Campaign Sheet: Bio and Platform

By Michael J. Jurkovic

This is a platform for my campaign and outlines my bio and positions. Updated 10/11/03. More Updates to Come..

MICHAEL JURKOVIC Resident of Laguna Vista Estates in S.W. Pleasanton Phone: (925) 600-9964, e-mail: mjj2@columbia.edu Webpage: http://www.smartvoter.org/vote/jurkovic

I fully intend to carry out the wishes of the members of the Pleasanton Community within the boundaries imposed by logic, morality, and fiscal responsibility. I consider it a priority to maintain a deep understanding of the members of the district in addition to the workings and current state of the school system so that deficiencies can continue to be identified, and appropriate solutions implemented to resolve them. I believe that the school district and its governing board exist to serve the educational needs of the students as these needs are perceived by their parents/guardians. I would strongly encourage and invite members of the district to contact me either by phone or by e-mail with their thoughts and concerns. Although there is a fair amount of room for improvement, the school district works reasonably well at doing what it is supposed to do, which is to bring out the potential in our children. However, the policies, procedures and allocation of resources which comprise PUSD's strategic plan require modification and refinement in order to realize the dreams we all have for our children and render PUSD a world-class school district. This is what I hope to play a part in bringing out in the years ahead.

As a 35-year-old opto-electronic device and systems engineer and project leader with a demonstrated record of analytical ability, problem-solving skills and creative thinking, believe I can offer the district a perspective and skill set that both supplements and complements that found in current and potential board members. My wife, Ruslana, and I have lived in this beautiful community for nearly 3 years, but we do not yet have children in the district, thus rendering me an impartial judge of facts and data regarding PUSD-related issues. I was born and educated in New York City, having earned Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University, NY in 2000 and 1993, respectively. I've been conducting R&D and product development in the semiconductor industry/academia for more than 14 years and have seen numerous projects through to completion, having functioned in design engineering, research and development, design team coordination and project management capacities at institutions that include IBM, Naval Research Laboratory, and Columbia University. I have 1 patent and more than 30 technical publications in journals and conference proceedings in my areas of academic, government, and industrial research. The results of my work have been used or have potential application in diverse areas including: optical telecommunications, automated design and development of electronic and opto-electronic systems, infrared countermeasures for aircraft in support of national defense, and extending the capabilities of infrared cameras. In 2000-2001, I was a Fellow of the American Society of Engineering Education, which I carried out at Naval Research Laboratory, in Washington, DC. My teaching experience includes 6 years teaching or assisting senior and graduate level engineering courses and labs at Columbia University, 1 year of CCD (Catechist) instruction at Immaculate Conception elementary school, NY, and a course at the elementary school level. I have applied my education in science and technology to great benefit in education, industry, and academia. I believe that the extent and variety of my experience in education, design team coordination, project management, and research/product development would bring a fresh perspective to a school district which, although has been governed and managed well in the past, faces new, ever-changing and more difficult challenges ahead.

The numerous interrelated issues facing PUSD require careful determination, maintenance, and constant reassessment of a strategic plan that is implemented in policies, procedures, and appropriately balanced allocation of resources. This plan must address all issues in an optimal manner that results in the most favorable outcome for all our children and our community. The enormous trust that is placed on the shoulders of each board member must be met with intelligence, integrity, and responsibility. I believe that the task entrusted to each board member is to research all relevant data and information and to apply that knowledge and experience to establishing a plan that optimally meets or exceeds educational needs for all students. I also believe that my training and experience have prepared me well for this task and I encourage you view more details of my credentials and platform available on my campaign webpage.

The most difficult matter facing the board today is to constantly reassess and re-establish a balanced strategic plan in the midst of ever-changing conditions. This main issue can be broken down into 3 categories:

1. Maintaining and enhancing high academic standards with programs in place that appropriately address the academic needs of all students, from those that are at-risk, to average students striving for improvement, to gifted students.

2. Efficient, balanced, and appropriate allocation of resources and constant reassessment of the strategic plan to respond quickly and effectively to external influences such as the current economic situation and increasing enrollment.

3. Promoting and maintaining an environment that is conducive to molding the character of our students and producing responsible adult citizens as well as fostering social, athletic, artistic, personal, and other non-academic development.

SOME PLATFORM HIGHLIGHTS:

• While I am committed to continuing to improve programs and education quality for ALL students, I fully believe that the Federal "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND" initiative can be achieved in our district and I would push, when and where possible, for appropriate programs and educator incentives (both in recognition and monetary) that would focus on reducing to ZERO our 9.5%, or roughly 1000 students, that have tested below basic level on CA standardized tests such as the 2003 ELA.

• I support more extensive evaluation of teachers/classes/curriculum and a compensation system that better encourages QUALITY-of-service, not just YEARS-of-service. I also propose a survey of class/teacher evaluation forms that parents submit to schools in consultation with their children. I also support staff development, certification, and incentive programs that would reduce expenditures by certifying and utilizing staff for tasks that may currently be contracted.

• I support more informative and transparent reporting of standardized test results to the district members. Focus would be on trend-revealing graphical representation and direct comparison to similar schools and districts.

• I am committed to fostering and maintaining a Community of Character and a safe school environment that is indicative of the values we treasure in ourselves and in our children.

• PUSD administration and the budgetary committee work hard to identify areas for streamlining and make recommendations which I would consider if and when the time comes. I state the following measures only as examples to express a philosophy regarding the school budget, not to imply a readiness implement any measure. I am committed to finding ways to avoid program and personnel reduction while continuing to enhance the quality of education in light of the budgetary challenges that lie ahead. However, if the need arises, I would consider further temporary streamlining measures for compensation/services that are beyond those that are offered at other districts, such as: across-the-board compensation, reduction/rotation of elementary school assistant principals and counselors, suspension of double-sets of textbooks, and deferment of budget items on some extra activities such as coaching stipends. I would look to implement temporary streamlining measures on "extras" such as these before any consideration of a parcel tax. Lastly, I would consider a parcel tax before considering reduction in programs/personnel that are instrumental in performing the core and support functions.

• I am committed to maintaining good working relationships and open avenues of communication to all members of the district, including students, parents, non-parents, staff, city council, fellow board members, and Pleasanton businesses.

• I would look for ways to further reduce the discrepancy between standardized tests and the current curriculum (thus reducing the extraneous workload on both teachers and students) and further motivate students to perform well on CA tests.

• I am committed to working closely with city council and the business community to find ways to enhance the opportunities available to our students and to our staff. Examples include seminars/classes, career days, and rental housing incentives.

• I am committed to finding ways to establish and maintain both neighborhood school enrollment & reduced class size.

• I would look for ways to increase capacities of on-site childcare facilities as a self-sustaining service in order to better meet the currently unmet demands of the community. Childcare waiting lists exceed actual enrollment by 200% in some cases.

• I believe that students graduating from our district should be fully-functioning adult citizens of character who are knowledgeable of the federal, state, and local laws under which we live, who, for example, understand and respect the Civil Rights of others regardless of sentiment, and who are knowledgeable of such subjects as civil law, discrimination law and income tax return preparation. I propose a CITIZENSHIP CLASS that introduces high school students to these subjects whereby professionals from the community, such as lawyers, step forward to instruct students on the body of law of which all responsible adult citizens should be knowledgeable. This proposal is in addition to, and is intended to supplement, the example set by the Community of Character initiative and is by no means intended to supplant other priorities of PUSD's strategic plan in light of the budgetary situation. (see webspace at http://www.smartvoter.org/vote/jurkovic)

• I support Environmental Awareness in conjunction with city council such as the PTA Council's Go Green initiative. I would focus on funding to support practical approaches in reducing waste coming from our schools.

• Our children would clearly benefit greatly from additional schools. However, since budgetary considerations appear to be prohibitive, I would look to focus on creative arrangements to facilitate construction or delay until the budget will allow.

• I would consider efficiency measures and school sharing of future facilities such as athletic fields used for league games in order to ensure higher utilization of facilities that may be redundant and/or underutilized.

• I am committed to increasing support for programs that promote health and safety for students and staff.

• I am committed to maintaining high nutritional standards. I support the availability of a wide selection of nutritious foods as a major part of the full gamut of choices offered on campus.