LAUSD Candidate Profile: Scott Schmerelson

“It is called an Individualized Education Program because it should be tailored to the individual student. That is why I have fought so hard to make sure that Special Education Centers remain open and available to serve our students who need those wonderful centers of learning.”

- Scott Schmerelson

In the time between Steve Zimmer’s loss to Nick Melvoin and Ref Rodriguez’s felony indictments, Scott Schmerelson was in the LAUSD Board’s minority and, with every meeting that went by, the representative from District 3 looked more and more dejected. The tension between him and his neighbor on the dais, Monica Garcia, was noticeable to anyone watching the proceedings. As president of the board, Rodriguez had ended the committees, including the Special Education Committee that Schmerelson led, depriving him of the direct connection that it gave him to the families of the district’s most vulnerable students. It promised to be a long three and a half years to the next election cycle.

With the news of Rodriguez’s indictments, the light at the end of the tunnel appeared to get closer, but things would get worse for Schmerelson in the near term. Until the accused felon actually stepped down, the Eli Broad block of charter school supporters on the board still held a majority and they were determined to…