Re-elect JOAN BUCHANAN school board

 

 

It has been an honor to serve on the school board in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

I believe that a strong public educational system is the cornerstone of our democracy. Our most important job is to prepare our children to be the workers and leaders of future generations. Our success as a nation and as a community depends on it.

Families move into our community because of the quality of our lifestyles and the quality of our schools. By any measure our schools rank at or near the top, and I am proud of our many accomplishments.

  • Average SAT scores have increased by over 70 points the past ten years.
  • The number of advanced placement exams taken has doubled.
  • 98 % of our students graduate from high school, and 96% of our graduates continue their education at the college or university level.
  • Last year every school in our district received the highest ranking of 10 on the State's Academic Performance Index.
  • Our students regularly receive awards in academics, in fine and performing arts, in speech and debate, and on the athletic field. and
  • Many of our teachers have been recognized for their contributions to education.

Our success is the result of the leadership team we have worked hard to build. We have a board that works well with administrators, teachers, support staff, and parents and includes all in the decision-making process. We have a board that has encouraged community partnerships. We have a board that has provided strong leadership but also understands that the job gets done through the work of others.

That is why our district has been a leader in developing standards and benchmarks in all subject areas. It is why we had an assessment task force before it was mandated by the state. It is why we have exemplary Beginning Teacher Support and Peer Assistance Review programs. It is why our district was proactive in negotiating a master mitigation agreement requiring developers to pay for schools in the Dougherty Valley.

Our successes are the result of leadership that is inclusive; leadership that values all members of the educational family; leadership that empowers people to make changes and do a job well. As we move forward the next four years, we will continue to face challenges. Keeping strong leadership on the board - leadership that is inclusive - will help turn the challenges into opportunities for continued growth and success.

I ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 5th.

 

PRIORITIES:

Academic Accountability:

  • Work to continuously improve instructional strategies, programs, and opportunities for all students.
  • Develop programs to work with underachieving and low performing students to help them meet standards and pass the high school exit exam.
  • Work with parents and the community to ensure that our curriculum meets state and community standards.

Fiscal Accountability:

  • Continue to focus our limited resources on the classroom while maintaining a balanced budget.
  • Maintain adequate reserves for all funds.
  • Work with our legislative task force and our state representatives to secure additional State equalization funding.

Parent and Community Relationships:

  • Explore new partnerships with the City of San Ramon, Town of Danville, and Contra Costa County.
  • Involve parents and community leaders in key decisions.
  • Explore new methods of communication to make our district more "customer friendly."

Measure A:

  • Work cooperatively with staff and the independent Citizens' Oversight Committee to insure that all Measure A projects are completed in timely manner, with sensible designs and quality materials, and in the most cost effective manner possible.
  • Ensure that our schools are safe both structurally and operationally.

Dougherty Valley Schools:

  • Work with staff, the Dougherty Valley Developers, and the Dougherty Valley Oversight Committee to ensure that all Dougherty Valley schools are built in a timely manner and to district and community standards.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

BA Economics
Former financial analyst; Director of large divisions and multi-million dollar budgets.
Parent of five children who have graduated from district schools.
Past PTA president; Del Valle Council and 32nd District Legislative Representative; SIP Site Council Chair.
Past board member, San Ramon Valley School Age Child Care Alliance; member Danville-Alamo
AAUW; soccer and softball coach
Board liaison to City of San Ramon; Town of Danville; negotiating team; math task force; assessment task force; special education ad hoc advisory committee.
Past "Citizen of the Year" Alamo Rotary Club
Recipient of California Teachers Association State "Gold Award"
Recipient of Association of CA School Administrators Region VI "Outstanding Friend of Education"
Recipient of five PTA "Honorary Service Awards"