School board races wide open in Stover, Versailles

Two Morgan County school districts are gearing up for the April 4 election, with a handful of candidates seeking terms on the boards of education.

 

MORGAN COUNTY R-1

STOVER - Five candidates are seeking to fill three, three-year terms on the April 4 ballot for the Morgan County R-1 Board of Education.

Cody Worthley is a Stover alderman and works as a jail administrator for the Morgan County sheriff's office. He is seeking a seat on the school board, because he wants to make a difference in his community.

"I want to make sure we have enough of the required programs to offer students," Worthley said, "With hopes to attract more students to our schools."

Sheryl Simon is employed by Gates Corporation. She would like to improve technology offerings for students.

"We live in a tech-based world, and I want to see our students advance with the times," Simon said.

Salon owner Stephanie Marriott said she is running for the board, because she cares about the direction of the schools.

"My will to serve comes from the heart," Marriott said. "We have roughly 600 little futures in the school district. And if I could give my time to help them, that is a special gift to them."

Candidates Thomas Chandler Jr. and Joel Clark did not respond to calls to comment for this article.

 

MORGAN COUNTY R-2

VERSAILLES - Five candidates are competing for three, three-year terms on the Morgan County R-2 Board of Education.

Incumbent Brad Chamberlain, currently treasurer on the board, has served six years on the board. He said he would like to continue to improve educational opportunities and achievements for all students by retaining quality teachers and support staff. He said his list of concerns includes growing the local economy, the decrease in school district enrollment and the reduction in state funding for education.

John Anderson is vice president of Citizens Bank said he is running for the board because he believes this to be a great way to give back to the community.

April Boicourt is a training coordinator for Marshall's Inc. Bouicourt and holds a degree in elementary education. She said she is running because she has three children attending school in the district and is involved in the community.

"I am passionate about the success of our school and want to help the community to become more involved with the school," she said. "I am always concerned about the safety of our students and teachers, and would like to continue to help implement programs that enforce safety."

Veronica Dobbins, who was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board last year, said she is seeking her first full term with the goals of providing the best education possible, seeking opportunities for growth and maximizing students' potential.

"I'm very proud of our school district and their striving for constant betterment," Dobbins said. "As a board member, the topics I mentioned earlier are of significant importance, as we mold our future leaders."

Chad Courter is a pastor at Trinity Southern Baptist Church in Versailles and said he is running because he would like to support academics in the district.

"I want to champion academics as much as we do our sporting programs," Courter said. "I believe we have an excellent school district filled with great students and educators, and we should showcase them."

Candidates J. Dwayne Schad and Gay Marriott did not respond to requests for interviews.