Superintendent Put on Leave After FBI Search

The Los Angeles Unified School District has put its chief, Alberto Carvalho, on paid administrative leave. This decision came two days after the FBI searched his home and office, stirring uncertainty in one of America’s largest school districts. The board made the announcement quietly after holding two emergency closed meetings. Carvalho has not faced any formal charges, yet many worry about the district’s stability and how it will serve its 400, 000 students. An experienced district official, Andres Chait, will step in as interim superintendent. The board voted unanimously for this change.The focus of the investigation is unclear, but insiders say it likely relates to a two‑year old probe involving a troubled tech start‑up called AllHere. The company had won a $6 million contract to create an AI chatbot for schools before it collapsed amid fraud allegations. The FBI also searched the Florida home of Debra Kerr, a consultant who helped link technology vendors to school districts. She has known Carvalho since his time leading Miami‑Dade County Public Schools, where he spent more than 13 years. AllHere’s CEO has been charged criminally, yet the case remains unresolved. Lawyers from both sides have postponed a trial to discuss possible settlement options.