 Eight candidates made their case to the Bemidji community tonight in hopes of becoming a member of the Bemidji School Board. There are only three open seats on the board this year. A few running have already served on the board while a majority of the candidates would be newcomers if elected. The forum covered a range of topics including what the candidates think is the biggest problem facing our schools. I'd like to increase civics education. I'd like to focus on cyber security in our schools. Graduation, getting the numbers out as far as graduation levels. At least kids can go on and move into different higher education. We can get it graduated. And so I think probably our biggest issue is some of our achievement gap issues. And that has to do with the mental health challenges that our students face. And I don't think that although we have some support in the schools, I don't think it's enough. You need to attend. So attendance ties into that. You also need to be proficient in those things that are tested in math, reading, science. You don't have to be graduated. Graduation raises is definitely one of our biggest things. I'm hoping to get our graduation for our subgroups above that 67%. The achievement gap with the Indigenous students has come up. And along with it, there's so much more to it than just that. You take a look at the discipline disparity that happens with Indigenous students. I think it's disparities. It's disparities in the numbers of staff we have that are of the American descent. It is disparities in achievement gaps. Next week, candidates for the Bemidji City Council will participate in a similar forum. That forum will start at six at night and will be held in the Bemidji City Hall building. The forum is open to the public. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.