Face off in District 3

MEGAN GRAY

LANCASTER – Houston Elementary School’s library housed the only candidate forum for the Lan-caster Independent Sc-hool Dist-rict’s Board of Trustees election.

Jeff Me-lcher, a veteran, and Carolyn Morris, the incumbent, facing off for the District 3 spot Thursday, April 22.

Early voting is currently in progress from now through Monday, May 3 at the Lan-caster Veterans Memorial Library.

Election Day is May 8.

The Ellis County Press asked each candidate the same questions with limitations of no more than a brief answer from each.

For more detail, candidates may be able to be reached individually.

  Melcher : I want what we all want: better schools. Safer schools. Once every three years ordinary people can change schools from the top, leadership level – IF there’s an election. What I most want is to give voters a clear choice: same old, same old or new skills, new energy and new ideas.

Morris: I am committed to my community and the children in public schools. I know I have a lot to give and I want to continue serving our children in Lancaster. I am a hard worker.

Melcher: Safety, Accountability, and Finances.  Regarding safety for one example, our board has set no clear policy protecting teachers from student-originating sexual harassment. The board’s unaccountability leaves our staff unresponsive and our master policies obsolete. So, for another instance, our financial policy on spending Federal Title I money is from 3 years before No Child Left Behind. I can help with that.

Morris: The new superintendent, our academics and funding/financial issues are main top priority.

Melcher : I am a veteran and, this year, a twenty-five year careerist in federal service to the worldwide military. My professional assignments included industrial engineering, international traffic management, warehousing, construction and other project management duties, and lately formal business analysis. I’m married with three children. We’ve lived in Lancaster since 2004.

Morris: A graduate from El Centro as a Paralegal while also having attended North Lake College and Dallas Baptist University. Some previous activities include being part of various community groups including but not limiting to Comforters Counseling Ministry (Friendship West Baptist Church) Senator Royce West Student Advisory Committee (SAC) and Founder/ President for the Lancaster NAACP.