One race on this fall’s ballot could have a direct impact on Rowan-Salisbury’s 19,000 school children and their families, the race for three seats on the Board of Education. Don’t treat it lightly.

The school board affects everything from digital-device policies to the construction of new schools, not to mention educating students to reach their full potential.

The three seats up for election represent the East, Salisbury and Southeast areas. In all three cases, incumbents face challengers. Though each seat represents a different area, all are elected countywide. Eight candidates are involved:

• East: Mike Julian and Josh Wagner.

• Southeast: Susan Cox, Andrew Poston and Rob Robertson.

• Salisbury: Alisha Byrd, Chuck Hughes and Gene Miller.

A candidate forum slated for next Wednesday, Nov. 2, could help you get to know the candidates and their stands. All eight have agreed to participate in the event, to be held at 6 p.m. at the Wallace Educational Forum, 500 N. Main St. Moderating will be Phil Kirk, former chairman of the State Board of Education. Sponsors are the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, Catawba College, the Salisbury Post and WSAT.

The candidate forum needs your questions. Though organizers have some ideas, getting questions from the general public is the best way to ensure that the forum addresses issue of greatest importance to voters. Only so many questions can be asked with eight candidates taking part, so they need to be good questions.

Some people have voted already, but most have not. This is your chance to get the candidates to respond to questions that will help you make an informed decision when you do cast your ballot.

Submit questions one of these ways:

• Email to editor@salisburypost.com.

• Fax to the editor at 704-639-0003.

• Mail to Editor, Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145.

• Call 704-797-4244.

We hope we see you at the event. If you cannot attend, the forum will be broadcast on WSAT, rebroadcast on Channel 16 and covered in the Salisbury Post. Don’t let someone else tell you how to vote. Decide for yourself.