LAUSD board waives local graduation requirement for a terminally ill student, authorizes personnel actions and settlements

The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education voted in closed session on June 5 to waive local graduation requirements for a terminally ill student and to take several personnel and legal actions.

Board President Schmirulson reported that the board approved the waiver of local graduation requirements pursuant to Education Code sections 35160 and 51225.3 for a student who has met all state graduation requirements; the action passed with seven ayes. The board directed the student’s current school to issue a diploma in accordance with that action.

On personnel matters the board authorized the demotion of one certificated employee (vote 6–1, with Board President Schmirulson recorded as the no vote on that item) and authorized the dismissal of classified employees in separate votes (one dismissal recorded as 6–1 and another as 7–0). The board also authorized settlements in three pending cases (Keller v LAUSD; Bennett v LAUSD; and John B.T. Doe v LAUSD). S1 said that terms and conditions for settlements will be available upon finalization of the agreements.

The meeting recessed to closed session at 9:42 a.m. and reconvened at 3:48 p.m.; the board announced the outcomes at reconvening and scheduled the next closed-session meeting for June 10, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Why it matters: Waiving a local graduation requirement is a formal board action tied to state law; the personnel demotion and dismissals and the authorized settlements may have immediate personnel and financial implications for the district. The board recorded split votes on at least one personnel action, indicating not all members supported every step.

What’s next: S1 said terms of settlements will be posted when finalized and the board scheduled a follow-up closed session for June 10, 2026, at 9 a.m.