Do your homework for school board vote

And then there were six.

But even after two candidates' withdrawal from the Iowa City school board race, that's a nice number to choose from.

Left standing are incumbent Mike Cooper, Anne M. Johnson, both of North Liberty; Tuyet Dorau of Coralville; and April Armstrong, Jean Jordison and Sarah Swisher, all of Iowa City. They're vying for three seats on the board.

Opinion Page Editor Jeff Tecklenburg and I talked with each of them this past week as The Gazette Editorial Board gets ready to discuss endorsements for the Sept. 8 election. We'll have some serious discussing to do.

School board elections are democracy's also-rans. We're usually lucky to have enough bottoms to fill each critical but unglamorous seat.

Not so in this year's Iowa City school board race, which includes candidates with varied personalities, skills, experiences and views.

That's important, because the district is facing some thorny issues.

There's a budget that needs slashing, a new high school on the horizon but no money to operate it, districtwide boundary changes, schools in need of assistance -- that's just the beginning.

Yet despite those challenges, this full roster has signed up, willing to serve. For that, they deserve our thanks -- and our attention, for a change. Because it's not just candidates who are shy about school board elections.

In school board elections over the past 15 years in Johnson County -- with voters in Clear Creek Amana, Lone Tree, Solon and Iowa City districts -- an average of about 6 percent of eligible voters have bothered to fill out a ballot, according to the Johnson County Auditor's office.

The most recent low point was 1992, when 2.18 percent of eligible voters showed up. Of course, only one race in that year's four was contested.

This year, the candidates have done their bit. Now it's our turn. That means homework.

You can study on your own or attend The Gazette and Districtwide Parent Organization's candidate forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the district's Central Administration office, 509 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City.

Then vote.

We like to talk about how children are our future. It's time to act like we mean it. That means taking seriously our schools' current problems -- and the people willing to wrestle with them.

Consider it a test. Maybe your first in a while.

They've got plenty of pens and paper for you at the polls.

Jennifer Hemmingsen's column appears on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Contact the writer at (319) 339-3154 or jennifer.hemmingsen@gazcomm.com