Meet school board candidates at tonight’s forum

This September, the people of Cedar Rapids will be asked to vote for members of the Cedar Rapids Community School District's school board. Residents will be asked to make informed choices about the candidates and issues when they cast their ballots. Do you know the answers to these questions?

' Are teachers paid enough?

' Is the school district's budget sufficient?

' Who stands for education and what does that mean?

The Cedar Rapids Community School District is the second-largest school district in Iowa. Annually, it educates over 16,000 students, employs more than 2,700 individuals in our community, attracts over 7,000 volunteers and has a budget of greater than $260 million dollars. The school board acts as the policymaking and planning arm of the district. The board is comprised of seven elected community members who serve without pay. Members of the school board are responsible for educating our students, managing the tax dollars provided to education, incorporating our community's needs in the policies and expectations of the district and being held accountable for the performance of our schools.

According to the Linn County Election Services, the past several school board elections have garnered dismal voter turnout. Ranging from 1.62 percent of voters in 2009 to 4.70 percent of voters in 2013, our community largely has ignored the elections for selecting school board members. As budgets are tightened, enrollment fluctuates and the future of public education is debated at all levels of government, the need for our community to take part in electing the individuals who will guide our local educational system is great.

The Cedar Rapids Council PTA, Cedar Rapids Education Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Iowans for Gun Safety, Horizons and the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa have gathered to create a candidate forum for the September 2015 school board elections. This forum will allow candidates to answer predetermined questions and to take questions from the audience. The forum also creates an opportunity for voters to meet the candidates following the question and answer sessions today at 7 p.m. at the Kirkwood Training & Outreach Service Center, 3375 Armar Drive, Marion.

We are asking that voters seek information about these candidates. We are asking that the people of our community live up to their right and responsibility to vote. If you want to have a say in your child's education, if you want to have a say in how your tax dollars are spent, if you want to select the individuals who will be responsible for the education of this generation, then take the time to participate, become informed and vote.

' Janel McGovern is Cedar Rapids Council PTA president. Comments: cityptainfo@gmail.com