POULSBO — There weren’t many disagreements — or many spectators — at last Tuesday’s forum for the North Kitsap School District candidates.

The dozen or so community members who made it to the Poulsbo Junior High library that evening got to see four of the five school board candidates discuss a range of issues, from year-long school to WASL testing. The tone of the talk remained cordial and positive, with all of the candidates emphasizing their appreciation of the direction the district is heading.

The candidates present included current board member Dick Endresen and businessman Myron Lee, who are vying for district one in Poulsbo; Sprint Public Affairs Manager Brad Camp, who is running unopposed for district five in Kingston; and Bethany McDonald, the board president who is running in district three against Spectrum graduate Christopher Tibbs, who was not present at the forum (organizers say he didn’t respond).

The candidates were all given two minutes to make opening statements.

McDonald, who is running for her second term on the board, said that she didn’t want to run the first time, but after weeks spent trying to convince others to become candidates, she became one herself.

As the district has moved forward, McDonald said, her enthusiasm has grown.

“Test scores are up, discipline problems are down, class size is down,” McDonald said. “We’ve passed the bond. We’re on a roll.”

Camp, whose father is an educator, said the birth of his daughter a few years ago got him thinking about education — and wanting to do more about it.

“I’m excited about the energy and positive things I’ve seen,” he said. “I want to be a part of that team.”

Myron Lee’s familiarity with the district has been helped by having five children progress through the district.

“I understand the needs of the children,” he said, “and I’ve gotten to know the teachers very well.”

Endresen referred to the programs he has supported throughout his 16 years on the school board, including AGATE, Assist, the PAL program, and Spectrum community school. He is also happy with the recent improvements North Kitsap kids have made on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

“I’m proud of our WASL results,” he said.

Candidates were then asked 10 questions.

The questions were written by audience members and submitted on note cards.

The first question was about the WASL, asking if candidates supported it.

“It’s a tool … a tool that can be used to measure success,” Camp said.

Lee agreed, saying, “I support the concept of the WASL. In any educational situation, we need a way to measure student progress. It can probably be improved upon.”

Candidates were also asked about looking at year-round schooling.

All of them agreed that it would be worth looking at, although Endresen was cautious that a longer school year would mean more costs — costs the state couldn’t afford.

“School is not tied to a 7-3 time frame,” Camp said. “With technology, kids can learn any time, anywhere.”

Candidates also responded to whether the new high school in Kingston would require more taxes.

McDonald, who helped the board pass a recent bond that initiates the new school said, “We were told it wouldn’t cost more.”

Fellow board member Endresen agreed, saying, “I don’t think it will raise taxes as far as a levy goes, but the state may have to fund more.”

How should the district hire and retain good teachers?

McDonald had some ideas.

“We must be doing something right, because we are attracting new teachers,” she said. “But I think more planning time and more opportunities for them to grow professionally could be done.”

The candidates were also asked where they’d like to see the district four years from now.

Lee said, “I’m very pleased with the school district, but there’s always room for improvement. The biggest improvement we can make is to come together as a community. Controversy is fine, but we ought to do it without anger and malice.”

Endresen said, “I’d like to see the district continue as it’s doing.”

McDonald said, “I think a lot of kids at the high school know where they’re going. I think more kids need to feel that way. I want to see more kids connect with their individual learning plans.”

Camp said, “I’d like to see the district continue on the path it is now.”