Editor,

Although the governor’s race is getting most of voters’ attention, in the March 2 primary elections, voters will also choose candidates for the District 10 State Board of Education, or SBOE.

Often overlooked, and poorly understood, the SBOE has great influence over public education in Texas. It decides the curriculum standards which determine what teachers are to teach and students are to learn. It adopts and licenses textbooks for use in Texas public schools. It determines passing scores for the TAKS test, approves creation of charter schools and oversees the investment of the Permanent School fund. Because the Texas textbook market is so large, the textbooks that are adopted by the SBOE in Texas often determine what textbooks are available in other states as well.

Unfortunately we are often poorly represented and poorly served on the SBOE because voter turnout is low and candidates often run unopposed. Instead of working for excellence in education for our children some representatives have ignored the advice of their own appointed experts and, instead, have imposed their personal opinions on Texas’ public school students.

This is not fair to our children.

The education of our children should not be a partisan matter.

There are five candidates for District 10 SBOE: Democrat Judy Jennings, Republicans Marsha Farney, Rebecca Osborne and Brian Russell, Libertarian Jessica Dreesen and Green Party candidate J.D. Porter.

I urge all voters, no matter what your party affiliation, to come to the Candidate Forum, sponsored by the Bastrop PTA, on Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Bastrop High School cafeteria and ask questions of the District 10 candidates. One of them will represent you.

Texas children are counting on you.

Edie Clark

Red Rock