Board of Education Candidates Forum Will Address Budget, Superintendent Search

Many candidates for the Montgomery County Board of Education will be discussing their ideas for local public schools at a candidates forum, which will take place Monday evening.

Twelve candidates for the eight-member Board of Education will meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at theRockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Ave. in Rockville, to discuss their contributions to the board if elected. The event, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and Friends of the Library, is expected to draw about 100 people, said Co-President of the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, Diane Hibino.

"We're hoping to have a good turnout and give candidates a chance to express their ideas and educate the public," Hibino said. "We hope to have a full room."

Although no candidates from District 2 — which includes Potomac — will participate in the forum, voters across the county vote for all Board of Education members no matter which district they live in.

This year, Districts 1, 3, and 5 as well as an at-large position are up for election. Laura Berthiaume currently represents District 2 and her first term ends in 2012.

A moderator will ask pre-determined questions to the candidates such as their opinions and plans for the current budget scenario, how they might improve relations with county council and ideas about selecting a new superintendent, Hibino said.

Also, all candidates will have opening statements in which they can talk about who they are and how they work individually.

The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions for the candidates. The audience can submit questions on a card and the moderator will select some to ask the candidates.

The forum is not only a way to educate voters — it also spreads the word about the League of Women Voters and their mission, Hibino said.

"As with all public meetings, we encourage people to join the league after seeing the work we do," Hibino said. "We are out there not only to educate the public, but also to educate people about work that league does."