Pleasanton Unified School District Candidate Q&A: Joan Laursen
- September 16, 2010
Pleasanton Patch has asked each candidate to fill out a questionnaire to give residents information about his or her background.
What is the primary reason you are running for the school board?
I am running for the school board because I care deeply about Pleasanton's schools and the education of our children. I have invested 15 years of public service in this school district. I am an experienced leader with a solid understanding of governance, fiscal responsibility, and educational policy. I feel that I am able to help steer Pleasanton through the next few difficult financial years.
What will be your priority if you get elected?
One of my priorities will be to encourage staff, parent, and community collaboration on seeking innovative ways to improve programs. I also believe in helping students and families strike a healthy balance between academic competitiveness, extra-curricular activities, and family life. But the most important priority of the school board in this time of financial crisis is the maintenance of the fiscal health of the school district.
What sets you apart from the other candidates?
I have a unique skill set that has prepared me for the responsibilities of the school board. My extensive knowledge of public education & finance - especially in California - combined with my financial background and my proven leadership ability, will help the Pleasanton Unified School District navigate these challenging fiscal times while continuing to ensure that all students in Pleasanton receive an outstanding education.
Where do you work and what is your job title?
I do not work outside the home any longer, but I am a financial analyst by training and spent 12 years in the banking industry. I worked as a cash manager in private industry and as a regulator with the Office of Thrift Supervision. I also managed the data processing and computer systems for a community bank in Burlingame. My career experience revolved around analyzing data, putting systems into place to measure success, and improving decision making processes and profitability.
As a community volunteer in Pleasanton, I have served on school site councils, various district-wide committees, GATE advisory committees, budget advisory committees, in band booster groups, and on Parent Faculty Association & Parent Teacher Association boards. Most recently, I was the President of the Pleasanton PTA Council, representing over 5,000 members in Pleasanton. During my tenure on the PTA Council, we hosted flu vaccination clinics, trained and mentored PTA officers at school sites, conducted a school board candidates' forum, and held many parent education workshops. Last year, Pleasanton PTA Council was named the Outstanding Council for California by the California State PTA.
My passion for public education and my work in the PTA has led me to develop strong advocacy skills that I have used on behalf of Pleasanton's children. I led letter-writing campaigns to legislators on budget issues, and I have met with our legislators on many occasions to explain how their actions are affecting Pleasanton and to encourage them to make thoughtful policy decisions on children's issues.
Most recently, I helped establish Community OutReach for Education (CORE), raising more than $575,000 for our schools, and I currently serve on the school district Budget Advisory Committee and the Harvest Park Middle School Site Council.
Age and birthplace?
I am 49 and I was born in Eureka, California.
What are the names and ages of your children, if any?
Glenn, age 20, attends the University of California San Diego and Rachel, age 13, attends Harvest Park Middle School.
Please list the schools and colleges you attended, the degrees you attained and when.
I graduated public high school in Eureka, California, in 1979 and then briefly attended Humboldt State University and the University of Colorado at Boulder. I then returned to California and worked full-time to pay my way through college, graduating with a BS in Business Administration/Finance from ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ Hayward the same year my husband and I celebrated our son's first birthday in 1991.
Have you ever held an elected or appointed public office?
No, but as an elected officer for school and community organization boards I have a great deal of experience in governance and fiscal accountability.
Have you run before for an elected public office?
No, but my dedication and commitment to the Pleasanton community and to our outstanding school district over the past 15 years have led me to this point where I need to offer my service and experience at the school board level.
Approximately how much money do you expect to spend on your campaign, both total spending and personal.
I am very fortunate that many individuals have come forward to help me with my campaign. At this point, I have raised just over $5,000, most of which paid for the candidate statement ballot fee and my lawn signs.
Have you ever served in the military?
No.
As an adult, have you ever been convicted or charged with a crime other than a minor traffic violation?
No.
Have you or a business you owned or had principal interest in ever filed bankruptcy?
No.
How long have you lived in Pleasanton?
We moved to Pleasanton 16 years ago, and I have been involved in school and community service locally for 15 years, serving not only on school related councils, boards, and committees, but also on the board of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women.
What's your favorite thing about Pleasanton?
I love how our community members are so involved in volunteering their time to make our town an even better place to live – from sports coaches to PTA leaders, from city commissioners to Chamber of Commerce volunteers – we have informed and involved citizens working together to make a difference. Plus I love our Farmers Market!
What is the biggest problem/biggest issue that PUSD needs to tackle?
It is easy to answer "the budget", and there is no doubt that the free and public education guaranteed by our State Constitution is under severe pressure, but I also believe we have a schism within our community which needs to be addressed. This division is between parents/staff/community members who believe in continuous improvement in student achievement in order to better prepare them for college and career, and others who believe that a slower pace and possibly less rigor is healthier overall for our students. This conversation will be at the heart of any new strategic planning process and will certainly arise as limited resources force our district to make hard choices. I believe we need to address it with our parents, students, staff, and community.
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