A lawsuit has been filed against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and its superintendent, alleging they defrauded taxpayers by misusing millions of dollars designated for new art teachers and programs. The lawsuit, led by former LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner, claims the district failed to allocate the majority of the $77 million received from Proposition 28, a state law aimed at bolstering arts education.
A lawsuit filed against the Los Angeles Unified School District ( LAUSD ) and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho on Monday alleges that they defrauded taxpayers of millions of dollars in funding intended for new art teachers and programs. The lawsuit, spearheaded by Austin Beutner, the district's former superintendent, claims that LAUSD failed to use the majority of the $77 million allocated for new teachers as stipulated by Proposition 28 , a state law passed in 2022 to bolster arts education .
Proposition 28, which garnered overwhelming support across California, including 70% in LA County, earmarked nearly $1 billion for increasing arts funding in schools, with 80% specifically designated for hiring new art teachers. The lawsuit asserts that LAUSD's own data demonstrates a negligible increase in art teacher positions, with minimal changes in teacher hours year-over-year at some elementary schools. Beutner contends that the district should have hired over a thousand new art teachers with the allocated funds. He and his associates previously sent a letter to state leaders in May 2023, alleging violations of the law. The Los Angeles School Board also demanded answers from Superintendent Carvalho in June, urging transparency regarding the use of Prop 28 funding. Parent Vicky Martinez, whose son's school lacks art instruction, expressed her frustration at the situation. She believes the lack of adequate funding has deprived students of essential opportunities, stating, 'It's sad because you want the best for your kids. I'm not asking for more. I'm asking for what's rightfully theirs.' The lawsuit accuses LAUSD of unlawfully redirecting funds to other uses, including increasing senior staff salaries, which have reportedly risen fivefold since 2010 while student enrollment has declined. LAUSD, however, maintains that it has increased the total arts budget beyond $77 million and nearly doubled staffing. The district issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to providing arts exposure for all students and highlighting the significant increase in arts funding and staffing. The lawsuit seeks to hold LAUSD accountable for its alleged misuse of funds and ensure that the intended beneficiaries, students and schools, receive the promised support for arts education.
Proposition 28 Arts Education LAUSD Defraud Lawsuit School Funding Teachers Los Angeles
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