Candidate Q&A: Laurie McKenna

Name:

Laurie Ann McKenna

Party, Position Seeking:

Republican, Board of Education

Background:

Born in Wantagh, NY (on Long Island). Spent formative years and graduated from Cherry Valley High School, NY (in upstate NY near Cooperstown).  Graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

Family information: 

Married, for 16 years, to Kevin McKenna. We have three sons: Luke (15) Henry (13) and Danny (10). We have a 12-year-old black Labrador retriever named Katie Mae.

Occupation:

Chief Financial Officer for Strategic Employee Benefit Services (West Hartford, CT).

Political Experience:

Canton Board of Education is my first run for office.

Other Relevant Experience, Community Service: 

Relevant experience include: Treasurer, Canton Parent-Teachers Organization (2000-2004); Board of Directors, Farmington Canton Avon Youth Hockey Association Board of Directors (2006-2009), etc.

Why are you running for office?

I have a sincere desire to serve the community, with a deep conviction that public education is important. 

I understand the board’s roles and responsibilities. I am willing to invest the significant time and energy required by board service, with a priority on attending all board meetings and carrying out all related board work. 

I bring a broad base of knowledge and experience to the job, enabling me to vote with intelligence and confidence on complex issues such as finance, curriculum and student-employee-community relationships.

What skills do you have that you could bring to the community?

I will respect the diversity of perspectives and backgrounds in the community and on the board of education, enabling me to serve with an open mind.  I will serve with a cooperative spirit and understand that success in devising and implementing solutions requires a team approach.

I have the ability to understand the forces of change in our community and to forsee, to some extent, the shape of the future in order to proactively plan for it.

I possess the courage to make difficult decisions, while defending the philosophy and goals of the board of education. 

If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus?

I am flexible and open-minded on my primary areas of focus in serving on the board. I will be a contributing member, based on the roles and responsibilities that need to be filled for timely and relevant issues. As of right now, I do not know what my primary areas of focus will be.

Name something the school system has done well over the past four years.

The board of education has done an incredible job of managing its budget, and improving each school’s curriculum, during extremely difficult economic times and conditions.

What is something the town could have done better during the past four years?

Canton’s population is growing and we are constantly struggling in accommodating the anticipated number of students attending our schools; particularly in Cherry Brook Primary School.