Walters Head of School Board

Rita Walters, one of the staunchest liberal members of the Los Angeles school board, was elected president of the board today, becoming the first black woman to head the seven-member board.

This was the second time that Walters, 54, had been nominated for the board presidency. She was elected by a 6-1 vote with new board member David Armor casting the lone dissenting vote. Conservative Armor said he voted against Walters because of “deep policy differences.” The first black president of the board was the Rev. James Jones, who was elected board president in 1968.