Though we would have liked to have seen competition bring out dialogue on important issues facing Albert Lea Area Schools, we give our support to the candidates seeking election and re-election to the Albert Lea school board.

This local government entity is doing a good job of attracting talent, which will be needed in trying times of budget cutbacks and check deferments.

We particularly are pleased to see the likes of Dr. Mark Ciota of Albert Lea Medical Center and computer consultant Jeshua Erickson running for seats, albeit unopposed.

The school board already has several talented and smart people as members. It will be interesting to see the direction the board takes in the coming year or two. The board has the potential to become an example to other local government entities on how to govern efficiently and effectively. The school board already sets the standards in some areas, such as reducing paper use and having its documents available to all interested parties through its website.

We endorse Ciota and Erickson for school board, and we endorse Sally Ehrhardt and Jill Marin for re-election to the board.

Further, we encourage officials from the county and city to attend a school board meeting just once before the end of the year.

We also encourage the school board members to attend a city and county meeting, too.

And the school board in the coming year ought to find a way to show its meetings over the local cable-television system or over its website. The technology is there. It’s just a matter of political will. Does the school board wish to invite the public to its meetings in the modern way?