Laurie Donahue​ For IPSD204 School Board: Patch Candidate Profile

Name: Laurie Donahue

Age: 59

Position Sought: School Board District 204

Family: Naperville resident for over 35 years. Married for 32 years with two children, Hillary (25) and Ryan (28).

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Education: BS in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan, MBA from Benedictine University

Occupation: I have more than 30 years of experience working for the various forms of AT&T/Lucent and now Nokia leading diverse business and technical teams. I’ve managed $250M capital budgets and led a $1B purchasing program. Currently I am a Senior Director leading Global Quality initiatives.

Why are you running?

I have two children who went through the District 204 schools from Kindergarten through graduating from Neuqua Valley HS. They had wonderful academic experiences, participated in varsity sports and the arts programs. I am running for the school board because I believe I can contribute to achieving continued excellence in our schools and effectively deal with the issues facing our district. I want the students of today and tomorrow to have the same opportunity my children did while attending District 204 schools.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Chair/Co-Chair Naperville Sister Cities Commission

Campaign Website: lauriedonahuefor204.com

What do you hope to accomplish in office?

To provide a superior, well-rounded, educational experience preparing all students for their chosen career path, college or vocational, with the skill set to succeed in the 21st century. We need to continuously evolve our curriculum and teaching techniques to foster entrepreneurial skills, problem solving, and to inspire intellectual curiosity. Stimulating opportunities should be available for the gifted, and supportive programming for those who need extra help. I would like to see all students receive meaningful exposure to technical tools and skills and drive more interest in math in science. Future careers will require these skills. Additionally, to achieve a well rounded education and promote creativity, I will advocate for the arts programs in the district.

Communication and collaboration between the board, administration, and community to make decisions, will be a priority, as well as achieving fiscal responsibility

How would you hold local government employees accountable?

A thorough governance should be in place to ensure accountability, financial responsibility, and alignment with priorities. As a member of the board, I will strive to have a broad, unbiased understanding of issues and needs. I will make sure that decisions are equitable and that the district continues to be fiscally responsible.

Explain your attitudes toward fiscal policy, government spending and how taxpayer dollars should be handled by your office (or board)?

As a member of the IPSD 204 board, I will provide jurisdiction for the district’s budget and spending plans to ensure financial stability and alignment with community priorities. My career experiences in budgeting, cost controls, purchasing, and quality give me a broad skill set to contribute to the school board. I will be focused on obtaining the maximum benefits from the school district’s financial resources, as well as, monitoring and auditing spending programs to keep them efficient and effective. I also will be vigilant with respect to activities taking in place in Springfield - this is a critical component of our district budget.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am a successful business leader and an active volunteer in our community. I have significant experience dealing with constantly decreasing budgets and continuing expectations for higher performance. To be successful I built skills in negotiation, team building, leadership, and communication. I've had to make difficult decisions and demonstrated the ability to define creative solutions to solve problems.

Beyond my career, I have been a volunteer and leader in a variety of different organizations, including chairing the Naperville Sister Cities Commission with a special emphasis on driving a connection between our schools and Nitra Slovakia. Last year with my leadership over ninety choir students and chaperones from Neuqua visited Nitra Slovakia.

I will bring passion and experience to address the topics facing the District 204 school board.

I am running for the school board because I believe I can contribute to achieving continued excellence in our schools and effectively deal with the issues in our district. We have major challenges including high classes sizes and budget concerns. A cohesive school board is an essential element for the success of a school district. We need people who have different perspectives and diverse skill sets who can work together, as a team, to make the right decisions for our students and community. I bring a proven track record, through my career accomplishments and volunteer activities, of integrity and success working with others to achieve superior results. I believe I can make a difference in supporting our school district and community.

Photo provided by Laurie Donahue