LOZ FELIZ—Jackie Goldberg, who is running for a seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Board, is leading in the election. The Los Angeles Unified School District received 48.45 percent of votes for the ballots cast at 25 local precincts including Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Echo Park, and Silver Lake, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s website.

Goldberg, 74, will be running against the second-place finisher in May. Heather Repenning holds second place with 13.17 percent of the votes. Garciela Ortiz landed in third place with 12.75 percent of the votes.

“I’m running to be a strong progressive voice on the Board who will put the interests of the students first, and as someone who will not have a big learning curve when elected. I believe my experience and passion for helping students will be a steadying force on a Board that continues to face turmoil. My knowledge of the budget as well as my relationship with ALL stakeholders will allow me to hit the ground running.

A key goal of mine is to bring closer together the parents, teachers, business people, community members and public and non-profit service providers in this board district. As both a long-time teacher and Reading Specialist, my knowledge and experience will be complemented by the knowledge and experience the stakeholders bring. All of us, listening to each other and each playing our role, will be critical in our efforts to raise the achievement levels of all students, including second language learners and students with special needs. Learn more about my plans to improve our schools,” said Goldberg in a statement on her website.

Repenning states on her website, “As a mom with a child in LAUSD schools, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges facing our education system. They are undoubtedly great, yet I view the opportunities ahead as far greater.”

If Goldberg fails to earn a majority of the votes, she will face-off in a runoff on May 14 with second place finisher in the race. The official results will be determined when the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s releases official results on March 22.