FILING CONTINUES FOR THREE SCHOOL SEATS IN JACKSON

JACKSON - A community health nurse is the latest candidate to file for one of the three vacant seats on the Jackson Board of Education.

Vicky McDowell, 650 Strawberry Lane, is a registered nurse who works at the Cape Girardeau County Health Department.

McDowell is a 1985 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, and holds a bachelor of science degree in nursing. She was a staff nurse at the St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau before joining the health department in 1986.

McDowell, and her husband, Harold, have two children, Vaughn, 19, a student at Southwest Missouri State University at Springfield, and Reagan, 15, a student at Jackson High School.

She is a charter member and past president of the Sigma Theta Tau chapter of the Southeast Missouri State University Nursing Honor Society; a member of the Jackson High School Tribal Council Booster Club; and a member of the Jackson High School Football Parents Club. McDowell is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Jackson.

McDowell says she decided to run for school board because she wants to be more involved in the community. "I decided that there is no better way to become involved in the community than to be involved in the education of our children," she explained. "I do not have any earth-shaking platform or radical changes, I just want to serve my community the best way I know how."

McDowell said she decided to run for school board after it was announced the board is being enlarged from six to seven seats. Recent state legislation requires all school boards in the state to add one additional seat.

"I did not want to appear to be running against any of the incumbent members of the board," McDowell continued. "I think the board is doing a very fine job. We have an excellent school system, which I feel is a credit to the school board, the administration, and the staff."

If elected, McDowell said would like to see the school district develop some type of a program for the younger "latch-key" students in the district who have working parents.

"Perhaps a breakfast program for those who are coming to school without breakfast, or an after-school homework program for students who do not have help at home," McDowell said. "When I graduated from school, there was ample opportunity for jobs. Today, the competition is a lot stiffer. I want to make sure every student in the Jackson school system has the education and skills needed to compete in college, vocational school, or in the job market."

Other candidates that have filed for school board include incumbent board member Darrell Hanschen, and Mark Martin, Kelle A. Lane, and David L. Seabaugh. Incumbent board member, Dr. T. Wayne Lewis, is expected to file later this week.

Candidates may file at the school board offices, on South Oklahoma, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The deadline for filing is Feb. 2.