Kelly Gonez Unopposed in LAUSD Board District 6 Race Amid District Challenges
Kelly Gonez, the incumbent for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education District 6, is running unopposed in the upcoming June 2 primary. This election is part of a broader context where the LAUSD, the second-largest school system in the United States, is grappling with significant challenges. These include a superintendent under FBI investigation, declining student enrollment, and the aftermath of a narrowly averted strike. The district recently agreed to substantial employee raises and new hires, costing nearly $1.2 billion annually, which adds pressure to the district's budget. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho is currently on paid administrative leave due to an FBI investigation related to a failed educational chatbot project. The district is also dealing with the impacts of federal immigration enforcement on enrollment and attendance, prompting it to declare itself a sanctuary district for immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community.