Election 2011

Tuesday's election will bring significant change to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board as it seeks a superintendent and charts a course for coming years.

Lloyd Scher says he wants to return to public office to help improve the way Charlotte-Mecklenburg school teachers are treated and help students be able to better compete with their peers across the globe.

Jeff Wise said he thinks there are a lot of positives within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools but said leaders also should push for reforms in some areas.

In the last four years, Darrin Rankin has experienced some of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' biggest issues from a parent's perspective.

Aaron Pomis' passion for education started when he read "Savage Inequalities" as a student at University of Illinois.

Hans Plotseneder says the crowded field for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board race can be broken into two camps: those who want to keep the status quo, and those who want to bring reform to the district.

The self-proclaimed "Libertarian Republican" posts scathing online comments about immigrants, "moochers," liberals and Obama.

Few people are as steeped in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as Mary McCray.

Tim Morgan is the closest thing to an incumbent in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board race.

Keith Hurley says he's running for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board to combat what he called "a complete erosion of trust in the community" toward the district.

Ericka Ellis-Stewart has thought of running for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board for about 10 years.

Larry Bumgarner is an unorthodox candidate for Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board.

Whoever's elected to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board on Nov. 8 will face the task of repairing relationships with the district's 8,900 teachers.

Elyse Dashew was content to be an active parent at Smith Language Academy - until Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools leaders scaled back magnet busing to save money in the spring of 2010.

Anyone who's followed the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education might be tempted to ask why the heck 14 candidates want the job.

Teachers: What do you think CMS needs to do to attract, develop and reward good teachers?

Testing: Should CMS revise the way it tests students and otherwise measures their progress? If so, how?

Answers have been edited for length and clarity. Lisa Hundley and DeShauna McLamb are not actively campaigning and did not answer.

Larry Bumgarner

Fourteen people are listed on the Nov. 8 Mecklenburg County ballot seeking one of three at-large seats on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. The Observer editorial board asked them to submit an essay on why they should be elected.

Of all the emotional topics in education, few send blood pressure soaring like student assignment.

Fourteen candidates appear on the Nov. 8 ballot seeking one of three at-large seats on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. The Observer's editorial board asked them to submit essays on why voters should choose them. Twelve responded.

For one night, the looming Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools superintendent search barely got a mention.

Of the dozen school board candidates who attended a forum Monday at West Charlotte High, only sitting district representative Tim Morgan said he would support a state bill that would let Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools launch performance pay without teacher approval.

To some voters, the Nov. 8 school board election is a chance to advance the progress that has won Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools national acclaim.