Candidates piling on as deadline nears for LA school board special election
Mary Plummer/KPCC
The Los Angeles Unified school board discusses the district's arts education plan during a meeting Feb. 11, 2014.
Eight candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to fill the Los Angeles Unified school board seat left vacant after Marguerite LaMotte died in December. The office represents Palms, Koreatown, Crenshaw, and South Los Angeles on the seven-member board.
That may not be the final number. Tuesday is the last day to file the paperwork at the Los Angeles City Clerk to run in the June 3rd special election - and district-watchers said there could be a last minute flurry of filings.
The race has sparked interest from high-profile African American politicians, including Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
Two of the eight candidates, George McKenna and Genethia Hudley-Hayes, are well known in L.A. Unified circles.
McKenna worked as a principal and administrator for L.A. Unified and several other
Weigh in: new national arts education standards almost final
Los Angeles Unified School District elementary students practice during a music class. ; Credit: Ken Scarboro/KPCC The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards is nearing completion of a new set of PreK-12 arts standards - the first revamp since 1994. The public review period on the latest draft opened Friday, and the group is inviting public feedback until February 28. A first look at the fina