, white hair, and glasses in an olive green sport coat, a man with dark brown hair, a mustache and a blue sport coat with a brown tie, a woman with medium light skin tone, dark brown hair and a red dress, a woman with medium light skin tone and a black blazer and a teenage girl with a dark brown long hair and a black polka dot shirt on. There is a logo on the dais that reads LA.
The Los Angeles Unified School District Board on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (Mariana Dale / LAist)

When do I want to bring something to the board’s attention?

San Fernando Valley mom Roxann Nazario has spent years advocating for her children’s education and on behalf of others in the community.

She said the first person to talk to about your child’s education is their teacher, but if you don’t feel like your question or problem is being addressed, reach out to the principal and other school staff. Then try the regional superintendents β€” find your region here and the contact information for who’s in charge here.

β€œThere’s a chain of command and you have to work your way all the way up,” Nazario said.

To contact the board member who represents your local school or neighborhood (more on how to find them below), you’ll likely first speak to someone who works for their office.

While there’s no guarantee that a board member can or will solve the problem at your individual school, board members LAist has interviewed often pride themselves on listening to and intervening at the local level.

If your goal is to draw wider public attention to an issue β€” or success β€” at your child’s school, you might consider attending a board meeting.

The board also has several committees. These meetings are an opportunity to learn more about specific topics and weigh in on policy development, but major decisions must be voted on by the full board.

These are the 2025-2026 school year committees:

  • Charter schools
  • Children and families in early educationΒ 
  • Curriculum and instructionΒ 
  • Greening and climate resilienceΒ 
  • Procurement and facilitiesΒ 
  • Safety and school climateΒ 
  • Special educationΒ 
  • Committee of the wholeΒ 
    • This includes all board members and often previews upcoming policy decisionsΒ 

There is an opportunity to speak directly to the board, and whoever may be watching the meeting, during public comment.

Nazario suggests you watch the livestream of a meeting or attend one in person to familiarize yourself with the order of business.

Speakers must pre-register and can comment by phone or in person. They are generally limited to two minutes.

β€œDon’t be afraid to be emotional,” Nazario said. β€œDon’t be afraid to stumble over your words. Like that just shows that you’re human and you’re not scripted… . You’re a real parent just giving your story.”

While board members typically don’t answer questions or respond in the moment, they can dispatch members of their staff to meet with you about your comment. Speaking publicly can also help connect you to other parents, educators and journalists who may report on what you’ve shared.

Who is on the school board?

Board members are elected to four-year terms (with a maximum of three full terms), and represent different geographical areas.

You can also reach the entire board at boardmembers@lausd.net or by leaving a voicemail at (213) 443-4472.

District 1 Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill

  • Includes Mid City, parts of South L.A. (map)
  • Elected: 2024
  • Term expires: 2028
  • Call: 213-241-6382 (central office) 323-298-3411 (field office)
  • Email: BoardDistrict1@lausd.net
  • Social media: Instagram

District 2 Board Vice President RocΓ­o Rivas

District 3 Board President Scott Schmerelson

District 4 Board Member Nick Melvoin

District 5 Board Member Karla Griego

District 6 Board Member Kelly Gonez

District 7 Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin

How can I attend a board meeting?Β 

Check the board’s calendar for the next regular, special and committee meetings.

The board meets in person in downtown Los Angeles at 333 S. Beaudry Ave.

The board also streams its meetings online, and offers American Sign Language and Spanish interpretation.

Community members can also request interpretation in other languages by contacting the Board Secretariat at secretariat@lausd.net or (213) 241-7002.

Parking in downtown L.A. can be an adventure. We made a map, below, of district-sanctioned and unofficial lots in the area.

What challenges does the district face?

  • Balancing LAUSD’s budget: The board has adopted spending plans for the past two years that rely on billions of dollars in reserves to close the gap between expenses and revenue. School leaders say without change, the district could deplete its reserves within a few years. In February, a divided board approved the elimination of more than 650 jobs as part of a plan to cut spending. Decisions about more layoffs and school closures could be on the horizon.
  • Continuing academic improvement: LAUSD students have achieved notable gains on California’s standardized math and reading tests in recent years. Scores rose above pre-pandemic levels in the 2024-2025 school year, outpacing state growth, but the reality remains the majority of students do not meet benchmark scores for any subject. Among the most vocal parents are those of students with disabilities, who say schools failed to meet their children’s needs during distance learning.
  • Shoring up enrollment: The district’s enrollment has declined for more than two decades. There are also fewer immigrant students attending L.A. schools in the wake of the Trump Administration’s widespread immigration arrests. California uses attendance to set school funding levelsβ€” over time fewer students means a smaller multiplier for state funding.
  • School safety: How well LAUSD does or does not protect students is one of the most frequently cited topics during board meeting public comment sessions. On one side are parents who seek the restoration of school police to district campuses after the board cut that department’s annual budget by $25 million (35%) in the summer of 2020. On the other side are students who want to see a greater investment in student and community-based safety programs.
  • Chronic absenteeism: About 1-in-5 LAUSD students missed close to a month or more of school in the 2024-25 school year. While the rate of chronic absenteeism has declined from earlier pandemic highs, Black, Native American, Latino, and Pacific Islander students miss more school than their peers. A lack of transportation, access to health care, and feeling of safety could all play a role. Without consistent attendance, students lose valuable opportunities to learn, and the district loses funding that could bolster classrooms with additional resources.
  • Mental health: In various surveys and reporting, many students say their mental health suffered far more than their transcripts during the pandemic, and schools have struggled to hire enough school counselors and social workers. The school board will have to figure out how to maintain and grow mental health support for students.Β 
  • Green schools: The majority of LAUSD schools lack cool, shaded places for students to play and learn outdoors. The district has allocated tens of millions of dollars to cool campuses in recent years and estimates it could cost up to $3 billion and take decades, to reach its greening goals.

What if my child attends a charter school?

The LAUSD board’s influence on charter schools varies and in many cases, charters have boards separate from the district.

Affiliated charter schools are those operated by the district and the LAUSD board’s decisions influence their operations in a similar way to a traditional public school.

Independent charter schools are run by a separate, nonprofit organization. And day-to-day operations are overseen by a separate board, often appointed by the school’s founders or nonprofit leaders.

They might decide on everything from curriculum to hiring and student discipline.

β€œβ€ŠThe district doesn’t generally have any control over any of those local decisions, provided that those decisions are not unlawful or discriminatory,” said Ricardo Soto, chief advocacy officer and general counsel for the California Charter Schools Association.

Charter school operators oversee a much smaller staff and student body than many public school districts.

β€œIt’s much more accessible for parents or for guardians of children to attend those board meetings and to get involved,” Soto said. β€œCharter schools are really dependent on their school communities for anything to happen.”

Find out who is on the board, when they meet and how to contact them on your school’s website or by asking your child’s teacher.

πŸ”— View Original Source
← Back to News

What is the LAUSD school board and how can you hold its members accountable?

πŸ“° LAist πŸ• June 16, 2026 at 2:12 PM
An illustration with a blue background a Latina woman standing at a podium speaking towards a figure sitting at a dais and around her within shapes are various vignettes of children in a classroom, ICE coming to a school, a skyline against mountains, windmills, and various flags.
L.A. is the largest city in the country in which the mayor has no direct control over the school board. School board members have a lot of power.(Olivia Hughes / LAist)

More than 400,000 students attend traditional public and charter schools in Los Angeles Unified, the second-largest district in the nation. LAUSD runs the schools in several other cities in L.A. County, too, such as West Hollywood and South Gate.

The district is also the county’s second largest employer with more than 83,000 educators, administrators, substitutes and support staff on its payroll.

LAUSD doesn’t fit neatly into “city” or “county” categories. Although it’s enshrined in the L.A. City Charter, LAUSD operates independently of City Hall. That’s why you elect school board members directly. That also makes L.A. the largest city in the country in which the mayor has no direct control over the school board.

What can the school board do?

School board members have a lot of power. Among other things, school board members:

  • Hire, fire and evaluate the superintendent. While the school board sets policy, the superintendent manages day-to-day LAUSD operations. The board placed current superintendent Alberto Carvalho on paid administrative leave and appointed Andres Chait, a longtime administrator, acting superintendent in February.
  • Pass an $18.8 billion budget and decide how it will be distributed.
  • Work with parents and resolve disputes over schools, facilities and budgets.
  • Vote on every charter school that hopes to open in L.A. (The board doesn’t oversee day-to-day operations for independent charters; these campuses are run by separate, nonprofit organizations with a separate board.)

You might recognize the board’s work from:

How much money do school board members make?Β 

A committee appointed by local politicians sets the salary and benefits for LAUSD board members.

As of July 2025, LAUSD school board members receive:

  • $52,000 if they have another source of employment income.Β 
  • $130,000 if they do not have another source of employment income.Β 

These salaries increase 1% annually through July 2027.

Before 2017, the board’s pay was based on starting teacher salaries at the time, about $45,000 a year.

Nine people sit at a curved light brown wood dais. From left to right there is a woman with dark skin tone, dark brown hair and a red jacket, a woman with medium light skin tone and dark brown curly hair, a man with light skin tone, light brown hair and a beard, a man with medium skin tone wearing a navy blue suit with a tie and white shirt, a man with light skin tone, white hair, and glasses in an olive green sport coat, a man with dark brown hair, a mustache and a blue sport coat with a brown tie, a woman with medium light skin tone, dark brown hair and a red dress, a woman with medium light skin tone and a black blazer and a teenage girl with a dark brown long hair and a black polka dot shirt on. There is a logo on the dais that reads LA.
The Los Angeles Unified School District Board on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (Mariana Dale / LAist)

When do I want to bring something to the board’s attention?

San Fernando Valley mom Roxann Nazario has spent years advocating for her children’s education and on behalf of others in the community.

She said the first person to talk to about your child’s education is their teacher, but if you don’t feel like your question or problem is being addressed, reach out to the principal and other school staff. Then try the regional superintendents β€” find your region here and the contact information for who’s in charge here.

β€œThere’s a chain of command and you have to work your way all the way up,” Nazario said.

To contact the board member who represents your local school or neighborhood (more on how to find them below), you’ll likely first speak to someone who works for their office.

While there’s no guarantee that a board member can or will solve the problem at your individual school, board members LAist has interviewed often pride themselves on listening to and intervening at the local level.

If your goal is to draw wider public attention to an issue β€” or success β€” at your child’s school, you might consider attending a board meeting.

The board also has several committees. These meetings are an opportunity to learn more about specific topics and weigh in on policy development, but major decisions must be voted on by the full board.

These are the 2025-2026 school year committees:

  • Charter schools
  • Children and families in early educationΒ 
  • Curriculum and instructionΒ 
  • Greening and climate resilienceΒ 
  • Procurement and facilitiesΒ 
  • Safety and school climateΒ 
  • Special educationΒ 
  • Committee of the wholeΒ 
    • This includes all board members and often previews upcoming policy decisionsΒ 

There is an opportunity to speak directly to the board, and whoever may be watching the meeting, during public comment.

Nazario suggests you watch the livestream of a meeting or attend one in person to familiarize yourself with the order of business.

Speakers must pre-register and can comment by phone or in person. They are generally limited to two minutes.

β€œDon’t be afraid to be emotional,” Nazario said. β€œDon’t be afraid to stumble over your words. Like that just shows that you’re human and you’re not scripted… . You’re a real parent just giving your story.”

While board members typically don’t answer questions or respond in the moment, they can dispatch members of their staff to meet with you about your comment. Speaking publicly can also help connect you to other parents, educators and journalists who may report on what you’ve shared.

Who is on the school board?

Board members are elected to four-year terms (with a maximum of three full terms), and represent different geographical areas.

You can also reach the entire board at boardmembers@lausd.net or by leaving a voicemail at (213) 443-4472.

District 1 Board Member Sherlett Hendy Newbill

  • Includes Mid City, parts of South L.A. (map)
  • Elected: 2024
  • Term expires: 2028
  • Call: 213-241-6382 (central office) 323-298-3411 (field office)
  • Email: BoardDistrict1@lausd.net
  • Social media: Instagram

District 2 Board Vice President RocΓ­o Rivas

District 3 Board President Scott Schmerelson

District 4 Board Member Nick Melvoin

District 5 Board Member Karla Griego

District 6 Board Member Kelly Gonez

District 7 Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin

How can I attend a board meeting?Β 

Check the board’s calendar for the next regular, special and committee meetings.

The board meets in person in downtown Los Angeles at 333 S. Beaudry Ave.

The board also streams its meetings online, and offers American Sign Language and Spanish interpretation.

Community members can also request interpretation in other languages by contacting the Board Secretariat at secretariat@lausd.net or (213) 241-7002.

Parking in downtown L.A. can be an adventure. We made a map, below, of district-sanctioned and unofficial lots in the area.

What challenges does the district face?

  • Balancing LAUSD’s budget: The board has adopted spending plans for the past two years that rely on billions of dollars in reserves to close the gap between expenses and revenue. School leaders say without change, the district could deplete its reserves within a few years. In February, a divided board approved the elimination of more than 650 jobs as part of a plan to cut spending. Decisions about more layoffs and school closures could be on the horizon.
  • Continuing academic improvement: LAUSD students have achieved notable gains on California’s standardized math and reading tests in recent years. Scores rose above pre-pandemic levels in the 2024-2025 school year, outpacing state growth, but the reality remains the majority of students do not meet benchmark scores for any subject. Among the most vocal parents are those of students with disabilities, who say schools failed to meet their children’s needs during distance learning.
  • Shoring up enrollment: The district’s enrollment has declined for more than two decades. There are also fewer immigrant students attending L.A. schools in the wake of the Trump Administration’s widespread immigration arrests. California uses attendance to set school funding levelsβ€” over time fewer students means a smaller multiplier for state funding.
  • School safety: How well LAUSD does or does not protect students is one of the most frequently cited topics during board meeting public comment sessions. On one side are parents who seek the restoration of school police to district campuses after the board cut that department’s annual budget by $25 million (35%) in the summer of 2020. On the other side are students who want to see a greater investment in student and community-based safety programs.
  • Chronic absenteeism: About 1-in-5 LAUSD students missed close to a month or more of school in the 2024-25 school year. While the rate of chronic absenteeism has declined from earlier pandemic highs, Black, Native American, Latino, and Pacific Islander students miss more school than their peers. A lack of transportation, access to health care, and feeling of safety could all play a role. Without consistent attendance, students lose valuable opportunities to learn, and the district loses funding that could bolster classrooms with additional resources.
  • Mental health: In various surveys and reporting, many students say their mental health suffered far more than their transcripts during the pandemic, and schools have struggled to hire enough school counselors and social workers. The school board will have to figure out how to maintain and grow mental health support for students.Β 
  • Green schools: The majority of LAUSD schools lack cool, shaded places for students to play and learn outdoors. The district has allocated tens of millions of dollars to cool campuses in recent years and estimates it could cost up to $3 billion and take decades, to reach its greening goals.

What if my child attends a charter school?

The LAUSD board’s influence on charter schools varies and in many cases, charters have boards separate from the district.

Affiliated charter schools are those operated by the district and the LAUSD board’s decisions influence their operations in a similar way to a traditional public school.

Independent charter schools are run by a separate, nonprofit organization. And day-to-day operations are overseen by a separate board, often appointed by the school’s founders or nonprofit leaders.

They might decide on everything from curriculum to hiring and student discipline.

β€œβ€ŠThe district doesn’t generally have any control over any of those local decisions, provided that those decisions are not unlawful or discriminatory,” said Ricardo Soto, chief advocacy officer and general counsel for the California Charter Schools Association.

Charter school operators oversee a much smaller staff and student body than many public school districts.

β€œIt’s much more accessible for parents or for guardians of children to attend those board meetings and to get involved,” Soto said. β€œCharter schools are really dependent on their school communities for anything to happen.”

Find out who is on the board, when they meet and how to contact them on your school’s website or by asking your child’s teacher.

πŸ”— View Original Source
← Back to News