We are impressed with the slate of candidates running for Albert Lea school board this election cycle. We are thankful the voters have choices and have such viable candidates at that. There have been years when there was a lack of competition.

This year, voters will have to make a legitimate election decision. That’s good for determining the direction of the school district and of the community. Still, the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsement decision was unclear. What we seek is not a board aligned with similar interests. We seek a board with varied interests, one that isn’t afraid to have split votes and still move forward with the majority rule.

We also would like the board to let the dust settle a bit after pushing for change after change after change. We feel it is time for administration to work on staff and faculty morale and building a sense of team and pride in the Albert Lea Area Schools. Let the initiatives of recent years take affect and have some time to show they work while still finding ways to reduce the dropout rate and work on making the district more appealing outwardly in an effort to stem open enrollment. A happier faculty and staff could go a long way toward the board’s student-achievement goals.

The Tribune roundly endorses incumbent Mark Ciota. We completely agree that his acumen, experience, research and fiscal knowledge lend greatly to board discussions. He also has an even keel that shows leadership in times of pressure. While he leans in favor of the calendar proposal, there are many issues besides a calendar, and the board will need his perspective in its efforts to bolster student achievement.

We were divided on selecting from the other four candidates. Please hear us out.

The Tribune would like more discussions to happen at board meetings, rather than workshops, so that they occur when the residents of the district are more likely to be present. One reason people might not go to board meetings is that the discussions have already taken place in workshops and so people feel like the decision has been made. Get the process right by pushing to be public, public, public as much as possible — including broadcasting on cable television — and they will come. Just look at the Albert Lea City Council for a prime example.

That said, we feel the other four candidates would be the types who push the board in that direction with alacrity. The issue seems to rest on the back burner and pops up as an issue every election cycle, only to be forgotten again for two years. The present board doesn’t address it or doesn’t know how to address it. But if it can be a paperless board thanks to technology, surely it can be tech-smart enough to video record a meeting and send it to Charter Communications, at the very least. At the most, the meetings would be shown live.

Kendall Langseth makes smart points when it comes to the need to give teachers more academic freedom and to give them a greater say in district decisions, even on an individual basis. We need to treat teachers like the college-trained professionals they are and — we are saying this, not Langseth, to be sure — less like workers in a widget factory. Their input is valuable and intelligent, and that feedback shouldn’t come merely through their union. What’s more, Langseth opposes the calendar adjustment, which is good.

Jill Marin is impressive with her ability to hear the concerns of the public and make decisions based on that. She has never been afraid to be the lone vote against an item the rest of the board favors. Like we said, a school board needs that opposing dialogue for healthy debate and constructive arguments is the strength and foundation of Western Civilization. It’s the right way to form decisions. We were glad to see Marin came out Wednesday as opposed to the proposed calendar adjustment.

Of all the candidates, Dave Klatt clearly would ask the most questions and desire to see the board increase its profile in the community. Klatt alone could be a game-changer, and he never takes disagreement personally. He’s the kind of fellow who likes to bat an idea around out loud. The public would feel quite welcome in approaching him about ideas or concerns.

Heather Sadauskis would be a voice for parents on the board. With Jeshua Erickson ending his service on the school board and with other children of board members graduating, the board would not have a parent if Sadauskis isn’t elected. While she favors a calendar change, she doesn’t support the one presently proposed. She, too, would like the board to have a greater public profile and will push for more public dialogue.

Considering the low attendance at the school board debate, the vote Tuesday likely will come down to either the calendar issue or even just name recognition. We talked to the candidates and debated their pros and cons and in the end, we feel the Tribune Editorial Board will be satisfied with the outcome, no matter who gets elected. That’s how impressed we were with all five.

We encourage people to get to the polls on Tuesday and decide the direction of the Albert Lea school board.