Four good candidates are running for three seats on the Fargo School Board. We like incumbents Laura Carley and Dan Fremling, and newcomer Blake Miller for three-year terms.
The fourth candidate, Carolyn Hunter, is a fine candidate also, and the district would not be ill-served if she were elected. However, we like the experience, qualifications and policy ideas of Carley, Fremling and Miller.
Carley is the board's veteran member, having served for nearly a decade. Her institutional memory is invaluable. Her knowledge of the district's history and evolution provide the board with a foundation -- reference points by which to judge progress.
Carley sees the federal No Child Left Behind Act as one of the major challenges facing the district. However, she knows Fargo schools are among the best and can meet or exceed the act's requirements. The schools have done just that during her tenure on the board.
She also has been one of the board's champions for reconfiguration of grades, a process which was controversial and took several years to accomplish.
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Fremling, who is the board's president, is seeking his second full term. He has demonstrated a balanced and firm approach to the problems facing the district. His determination to always consider first what is best for students has defined his service.
When the board got into difficulties a few years ago regarding possible school closings and grade reconfiguration, Fremling was among those board members who insisted the board and administration must improve communication with the district's patrons. The effort was successful, and several previously contentious initiatives are being implemented.
During the last few years Fremling has made a special effort to know the entire district. He's visited every building, met with staffs, even rode the bus. His focus has been to bring together sometimes competing interests in order to do the right thing for the entire district. That's the right attitude.
Miller brings to his candidacy impressive experience from other places where he has lived. A North Dakota native who returned to his home state several years ago when his children neared school age, Miller has a long and impressive view of the district's needs, including recognition that education will have to respond even more than it has to the community's increasing diversity.
He brings business sense to his candidacy, tempered by a thorough and intelligent analysis of the unique challenges facing public schools. He understands the vital need for constant communication with taxpayers. His experience in the private sector equips him to develop the means to achieve the district's goals and objectives.
He'll be a good school board member.
Forum editorials represent the opinion of Forum management and the newspaper's Editorial Board
