Charlottesville's first School Board election is just months away, leaving some residents wondering what the six recently announced candidates could be thinking?

"In November 2005, the citizens of the city of Charlottesville made it crystal clear that they wanted a change," said Juandiego Wade, one of the candidates. "I want to be part of the solution."

Speaking to a full room at the Jefferson Area Board for Aging building on Hillsdale Drive, candidates answered questions about student achievement, charter schools, uniforms and single-sex academies.

Charlie Kollmansperger, a former teacher, said he didn't support single sex schools. "We need to look at the big picture in terms of things that impact student achievement."

Another former teacher, Vance High, also opposes the idea. "We have examples of single-sex schools that are successful but they are expensive," High said.

Ned Michie, who is currently on the board, agreed with High and Kollmansperger. "Doing a huge disruptive move of splitting boys and girls is not what we need right now," he said.

Sue Lewis, however, said she has no problem with single sex schools and cited the Village School in Charlottesville as an example of one that is successful with girls.

When it came to charter schools, most of the candidates were tentative about creating a separate school, but supported a school within a school.

"The types of things that you would like to see in charter schools can be done in a public school system," said Puryear, who directs the Upward Bound Program at the University of Virginia.

Lewis, who has been applying for an appointed seat on the board since 1986, was more approving of the idea. "I have a very open mind on the concept of charter schools," she said, citing Murray High School in Albemarle County as a "wonderful example."

"I came here to be informed, to educate myself," said Joan Schatzman, a Charlottesville resident. "I'm drawn toward Leah," she said, "but I'm repelled by Vance."

The six candidates for three seats on the Charlottesville School Board will be on the May 2 ballot. The remaining four seats will be up for election in November 2007.

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