Attorney Announces Bid for School Board

Kenneth Sackman, a self-described cheerleader for public schools, has put in his bid for the Los Angeles school board seat being vacated by former board President Mark Slavkin.

“I think there’s no question that I have a dedication to the public school system that’s unique to a small number of people,” said Sackman, an attorney who handles pension disputes between unions and employers.

Sackman, 45, of West Los Angeles, began his campaign this week after numerous friends urged him to run. A father of two teenage girls who attend public school, Sackman prides himself on his years of volunteering at public schools, from coaching his daughters’ basketball teams at their middle schools to chaperoning on field trips. Both of his daughters attend Venice High School’s foreign language and international magnet.

“My goal is to make private schools unnecessary,” Sackman said. “The school system that my kids go to is great, but we need to improve it with smaller classes [and] better facilities. . . . We need to capitalize on the enormous outpouring for public schools.”

Sackman already has amassed a few endorsements from local construction unions and the support of some schoolteachers and administrators.

Lloyd Jacobs, principal of Venice High, said Sackman has been an integral part of the school’s recruitment efforts as well as an active participant in its sports league. He added that Sackman’s experience working with labor and management as an attorney may be an asset on the school board.

Sackman is the second person seeking the 4th District seat that spans from Westchester to Porter Ranch. Valerie Fields, a former mayoral aide to Tom Bradley, announced her candidacy earlier this month.