Masters unchallenged for board seat (4/21/04)

In his first bid for an elected office, a Dunkirk insurance agent is running unopposed for the District 4 seat on the Jay School Board.

Michael A. Masters, 39, faces no competition in the May 4 school board election, and will take office July 1.

He is a 1983 graduate of Jay County High School, and he earned an associate of applied science degree in marketing in 1985 from Indiana Vocational Technical College. He is a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow and a member of the American Management Training Council.

Masters has been a licensed insurance agent since 1986, and has been owner/agent of Masters Insurance in Dunkirk for eight years.

He and his wife Debra have two sons, William and Evan. The family resides at 9661 West 400 South, Redkey.

In addition to being a Westlawn Elementary School PTO and Dunkirk Junior League member and officer, Masters also is a West Jay Optimist Club member and exalted ruler of the Dunkirk Elks Lodge 1776 and an Elks lodge trustee for 2004-08.

Masters recently answered questions from The Commercial Review regarding Jay Schools issues and his candidacy. His answers follow.

What prompted your decision to run for school board?

Masters — Based on prior work with local schools and community I was encouraged to run by several area residents.

I also believe that I will work for all children, parents and taxpayers in an effort to allow them to have a voice in our school corporation.

I believe that I can and will be able to assist educators in the goal of educating our children.

What personal qualifications do you bring to the job as a school board member?

Masters — 1. Past and present involvement in educational process at elementary level.

2. Parent of two sons attending Jay Schools — Westlawn and West Jay.

3. Excellent understanding of parent and community concerns.

4. Liaison for parents and local schools.

5. Have worked for several organizations in leadership positions (with primary focus on youth development).

6. Unique understanding and perspective having attended Bloomfield Elementary and East Jay Junior High and now living and working in Dunkirk with children attending Westlawn and West Jay Middle schools.

Philosophically, what do you believe the role of the school board should be?

Masters — 1. To be the voice of our youth, parents and taxpayers of all Jay County.

2. To act at all times in the best interest of everyone as a group, not representing select individuals and/or opinions.

3. To help educators have the necessary tools to properly educate area youth.

4. To give area youth the best education possible.

If you could change one thing about Jay Schools what would it be?

Masters — To be able to achieve smaller class sizes in an effort to better educate every child.

Allowing them the one-on-one time with our quality educators to help them achieve outstanding academic goals, and to instill in them that they can accomplish anything they desire with hard work.

If you could preserve one thing about Jay Schools what would it be?

Masters — I would like to keep the quality fiscal path that has been achieved over the last two years, allowing our schools to be able to focus on everyone's goals which is to give our youth the best possible education.[[In-content Ad]]