Online Forum For School Board Candidates Scheduled
With mail-in ballots about to drop for the March 5, 2024, primary elections, voters are running out of time to gather information about the candidates. This task is especially difficult in down-ballot races like the Board of Education with very little coverage given to these offices by the corporate media.
To help voters get to know the candidates running to represent them for the LAUSD BD3 School Board seat, an online candidate forum will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 9:00 AM. To participate in this Zoom event, members of the public can log on through this link: https://tinyurl.com/NorthridgeEast. To RSVP or suggest questions use this link: bit.ly/BD3_RSVP.
Five candidates submitted enough qualified signatures and paid the fee required to appear on the ballot. Dan Chang, Andreas Farmakalidis, Scott Mark Schmerelson, and Raquel Villalta have all confirmed that they will participate. Elizabeth Badger was also invited using the email address that she has on file with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, but as of publication has not responded.
Additionally, Janie Dam has qualified as a write-in candidate. She will also appear at the forum.
The following is a brief description of each of the candidates:
Dan Chang
Ballot Designation: Public School Teacher
Email: dan@mrchang.org, yolimiranda@hotmail.com
Website: www.chang4change.org
Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):
Dan Chang is a LAUSD math teacher, parent, and education non-profit leader with a 20 year track record of improving schools in Los Angeles. From teaching students pre-algebra to leading ambitious District improvement efforts, Dan is dedicated to seeing students, families, teachers and schools succeed in LAUSD.
Dan is running to be the new voice for Valley schools on the LAUSD District 3 school board.
Responses to questions about District issues: None received.
Andreas Farmakalidis
Ballot Designation: Educator/Business Owner
Email: farmakalidisa@gmail.com
Website: www.LAUSD3.com
Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):
Andreas Farmakalidis, immigrant, teacher, student, veteran and community leader, who seeks to bring change to LAUSD district 3 with a rich background in education, politics and dedication to positive impact.
Responses to questions about District issues: PROP-39, Special Education, Governance, Student Safety.
Scott Mark Schmerelson
Ballot Designation: Teacher/Counselor/Boardmember
Email: scott4lausd2024@gmail.com
Website: www.scottforlausd.com
Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):
No one loves schools more than Scott. The Philadelphia native joined the LAUSD family in 1978, and rose through the ranks as a teacher, counselor and principal at Virgil, Griffith and Lawrence middle schools. He retired after leading Johnnie Cochran Middle School for 10 years. His tenure was highlighted by improved test scores, a revamped physical plan, and higher student, teacher and parent morale.
Responses to questions about District issues: PROP-39, Governance, Student Safety.
Raquel Villalta
Ballot Designation: Mother/Educator
Email: raquelvillalta4schoolboard@gmail.com
Website: None listed with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission
Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):
Meet our exceptional candidate for LAUSD School Board District 3 in the San Fernando Valley – an accomplished educator and a devoted mother of students within the district. She stood on principles and faith when LAUSD discriminated against her sincerely held religious belief against the Covid shot when they removed her out of the classroom and eventually placed her on unpaid leave. She is a bold warrior for freedom, faith and is in the fight to defend constitutional rights for generations to come.
Responses to questions about District issues: PROP-39, Student Safety.
Elizabeth Badger
Ballot Designation: Disability Educator/Businesswoman
Email: ebadger331@aol.com
Website: None listed with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission
Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):
I believe our community, city and state is made better when our children can receive a quality world-class education. As a parent of two young special needs children in LAUSD system, I have a personal stake in the future of LAUSD. We can no longer claim to be the most superior and influential city on earth, with an inferior educational system!
Responses to questions about District issues: None received.
Janie Dam
Ballot Designation: n/a
Email: gary@crummittandassociates.com
Website: www.janiedam.com
Candidates description of their campaign (First 100 words):
As a working parent, I am always grateful for the public schools. But it wasn’t until the pandemic when I was working from home 10 to 12 hours a day teaching math classes online and taking care of my child’s mental health at the same time, that I recognized just how critical an effective public education system truly was to working class families.
Responses to questions about District issues: PROP-39, Special Education, Governance, Student Safety.
Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD’s District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him “a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles.” For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.