Name: Pam Murray
Age: 60
Occupation: Retired. Currently serves on the board of directors for the Community Health Center of Central Missouri.
Hometown: Sweden.
Why run? "The present school board and administration have lost the confidence of the citizens. With my experience as a former Holts Summit alderwoman, I can bring much needed discussion and transparency to the way the board operates. That is the first step that must be taken to regain the trust of our teachers, parents, taxpayers and students."
As a member of the school district's Long Range Facilities Planning Committee, Pam Murray has been a proponent for vocational and technical education as a part of the total curriculum.
With an election scheduled for April 7, four challengers and an incumbent are vying for two open seats on the Jefferson City Board of Education. In order of their ballot appearance, the candidates are: Murray, Joy Sweeney, Michael Couty, Dan Renfrow and Adrian Hendricks II.
At board meetings, Murray has addressed the need for board oversight of district operations, including the use of assets, long-range planning and restoring trust with the community, she wrote in a press release Tuesday.
"The people of Missouri decided many years ago that public business needs to be conducted in public," she wrote. "The school board has failed to post meeting notices and agendas to their website, thus limiting public involvement and scrutiny.
"Listening to the parents and taxpayers of the district is vital to restoring trust."
If elected, she said she will prioritize retaining veteran teachers and improving teacher morale.
Murray is a retired health care worker and volunteer. During her career, she has held oversight and quality-assurance jobs in several hospital settings.
She currently serves on the board of the Community Health Center of Central Missouri. She has also served on the Holts Summit Board of Aldermen, Holts Summit Community Betterment Association, Mid-Missouri Regional Planning Commission and the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.
She has four step-children who attended public school in Jefferson City, and has two grandchildren who are currently enrolled there.
"Educating students is the greatest priority," Murray wrote. "Assuring teachers and staff have the resources to accomplish this is paramount. Providing a safe and nurturing environment for student success, coupled with empowering teachers, goes without question."