Our View: Havre school board sets tone for the district

Much of the future success of Havre depends on the Havre Public Schools.

The school district has the task of educating our young people — academically and socially — so they are ready to meet the challenges of the mid-21st century.

Faced with increasing state and federal mandates, demands of employers and shrinking budgets, the district has a tough task ahead.

In recent years, things have been relatively calm at the district. School officials, from school board members to classroom teachers, have been working at improving educational opportunities for students by instituting innovative programs to meet changing needs.

Much of the credit for the success of the programs lies with the school board. For the most part, they hire teachers and administrators and let them run the day-to-day operations. But the board sets the tone and provides the oversight.

That’s why it is important that the board be filled with good people with solid ideas about education.

Five people are seeking three seats on the Havre board in the May 6 election. It’s good there is a contest. In recent years, they have had a hard time finding enough candidates to fill the seats. It’s a tough job. Board members are bound to displease some or perhaps most people at one time or another. And board members serve without pay.

Having a contest will give voters the opportunity to decide just what tone they want set in the district.

There will be opportunities for people to learn about the candidates.

At 6 p.m. today, the Havre Education Association will hold a public forum at Havre Middle School. The candidates will answer questions about their beliefs and will get a chance to explain just why they are running.

On Monday, the Havre Daily News will run a story on the race, profiling the candidates and their reasons for running.

Take these opportunities to review the candidates and their qualifications.

And remember to vote on May 5 at Havre High School.