Schmerelson’s Sexist Comments Are a Call To Action in LAUSD BD3

By Mia Marano

At a time when Americans are reflecting on deep systemic biases against women in our society, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Member Scott Schmerelson has repeatedly demonstrated that he is tone deaf when it comes to critical issues of gender equity.

At the LAUSD school board meeting last April 2019, when the board considered a revision to the district’s dress code policy because female students complained they were being unfairly targeted by school administrators, Schmerelson responded that he believed “male students are discriminated against just as much as female students.”

Just a few weeks ago, at a District 3 candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles on Facebook Live days after the memorial for legendary Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Schmerelson was given the opportunity to clarify that sexist statement. Schmerelson struggled to explain his reasoning but reiterated his belief that this type of gender discrimination does not exist in schools. He offered that school administrators treat male and female students equally when it comes to dress code enforcement because “everyone follows the rules.”

That is simply not the case, according to student leaders like Tyler Okeke, who authored a resolution to revise the dress code policy. When the issue first surfaced in 2019, Okeke publicly denounced Schmerelson’s position: “I can only speak to the experience of students now, what they have said, what they see, and based on my own experience. I don’t see boys getting ‘dress coded.’ I only see school administrators, males and female alike, chasing female students telling them ‘What you are wearing is provocative…and you need to cover up.’ I don’t believe males are discriminated in the same way because it’s just not true.”

The truth is female students are objectified and reprimanded at an alarming rate in LAUSD due to the district’s dress code policy, which is why the seven-member school board to voted to revise the rule last year.

During the Facebook Live forum, Marilyn Koziatek, who is running for LAUSD Board Member against Schmerelson this November, applauded the resolution and did not mince words during the debate: [Gender inequity] does exist in our schools … this is what this dress code is about. This is objectifying women in ways that should make our skin crawl. This is real. These issues are shocking and they exist. We cannot rest until our children have a fair and equitable shot at of their future."

Koziatek has been speaking up against injustice her whole life, and her desire to help children and families moved her to run for school board in District 3.

Koziatek is the mother of two boys in public school, and not only would she bring a kids-first approach, she would also be the only parent of LAUSD students on the board if elected. She is also the only candidate who currently works in a public school during this pandemic, giving her a unique understanding of the struggles that both school employees and families are facing during distance learning.

Leading the tutoring and enrichment department at Granada Hills High School, Koziatek brings valuable resources to classrooms and empowers parents with cutting-edge tech tools to become active participants in their child’s education. Koziatek also chairs the Education Committee at the Valley Industry Commerce Association, sits on the 38th Assembly Education Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Parent Teacher Association at her kids’ public school.

Despite her impressive public service record, Schmerelson’s campaign manager Brent Smiley said Koziatek “has no business being on the school board.” Scott Schmerelson has said nothing to dispute his campaign manager’s demeaning comment.

Nor did he remove from his Facebook page an offensive comment from his campaign rep calling Koziatek a “dumb blond.” It was only after an outcry from women who were offended that the post was finally edited more than a week later.

What messages do these comments send to women, including young girls, who want to run for office someday?

Koziatek is not allowing them to intimidate her because she understands that the implications of this race extend far beyond her own life. She’s a steadfast public servant who will also be a fierce advocate for fair teacher pay, improved technical education and responsible budgeting. Most importantly, she will treat all individuals with dignity and respect.

Board members make decisions for LAUSD that impact all aspects of students’ lives. Schmerelson and his campaign surrogates have repeatedly made demeaning and chauvinistic remarks that are out of step with the times. Name calling is not the type of behavior we should tolerate from leaders in charge of overseeing our children’s education. This is unacceptable at LAUSD and a call-to-action to vote him out of office.

To quote the legendary Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”

-- Mia Marano is the mother of two kids in L.A. public schools, including a son with special needs. She is an activist for educational equity.