Laurance Lee for
School Board
Hi, my name is Laurance Lem Lee, lum chuk sai. Our schools here made me who I am and I want to give back.
My goals
There are a couple things I am hoping to achieve.
I will balance the $1.3 Billion schools budget.
Our schools are facing a financial crisis, and we must act now to prevent a state takeover of our finances. Too much money has been wasted on unnecessary consultants and bad contracts—resources that should be directed toward our students' success. My commitment is clear: I will balance the $1.2 billion SFUSD budget by prioritizing effective spending that directly benefits our students. We will listen to the community and ensure that their voices shape the decisions we make, not just collect feedback and ignore it.
I will bring improved student academic outcomes.
Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, and I am committed to bringing all kids up to reading at grade level or better. I've connected with experts locally and nationally who are already making this happen, and I’m ready to implement proven strategies here in SFUSD. To achieve this, we must not only address chronic absenteeism but also ensure they feel safe and supported, both academically and emotionally. Mental health resources and a focus on well-being are critical. Additionally, I will continue to fund and expand popular programs like language immersion, ensuring that our schools offer the enriching education that our families value.
Why vote for me?
I’m a proud product of San Francisco’s public schools, shaped by the experiences and support I received from dedicated educators and staff at Argonne Elementary, Presidio Middle School, and Lowell High School. My parents were immigrants who valued public education, and thanks to all those who believed in me, this SFUSD kid went on to attend Harvard for college and Stanford for graduate school.
Times are tough now and students are in need of so much support. As the city of San Francisco, we could use someone on the school board of education who has K-12 experience in the SFUSD and can speak for student needs through all the different grades.
For me, it’s personal.
I’ve been fighting for SFUSD students for years. I participated in the School Board Recall from day one, volunteering long days to accumulate hundreds of petition signatures. I fought to bring back 8th grade algebra, and won.
I am the guy who got SFUSD to follow the law when they spent $744 million worth of taxpayer bond money on school facilities in the dark. I single-handedly brought the district into compliance. I'm the only candidate who has been volunteering for the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee for years, partnering with the new auditors to make sure the money is spent well. I kind of like spreadsheets.
And I have been working for our teachers. I was there with the teachers when they slept overnight at the SFUSD main office to protest the terrible EmPower teacher payroll software—for reference, EMPower is the $14 million payroll system that failed to pay hundreds of S.F. Unified School District teachers and staff on time, and has been full of bugs and other issues since it was launched in 2022. I was a member of the Civil Grand Jury who reported on the district's poor practices in hiring and training teachers and we have brought improvements.
I’m running for School Board because the public schools of San Francisco made me who I am today, and I’m dedicated to giving back.
I’m a SFUSD graduate who will put the students first. Vote for me.
My endorsements
Fiona Ma
California State TreasurerLily Ho
Democratic County Central Committee memberLanier Coles
Democratic County Central Committee memberBART Director District #1Debora Allen
Police CommissionerLarry Yee
Former President of the Board of SupervisorsMatt Gonzales
Former Board of Education CommissionerEddie Chin
Former SuperintendentVincent Matthews
Former SF Chief Administrative OfficerWilliam (Bill) Lee
Parent/Guardian/School VolunteerDenise Ruggeri
Saphron Initiative, advocacy associateNandini Polarouthu
SFUSDPauleena Rivero
Office of General Counsel, Navy (Retired)Marvin D. Norman
Fine Needle Aspiration Medical Group/UCLADavid Lieu, MD/MBA
Retired attorney and 50+ year SF residentPeter Logan
Titles and affiliations of each individual are provided for identification purposes only and do not imply an endorsement by the organization or institution they represent.
What have I done to contribute?
Just a few years ago, I witnessed no citizen oversight of the $100 million bond spending on school facilities. I brought it back, and am now on my 2nd year of being on the Committee, reviewing audits.
Check us out here.
I have published dozens of Opinion pieces in local media. Many changes are happening after I’ve brought sunshine to the concerns.
San Francisco ExaminerSFUSD needs a clear response to weapons at schools (and more)
Beyond ChronHow will the SF School District Solve Big Problems They Themselves Made? (and more)
Wind Newspaper Opinion: Eighth grade algebra adds up
San Francisco Bayview Early reading instruction in San Francisco public schools: A love affair with what has failed
The Bold Italic “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” Oscars victories moved me more than I expected
I have been quoted in the New York Times, CNN, SF Chronicle, SF Standard, KGO TV, KTSF channel 26, Sing Tao (Chinese; use your browser translation feature for English), World Journal, radio shows, Youtube channels, and many other forms of media.
Here’s my most recent coverage on Youtube:
