Jennifer Parson, Career Educator, Enters Race for Milford School Committee

For the first time in several years, Milford voters could have a contested race for School Committee.

A third candidate, Jennifer Parson, 45, drew papers Thursday. If she returns the required number of signatures, at least three people could be seeking two available seats.

Parson, a 17-year resident of Milford, has two children in the public school system. She is a career educator, who has worked for the past several years as a principal. She is now principal of the K-5 Lincoln Street School in Northborough. Previously, she was principal at Center Street School, a public K-1 school, in Hopkinton.

She began her career as a teacher, and has worked at the elementary and middle school levels.

In Milford, she recently was elected to a Town Meeting position, and serves on the advisory school councils for Stacy Middle School and Woodland Elementary School. She also serves on an advisory board for the Milford Community School Use program. Her daughter is a fifth-grader at Stacy Middle School. Her son is a second-grader at Brookside Elementary School.

She said she hopes to lend some of her experience to the School Committee. "There are so many changes in education, so many things are happening. With some of the experience I have, I may be able to lend support to the Milford schools."

At least two other candidates are expected to run. Joe Callery, a Milton Cat supervisor, took out nomination papers this month, and John Erickson, the Milford building commissioner, has already returned his papers.

Two seats are available this spring on the seven-member School Committee. The election is April 1.

The two incumbents — Christine Boyle and Robert Lanzetta — have not indicated as yet whether they plan to seek re-election. Nomination papers can be taken out for two more weeks.