Carl J. Petersen
Bio
Carl Petersen is a former Green Party candidate for the LAUSD School Board and a longtime advocate for public education and special needs families. Now based in Washington State, he writes about politics, culture, and their intersections.
Stories (315)
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How To Flex A School Board Majority
“We must hold the Superintendent accountable…” – LAUSD School Board Member-elect Karla Griego When the dust settled after Tuesday’s election it was already clear that Sherlett Hendy Newbill would be the next representative for BD1. Since then her lead has only increased and Newbill now has 52,357 more votes than her opponent, parent activist Kahllid A. Al-Alim.
By Carl J. Petersenabout a year ago in Education
Good News For Los Angeles Public Schools?
“In a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.” – Alexis de Tocqueville The Charter School Industry spent an obscene amount of money trying to reclaim control of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board. Backed by billionaires like Bill Bloomfield, supporters of these publicly financed private schools poured at least $6.127 million into campaigns that supported Dan Chang in BD3 and Graciela Ortiz in BD5. They just needed a win by one of these candidates to achieve a majority on the seven-member board.
By Carl J. Petersenabout a year ago in Education
One Final Set Of Answers, Part 2
“In a time of growing climate crisis, our schools are in dire need to have their facilities upgraded to withstand higher temperatures and create more green space where students can stay cool and learn about our environment in hands-on ways.” – Karla Griego
By Carl J. Petersenabout a year ago in Education
Make The Truth Great Again
“We are a nation in decline. We are a failed nation.” – Donald Trump “The United States of America is the greatest idea humanity ever devised, a nation big enough to encompass all our dreams, strong enough to withstand any fracture or fissure between us, and fearless enough to imagine a future of possibilities. So America, let us reach for that future.” – Kamala Harris
By Carl J. Petersenabout a year ago in The Swamp
The Kids Are Watching
“Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr. Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) School Board members are the politicians who directly affect the daily lives of our children. Some, like BD3’s Scott Schmerelson, take this responsibility seriously, visiting school sites regularly and meeting with the students they were elected to represent. For others, the children seem to be an afterthought; they only show up to pose for the television cameras or to take pictures for their campaign websites.
By Carl J. Petersenabout a year ago in The Swamp
2024 LAUSD School Board Endorsements
"God made the Idiot for practice, and then He made the School Board." – Mark Twain The LAUSD School Board is going to look a lot different next year. After serving the students of Los Angeles for a decade as the BD1 School Board Member, Dr. George McKenna decided not to run for reelection. He will be joined in retirement by BD 5 representative Jackie Goldberg who is ending her second stint on the Board after serving five years. Since none of the candidates secured over 50% of the vote in either of these board districts during the March primary, voters will decide on November 5th who will replace these two veteran public servants.
By Carl J. Petersenabout a year ago in Education
