Jackie Goldberg, a major figure in Los Angeles politics and education since the 1980s, will continue to lead the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education in 2024 as she serves her final term on the governing body.
Goldberg served as school board president in 2023 and was reelected unanimously by the board on Tuesday, Dec. 12. The experienced politician represents Northeast Los Angeles in Board District 5 and plans to retire when her current term expires in December 2024.
Scott Schmerelson, who represents District 3 in the San Fernando Valley, was reelected vice president.
“This has been an extraordinary year and I think we’re about to have another couple of extraordinary years because of changes in funding from ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund) and new laws from Sacramento, but this board I believe has the opportunity, and has already taken that opportunity, to work collaboratively,” said Goldberg. “Whether we agree or not on every issue has become unimportant in the fact that this is a collaborative board.”
In September 2024 pandemic-era federal funding allocated to the district, under a program called ESSER, will expire. The funding totaled $5.6 billion and currently supports the salaries of more than 1,800 school employees. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho recently said the district has enacted a temporary targeted hiring freeze to help offset the coming loss.
Finding ways to pay those salaries next fall is a major challenge the school board will have to navigate, but Goldberg did not appear daunted.
“As I start my final year on this board, I appreciate the support of all of you and I appreciate your vote of confidence.” she said. “I am very proud to represent all of you as president, thank you so much.”
Carvalho expressed confidence in the board’s ability to meet its goals, noting recent success in improving student attendance rates. He also cited LAUSD’s strategic plans to…
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