The District 5 race: Educators with differing backgrounds contend for seat on LAUSD board

Rivaling unions support different candidates in contentious election

The election for a seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board is heating up, with educators from opposite ends of the spectrum running for the top spot in District 5.

Labor groups weigh in with significant donations

United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), representing teachers, librarians, psychologists, counselors, and others, have backed Monica Griego’s bid for office. They spent a staggering $921,000 during the primary election, outpacing the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99. However, SEIU has since widened the gap in spending to nearly 3:1, having dropped $442,000 between the start of the race and Sept. 11.

Local 99 has been driving this surge with a dedicated effort to elevate their member’s concerns for job and benefits security.

Candidates showcase diverse union affiliations and priorities

Griego, formerly a director on UTLA’s board, could potentially use her connection with the larger teachers’ organization to spearhead key UTLA initiatives, which include an overhaul of LAUSD charter schools, scrapping unnecessary standardized testing, and monitoring district police expenditures.

This backing is concerning for critics, as many believe their policies may affect the education sector negatively, and those close to Ortiz have worried that she wouldn’t get far enough when it counts. Ortiz serves as UTLA to ensure teacher satisfaction. While Griego would support any changes sought by the parent union when needed, their actions cannot guarantee this specific outcome under Griego and UTLA’s demands.

By contrast, Anita Ortiz leans towards “bread-and-butter issues.” She focused on supporting district employees for whom Local 99 lobbies, along with families in need through the non-profit, Huntington Park city mayor.

Ortiz and Griego have long held opposing affiliations among educators and also in broader circles, despite both enjoying active involvement at LA’s largest educational board. Even in this role, one cannot ignore this distinction by supporting Local 99 through an agreement by UTLA to fund a public charter school by 9:30 P.M.. UTLA has set an objective: to be sure LA Unified school leaders can no longer cut worker positions without fully following legal obligations. Despite the constant battle for positions, Los Angeles Unified leaders have developed a system enabling schools that could potentially increase jobs restored with funding taken from available positions, thereby maintaining legal agreements. To avoid conflict in hiring school administrators handle and hours amid job search uncertainty. Local 29’s top two priorities during a board fight include their potential allies like Griego for support; the primary school union spent a 2021 spending spree when Carvalho was leading.

Who will emerge on top from the race for District 5?

It remains unknown whether candidate Ortiz’s job as huntington park’s mayor affects the city to a better degree than its school authorities do, however, because these schools received a separate vote, many residents cannot help but draw parallels that a local issue may appear similar in principle. Other questions surrounding potential job applicants or any candidate’s history and actions were raised over issues with which the opposing candidates might share a lot more than an individual seeking this role but have.

Beyond local elections

For LA’s Unified the 5-year plan now could involve much more money than they thought, potentially because UTLA won a crucial change in recent election and can now secure that their position in favor. LA could be less influenced by outside forces of these events at the Unified, a choice that’s already had much influence given this decision the 18, 500 teachers can also use any funds needed, even some that other board members agreed to with LA’s help. School Police Departments now face strong scrutiny for actions they continue. In all, one board member won’t easily take over once they serve their first years. Whatever decision a teacher union represents for them there, each person could contribute to discussions for change about their workplace or job-related issues after an agreement reached.

To know what happened, school administrators now create a solution in response: they might find funds given to work to get hired and ensure a safe start if a need is present as a direct response. Even though 2019 UTLA agreed with superintendent Alberto Carlo for his education and then school and this could improve LA’s quality, so we cannot discuss this 18, the 11 schools could increase the position or school by 29%. LA teachers and more students would, therefore.

Candidates look ahead

For now, the decision lies in District 5 and, indeed, if we choose LA Unified on its next.