• Office: School Board
• Election Date: November 5, 2024
• Candidate: Laurance Lee
• Due Date: May 31, 2024
• Printable Version

Thank you for seeking GrowSF's endorsement for the November 5, 2024 election! GrowSF believes in a growing, beautiful, vibrant, healthy, safe, and prosperous city delivered via common sense solutions and effective government. Our work includes running public opinion polls to understand what voters want, advocating for those changes, and ensuring that the SF government represents the people.

The GrowSF endorsement committee will review all completed questionnaires and seek consensus on which candidates best align with our vision for San Francisco.

This questionnaire will be published on growsf.org, and so we hope that you use this opportunity to communicate with voters.

Please complete this questionnaire by May 31, 2024 so we have enough time to adequately review and discuss your answers.

Note: This questionnaire will use the initialism "SFUSD" when referring to the San Francisco Unified School District.

• Your Goals
• Executive experience
• The Issues
  • Budget
  • Curriculum
  • Bullying & violence
  • Teachers
  • School assignment system
  • General information
• Personal

Your Goals

We'd like to get some details about your high-level goals and how you intend to use your elected office to achieve them.

Why are you running for School Board?

I owe so much to SFUSD. I'm ready to give back and to help every student thrive.

What is your #1 policy goal?

Fix its finances as the key first part to increase enrollment.

How will you build the coalition and political capital to enact your #1 goal?

I have demonstrated common sense change that people have been joining. People know me as no nonsense and getting back to basics.

I helped recall the school board and bring back middle school algebra. I have returned bond oversight to facilities spending and am now reviewing audits. I have won 28,000+ votes from half the city in the March Democratic County Central Committee elections. People are responding to my body of work and my platform.

I have written publicly about how the Board of Education Commissioners have kicked the can for too long. Now that the state is very near taking over the district, they are making moves to close schools. I will push to get this effort done well, with community support. After we get such right sizing efforts done, we can put money to fixing ceilings and to programs that will attract students.

Will the power of the office of School Board be enough to achieve this goal?

Yes. The main job of Commissioners is to see that the Superintendent runs the public schools well. They approve the Superintendent's budget.

What are your #2 and #3 policy goals?

My second goal is to improve literacy to grade level, for all kids. To get there we need to get kids in school and to give them mental health support. Grade level literacy is a key part of student outcomes work and college and career readiness.

My third goal is to have a well run district that the public can trust. I will push for a culture change to transparency and accountability.

Will the power of the office of School Board be enough to achieve these goals?

Absolutely. The Commissioners review the job performance of the Superintendent and General Counsel.

I publicly pushed to change out the prior General Counsel as that one did not do a good job for the district. https://beyondchron.org/the-case-for-a-new-sfusd-general-counsel/ The Superintendent did put in a new General Counsel.

I have multiple times shared when the Superintendent has not performed well- teacher payroll, high school task force, student safety are some topics. https://beyondchron.org/school-districts-high-school-task-force-a-500000-model-of-chronic-absenteeism/ https://www.sfexaminer.com/forum/sfusd-needs-clear-response-to-weapons-at-schools/article_e9e6803c-c757-11ed-8ba0-436d047dbd45.html

What is an existing Board of Education policy you would like to reform?

Each meeting the Board votes on millions of dollars of consent spending with little understanding of how such programs relate to the overall budget. Given the fiscal constraints, maybe the Superintendent and staff can provide more information about how such spending is both necessary and fiscally responsible.

Do/Did you have children in SFUSD? If so, what have you learned about SFUSD that other parents would benefit from? If not, why not?

No child in SFUSD and I do have family there. My wife and I made a family decision to have our child in an independent school as 1) we followed my wife's french immersion schooling and 2) we wanted to provide our daughter with algebra in middle school. I will make a focus on improving math student outcomes for all students including in lower school years.

Executive experience

Please describe your experience running or governing large organizations, managing teams (including hiring, firing, and performance management), driving cultural change and clear communication throughout all levels, effective financial management (budgets, reporting, audit, etc.), and any other relevant experience.

I've had diverse private industry experiences in large and small companies. I worked on several multi-site teams as part of Merck, Genentech, and Thermo Scientific. I had full control of several construction budgets up to $8 million, working with a dozen subcontractors. I am now reviewing audits for SFUSD facilities bonds of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Please describe a time when you had an underperforming subordinate and how you handled the situation, including (and especially) how you were able to increase their performance.

Note: Please remember that this questionnaire will be public, so do not include any personally identifiable information.

I had a direct report in a biotech company who was underperforming. I got to know them and their circumstances in more detail and found they were committed. We made an agreeable performance improvement plan and things worked out.

Please describe a time when your organization faced an extreme challenge and how you got the organization through it.

I have learned alot from running several small businesses. My partner and I were successfully growing our small instrument company when he suddenly passed away on a vacation. As he was a key man, we took an honest look at our company and decided on the tough choice of disbanding it. We got through the extreme challenge by knowing when not to continue.

The Issues

Next, we will cover the issues that voters tell us they care about. We hope to gain a better understanding of your policy positions, and we hope that you use this opportunity to communicate with voters.

Budget

SFUSD faces an existential crisis in its budget deficit. In your view, what factors have led to this crisis?

Good intentions and lack of will from district and school board leadership led to years of can kicking. While other school districts were responsible with one time Covid funds, San Francisco overspent. Now we are needing to make hard choices to avoid state takeover. Here's my analysis from 2021: https://eyessfboe.substack.com/p/sfusd-budget-deficit-how-it-started

SFUSD was deemed to be "no longer a going concern" and to be at risk of insolvency by the 2025-26 fiscal year unless it restructures and corrects its budget deficit. Please explain the current budget situation.

State auditors and state watchdog Duchon have made clear that the district does not have key staff doing needed finance jobs. I agree. The district needs to finally put their financial house in order.

How does the role of the CDE's Fiscal Advisor to SFUSD inform your perspective and priorities on the responsibilities of a Board of Ed commissioner?

The Fiscal Advisor is my source of wisdom, gentle encouragement, and guide to the necessary coming hard decisions. Without him, we would have seven good intentioned Commissioners with little financial experience failing to pay attention to one of their key priorities- the budget.

Please summarize the recommended solutions in the SFUSD Fiscal Health Risk Analysis report, and tell us how you would prioritize them.

This important report found many ways that the district did not do things well that other districts do routinely. Let's staff up the needed positions like position control. Let's track our seniority in modern software. Those would be my priorities- do the basics that other districts do routinely.

The budget deficit will require hard and unpopular decisions, like closing schools, laying off teachers, reducing or changing available courses, and renegotiating the teachers' union contract. Regardless of your stance on those specific issues, what credentials or work experience do you have in handling those sorts of challenges?

I have run million dollar budgets. I have had to shut down one of my companies. I am on the bond oversight committee digging into audits of hundreds of millions of spending.

How do you approach making difficult decisions that you deem necessary even if unpopular? Please share a relevant example, if applicable.

Communicate over and over again the problem, and the best of several directions. I've been through layoffs and I've shut down a company. People will respond to and respect leaders who make tough decisions.

SFUSD facilities are in poor condition, with reports of some bathrooms being so dirty that students refuse to use them. What will you do to remedy this situation, especially given the budget constraints you will have to operate under?

Facilities maintenance is understaffed and poorly funded. I've heard many stories. We need to cut spending in many places so that we can put money to do needed repairs. Let's get the basics right.

One reason for the budget deficit is declining enrollment. Approximately 30% of children attend private schools, and that percentage is growing. Each student not in SFUSD takes away nearly $15,000 in State funding. How will you make SFUSD more attractive to prospective students and parents?

It's two steps. Spend money on programs in demand like language immersion. And listen to families who leave and make progress on their concerns. Families will join when they see the district is going in a good direction.

What is your perspective on SFUSD's school closures and approach to pandemic recovery?

We should have brought kids back to in-person school sooner. It was one big reason I helped recall 3 Commissioners. We need to invest in mental health to help kids even now.

Curriculum

What changes are coming to the SFUSD curriculum over the next few years?

We have much to do every year to bring all kids up to grade level in reading and math. SFUSD can follow other districts' examples and implement proven programs with eyes on budgets and professional development.

SFUSD student performance is low, with some of the widest achievement gaps among student populations in the state, with many students being left unprepared for high school and college. How and why are we failing our students?

Parents know me as someone who raised the concern for years now: https://www.sfexaminer.com/archives/opinion-early-reading-instruction-in-san-francisco-public-schools-a-love-affair-with-what-has/article_ff9a5cc0-053f-5c37-88f5-b28a53ba41cb.html

We are throwing money at programs without regard to whether or not our kids are doing better. Why? The district has not focused on such metrics.

SFUSD will be reintroducing 8th grade algebra over the next couple school years. Do you support this change?

Yes! I paid for my own ballot argument. Middle school algebra for me in SFUSD set me on a great STEM career path.

How should SFUSD balance instructional minutes for core curriculum subjects with access to electives?

I don't want to get too prescriptive. Arts and sports are needed to develop the whole child and to keep kids interested in going to school. We have to support both, as we make tough budget decisions.

Many of SFUSD's language pathways have difficulty hiring and retaining qualified educators and classrooms are under-enrolled as early as grade 4, how would you address this?

Let's encourage our high school graduates into becoming teachers. Let's have good outreach to bay area higher education institutions to encourage folks to come here.

What is your position on supporting lottery-based access to language immersion programs for some versus access to second language instruction for all as part of general education instruction?

What is the current state of advanced education at SFUSD?

There are many good advanced education efforts across SFUSD and we can do much better. The district's budget may make new investments harder for a few years. Dual enrollment with City College can continue and expand.

SFUSD has produced many accomplished folks over the decades and we can continue to provide many opportunities for advanced students. I myself had many opportunities as a student here.

What should SFUSD be doing to ensure more students have access to more advanced education, including classes above their grade level, accelerated courses, and advanced subjects including those currently only offered by outside institutions such as community colleges?

Great question. I have a three point plan. First, let's create a culture and environment where we enable and encourage students to stretch themselves into advanced education in many topics. Recognition of students and educators is one easy way. Second, let's sort out our fiscal mess so that we can put more funds into advanced subjects that are in demand and that create college and career ready students. Third, let's keep partnering with City College, state colleges, nonprofits, philanthropists, so we can have multiple pathways that students can pursue.

What is the current state of special or remedial education at SFUSD?

I have learned much about how SFUSD can do special education better. Let's fund it properly and let's support our para and other special education educators with good pay and good professional development. Here's an Opinion piece I had published with Decoding Dyslexia California director Megan Potente about how to do better literacy curricula: https://www.sfexaminer.com/archives/opinion-early-reading-instruction-in-san-francisco-public-schools-a-love-affair-with-what-has/article\_ff9a5cc0-053f-5c37-88f5-b28a53ba41cb.html

What should SFUSD be doing to ensure students who need special education (either due to disability or academic performance) have access and the support they need to thrive?

SFUSD could follow the law and they could find ways to listen to what parents seek. This concern has been tossed under the rug for too long and need not continue.

Bullying & violence

Last school year SFUSD was beset by reports of rampant bullying and both in-school and after-school violence. Has the School Board done enough to fix and prevent these issues? And what more should be done, if anything?

NO. I wrote an opinion piece of school safety with some recommendations: https://www.sfexaminer.com/forum/sfusd-needs-clear-response-to-weapons-at-schools/article_e9e6803c-c757-11ed-8ba0-436d047dbd45.html I have backed students when they had concerns of safety. If the district wants to do restorative justice practices, they can staff it properly. The district can pay attention to the needs and concerns of the victims more. There is much to do.

What failures in administration allowed such violence to happen in our schools?

I know a great deal of many incidents, including the recent gun incident at George Washington High School. The restorative justice efforts are not well run and understaffed. The staff who were able to do good interventions could be recognized for their bravery and good work. Let's have schools make it a frequently stated priority that they expect students to act better.

What is your opinion about the new "Say Something Anonymous System"? Are other interventions warranted, as well?

This program can work well if there is good follow through. I don't know how well it is working. Safety is foundational. If students don't feel safe, they have less reason to be in school. So definitely other interventions can be put into place if current ones are insufficient.

Cyberbullying remains a problem. What is SFUSD doing to stop it, and what else should they be doing?

I am less familiar with how the district is handling cyberbullying. I've proven to be a quick study and have shown that I can encourage common sense ways to make things better.

Teachers

State regulators have ordered SFUSD to balance its budget by laying off some teachers. What experience do you have with union negotiations, labor disputes, and corporate finance?

Little experience, to be honest. The Commissioners have a broad scope and can do well by encouraging the Superintendent to do good jobs here.

Given SFUSD's budget crisis, how will you ensure that we are able to attract and retain the best teachers?

Great and important question. I talk often with many educators. Here are 3 quick ideas. Let's have the district get out of their way and let teachers teach. Let's give them good professional development. Let's have their pay and work conditions competitive with other school districts.

School assignment system

Please summarize the changes needed for the SFUSD school assignment system. How do you see it working best for preK through high school?

What I see as important in an improved school assignment policy: 1) simpler than the current system, 2) part of a program to improve all schools, 3) programs that are valued by the current school communities.

Indicate how you will ensure the changes to the assignment system proceed with minimal problems.

Big plans should be proven as much as possible, well-planned, well-executed, and adjusted as necessary. We have to recognize problems honestly and quickly find ways to make solutions to problems. Let's look at other school districts and have experts give us advice and options.

In your opinion, how should any changes to the system balance equity concerns with convenience and the needs of children and parents?

Yes, there should be balance. No system will be agreeable to everyone. Continuous improvement is a good thing.

How will you measure if these changes are beneficial for students and parents?

It's important to measure and to ask long-form questions. Have the school site councils report up to the district staff any good and concerning items as bubbling up in the community.

General information

In your view, why were San Francisco Board of Education members Alison Collins, Gabriela López, and Faauuga Moliga recalled?

High level, the Board of Education Commissioner were not doing their key job of educating our students and were instead pursuing ideological things like renaming schools.

Did you vote for or against the recalls of Board of Education members Alison Collins, Gabriela López, and Faauuga Moliga?

I voted for the recall of all three Commissioners.

Who are your mentors? Are there current or former Board of Education commissioners you believe have been most effective, and why?

I have continuously been learning from many community leaders,

members of district leadership, former Board of Education Commissioners, and

literacy and immigrant family advocates. I actively read how other school districts have done things well across the country. I have particularly learned from the choices and insight of current and former Board of Education Commissioners

• Jenny Lam

• Lainie Motamedi

• Lisa Weissman-Ward

• Eddie Chin

• Dr. Jill Wynns

These individuals have been doing the job of looking at the big concerns, and finding ways to move forward in sensitive and sensible ways.

In what ways are we succeeding in public education?

We are doing well with many programs like language immersion. We have many amazing and dedicated educators. We produce wonderful caring humans. We have much to build off of as we make big changes going forward.

In what ways are we failing in public education?

We can do better in having a district that can operate well, not just fiscally, but with an eye on improving student outcomes. We have made some good steps recently and I have a vision on how we can continue strongly in this direction.

How can the school district use its land to help deliver housing for teachers, school staff, and San Francisco families?

As a real estate professional and a member of the Bond Oversight Committee, and a former member of the Civil Grand Jury, I have thought hard about this very question. There is a good amount of unused land available for educator and workforce housing. There are many districts who have quickly build such housing in creative manners that don't cost as much as the rate to build affordable housing in San Francisco. Let's use creative agreements and financing terms. Let's cut red tape. I will work hard as Commissioner to make this idea work well.

Personal

Tell us a bit about yourself!

Did you attend SFUSD or public primary schools in other cities? How do our schools differ from when you were a student?

I went to SFUSD schools K-12 in the 1970s and 1980s and it was a great personal experience. Our public schools have some incredible bright spots of educators, staff, programs, and administrators. Our school district has made many poorly chosen fiscal and curriculum directions which has brought us to our current state. We can work together to make all schools excellent where students thrive.

How long have you lived in San Francisco? What brought you here and what keeps you here?

I've lived in San Francisco my whole life, except for college. I was born in Children's Hospital on California Street. What keeps me here is the people, the weather, the food. It's the best combination in the world.

What do you love most about San Francisco?

It's the rich people, personalities, history, and diverse culture. I've got a podcast where I profile folks doing good for the City, from small business folks to nonprofit leaders to regular people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THWVEBxXhao

What do you dislike the most about San Francisco?

People in San Francisco have a tendency to ignore some problems and have them grow bigger, like the fentanyl crisis. We can copy other cities or we can be creative- just try different things with an eye on outcomes. I've worked on the Civil Grand Jury where I looked at how other cities dealt with homelessness. https://www.sf.gov/sites/default/files/2024-02/2023%20CGJ%20Report\_Hitting%20the%20Performance%20Bullseye%20-%20Contracting%20for%20Better%20Outcomes%20in%20Homelessness%20Services\_062823.pdf

Tell us about your current involvement in the community (e.g., volunteer groups, neighborhood associations, civic and professional organizations, etc.).

I have had the blessing and honor to be involved as a leader and supporter of a number of civic and other groups in the community.

• SF Parents Coalition

• SF Civil Grand Jury

• SF Unified School District Citizens Bond Oversight Committee

• SF Guardians (recalls and 8th grade algebra)

• activ8SF steering committee, a member of ConnectedSF

• United Democratic Club Board member (former)

• Chinese American Democratic Club Education Committee co-chair (former)

• Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA)

• Association for the Advancement of Asians Board Member

• SF Roundtable, co-lead, a civic monthly breakfast

• Building SF, producer, a local podcast

• Eyessfboe, a substack newsletter and X account

• GrowSF

• Together SF

• Bay Area New Liberals

• Refuse Refuse

• Leadership SF, part of the SF Chamber of Commerce