Acting LAUSD chief earns $395K as Carvalho collects $440K amid FBI probe

The new acting head of the Los Angeles Unified Schools District is earning nearly $400,000 per year in the interim role as Superintendent Alberto Carvalho remains on leave during an ongoing FBI probe.

Andres Chait is collecting $395,867 in the role, in addition to a $250 a month allowance for a driver to take him to school functions, according to LAUSD records.

Carvalho — who has remained out of the public eye after the FBI raided several of his properties in February — is still earning his $440,000-a-year salary despite being placed on administrative leave.

Chait previously earned $278,205 as Chief of School Operations, documents show, and it’s unclear whether he’s still being paid that salary.

The LAUSD school board will discuss whether to approve Chait’s current employment agreement as acting superintendent at its next board meeting Thursday.

Chait’s high-priced salary came to light as mystery surrounds Carvalho’s whereabouts and the status of the FBI probe.

His lawyers have expressed confidence in the superintendent after the bombshell raids of his LA office and properties in Sen Pedro and South Florida.

“Mr. Carvalho remains confident that the evidence will ultimately demonstrate that he acted appropriately and in the best interests of students,” a statement read. “We hope the school board reinstates him promptly to his position as superintendent.”

With Carvalho on leave, the LAUSD caved to demands from educators by agreeing to a nearly 14% pay raise for teachers and school employees to avert a strike earlier this week.

“We are proud to have reached resolution with all of our labor partners,” Chait said about the deal.

Meanwhile, the cash-strapped LAUSD continues to struggle with student performance and budget concerns.

Before the new labor deals, LAUSD projected a $1.6-billion deficit by the 2027-28 school year, driven by steep enrollment declines that impact the district’s per-pupil finding from the state, as well the end of federal pandemic relief money.

Overall, LAUSD students lag slightly behind the rest of the state in their reading and math exams. LA students also post slightly worse graduation rates than the rest of California.

The California Post reached out to the LAUSD for comment.

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