(LAUSD school bus/Creative Commons)

Specifically big name donors like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Rupert Murdoch, The California Charter School Association and former Washington, D.C., schools superintendent Michelle Rhee, who have collectively poured millions of dollars into these campaigns.

Not to mention film industry powerhouses Wes Craven and David Geffen, reported KPCC.

Ten candidates are competing for the chance to win one of three seats on the seven-member school board panel at a time when L.A. Unified has seen an increasing polarization between education reform advocates like Superintendent John Deasy and the Coalition for School Reform, and labor unions like United Teachers of Los Angeles.

The two sides often spar over teacher evaluations, firing and hiring practices, student test score data and the ever-booming charter school movement

But did you even know it was going on? The races for these three spots have a great impact on the future of L.A. Unified, whether that means the district falls back-and more strongly-into the hands of education reform advocates, or is handed over to teachers union supporters.

The major donors are hoping to see serious reformations take place in L.A. Unified and support Supt. Deasy's reform-focused agenda. And if these changes are successful, L.A. could become one of the most aggressive reform movements in the country.

But what would these reforms look like?

• More charter schools

• An evaluation system that incorporates the use of student standardized test scores to help measure teacher effectiveness.

• Teacher layoff not primarily based on seniority.

• Limiting traditional job protections for teachers.

Deasy Aligned Candidates:

Monica Garcia
Kate Anderson
Antonio Sanchez*

Teachers Union Candidates:

Antonio Sanchez*
Annamarie Montanez
Robert Skeels
Abelardo Diaz
Maria Cano
Monica Ratliff

*Sanchez is the only candidate backed by both the Coalition for School Reform and the United Teachers of Los Angeles Union

The L.A. school board elections will be a turning point for L.A. Unified, a  kind of battle of progression vs. tradition in a city not usually known for progressive education reform practices favored by President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. 

Howard Blume, education reporter for the Los Angeles Times, notes that L.A. is a union town and the teachers union's capability to fend off these reforms sends a big message. So these union backed candidates still have a very good shot. On the other hand, a victory against this labor union would also "have symbolic resonance," according to Blume.

The teachers union (UTLA) is pushing back against these donations, and the idea that such a large, poorly funded and problem-riddled urban school district can become a testing ground for aggressive reform efforts if these candidates are elected.

Teachers worry that candidates with limited experience will come in and buy the election with the help of outside sources. Steve Zimmer is the union's greatest asset at the moment, and the union reminds voters he is also the only candidate endorsed by the L.A. County Democratic Party.

The L.A. School Report attended a phone bank campaign for Zimmer, a low cost affair aimed at garnering voters who want to support teachers and labor unions. One retired teacher told reporter Hillel Aaron, "I believe there is a right-wing conspiracy to privatize schools, to make them into factories that make a profit.”

Although the union is heavily outmatched in campaign funding, it has a loyal following and solid ground force of teachers to persuade voters on election day.

The Zimmer/Anderson race will be settled by today's vote since they are the only two candidates running. The union then will focus on District 2 and District 6 races. Monica Garcia is running for the District 2 seat, and the union has been recognized for its "Anyone but Monica" campaign strategy, supporting the other three candidates. 

If Anderson, Garcia and Sanchez are all elected, education experts say the superintendent will have a much easier time enacting wide scale changes to the nation's second largest school system. Though Deasy has said his changes still need about eight years to have permanent effect.

From Howard Blume:

Deasy wants to cement his changes in teacher evaluations and push for changes in state law and the teachers' contract to limit seniority protections and make it easier to fire teachers accused of misconduct for example. Less controversial in a way is his plan to bring technology to every student but there's great debate over how to do that and how to pay for it.

If the union backed candidates succeed, Deasy could be nearing the end of his career with the district, which is why so many outsiders are keeping close tabs on what happens Tuesday, March 5 in Los Angeles.

Read more about each candidate at the L.A. Times.

Read more of Neon Tommy's coverage on the LA election here.

Reach Editor-At-Large Brianna Sacks here