With 10 to choose from, knowing the candidates is more important than ever

In less than seven weeks, local voters will decide who will represent the students, parents, teachers and classified employees of Simi Valley on the school district's Board of Trustees.

To that end, we offer profiles (pages 18 and 19) in this week's Simi Valley Acorn of each of the 10 candidates who will appear on the ballot to fill just two available seats.

Though it sounds repetitive, we asked each of them the same three questions so that voters can begin to determine from their answers what separates each candidate from the next-and with so many challengers, such knowledge is more valuable than ever.

Though the public may not realize it, people who serve on the school board sometimes have greater direct impact on schools than politicians who serve at the state or even national level. Many Americans get excited about who's in the White House, but are apathetic about who's holding court at the school district's office.

It is local officeholders, however, who affect the important aspects of your life. When it comes to the school board, it's having the responsibility to direct the education of more than 20,000 students every school year.

With ongoing infrastructure projects, millions of dollars in new funding from the state and the recurring challenge of getting every student in the district to meet statewide standards, 2006-07 is a critical time for the future of education in Simi Valley.

Readers can stay informed by reading our profiles in the Simi Valley Acorn or by attending one of the upcoming public forums-another good way to get to know the field. We'll tell you about these forums as soon as they're scheduled.

Remember, it's great to vote. But an educated vote is even better.