School board, at large

Both candidates bring histories as parent activists with children who have graduated from county public schools. Both understand the school board’s role is to set policy and that right now the board could be more in touch with parents and student, with the most at stake.

Both get that pushing students to succeed for the sake of a national ranking, or for the glory of putting a higher number next to ‘‘Montgomery County” when it comes to standardized tests or Advanced Placement and honors classes, is not the best approach. Pushing students to succeed, helping them to achieve and offering a range of higher-level courses are all important, but not at the expense of students.

Students deserve to be encouraged to push themselves for the sake of their own achievements and for the doors the achievements will open. They deserve to be represented on the school board by someone who understands intricacies of balancing that goal with the legitimate need for improved school performance.

Muskin and Kauffman understand that the county is increasingly diverse and the school board can’t settle for being a vehicle for the needs of those who already know how to guide their interests through the system, but instead needs to open itself up to being a tool for those who haven’t yet learned how to advocate for their concerns in the often convoluted school system universe.

While the other candidates in the countywide race share many of these views, we are not convinced they have the skills to advance them. The reality is that to work for change in an effective manner, one must be able to adapt. Giving voice to an opposing point of view isn’t always enough.

Muskin, an association executive, and Kauffman, a federal government attorney, are the strongest candidates to vie for the at-large seat in the fall.