Every week Voice reporters Mike Sorgenfrei and Jessica Ebert facilitate an interview with randomly selected students and an administrator.
This week featured Tameeka Bennett (12) and Brittany Hampton (12) interviewing Principal Scott Laurence.
Laurence: Prior to coming to Paly I spent four years at Gunn as their principal.
Students: What made you go to Gunn and become principal there?
L: Actually, going to Gunn was a risk, both principals’ retired at the same time and I had the choice to stay at Paly or go to a new school. I took advantage of the opportunity presented and I went to a new school and worked with new people.
S: What do you think of Paly in general?
L: I love it here. Prior to going to Gunn I worked at Paly for 16 years and it felt like a homecoming. I coached football and baseball here. At one time I had Mr. Walker’s job. Also, my wife works here. It’s good to be back.
S: What changes would you make to Paly?
L: I’m not planning on making any changes. I want the school year to get off to a good start, and I’m going to listen before I start changing things around the school.
S: What are your goals for Paly this year?
L: I want to make Paly a welcoming place; that’s my personality, easy going and outgoing. I want to make Paly as comfortable as possible. I’m looking foreword to the Family dinner night. I want to see the interactions between parents, administration, and students. I know parking is a problem here and I will solve that eventually. Right now, I’m working with my good friend Mrs. Shultz and we feel like we can solve problems with students by working with them individually.
S: What is your stance on the homework load at Paly?
L: I agree with most of the students here at Paly, there is too much homework. However, homework is a symptom of a larger problem at Paly, which is overscheduling. I think there is too much homework and too many afterschool activities. It makes a student feel like they have to do everything and everything perfectly. So the way to handle too much homework is to not overload with a lot of classes, and extra curricular activities.
S: What actions are being taken against the theft in the locker rooms at Paly?
L: It’s not right that students are taking from other students. There are three things that can be done to correct this problem. we could install cameras, but that’s not ethically correct. We can get more people to supervise the lockers, if the cost of the stolen goods is worth paying for the extra supervisors. However, the thing we should try to do first and most importantly is change the community if students are stealing form students. That’s what we need to eventually change but that’s a lot harder and takes a lot more time. If the problem continues we will pay for supervisors to make this problem stop as quickly as possible.
S: I’ve heard rumors that next year the State and PAUSD plans to take away all candy, snacks, soda, and sports drinks and replace them with health foods. What is your stance? Do you agree with this new policy?
L: Obesity is the number one problem that is preventable among students and adults. Youth diabetes is exploding and I think that it is absolutely right to get rid of junk food. But, my job is to make kids make healthy decisions and if I take all the junk food away you don’t get to make a choice and I decide for you, which is not how we learn. You are on your own after highschool and people won’t be there to make your healthy decisions. Therefore banning junk food will not help you make decisions.
S: What about the money that is generated from these machines?
L: Can Paly expects financial problems because of this?
I’ve talked to Mr. Hansen about this and he doesn’t have a problem with it. There are other health drinks and health snacks that can be supplied. Other schools have done this as well and they haven’t had any financial problems. I don’t think there will be a huge impact on the budget there may be a slight dip, but nothing to worry about.
S: What is it like working with your wife?
L: It’s interesting, I hardly ever see her, so there is no impact on my work. It’s fun because if I need lunch I have someone to go with. We have an 11-year-old kid that she picks up, so she’s only here half the day. We rarely see each other.