The De Soto Teachers Association held a forum for district residents to meet Board of Education candidates on Tuesday, March 24.

Incumbent Board candidates Bill Fletcher and Mitch Powers and Board candidates Jeff King, Dustin Keith and Kevin Makalous attended the forum, with incumbent Board candidate Angela Handy absent. They are running for four of the seven Board positions. Forty-three district residents also attended.

DTA political action chair Cheron Tiffany moderated the forum, asking the candidates questions the DTA had previously written and allowing audience members to submit their own questions.

Tiffany said the DTA organized the event in lieu of endorsing Board candidates.

“Normally we give an endorsement,” Tiffany said. “Instead of doing that, we decided to let everybody else have a choice.”

For , the forum was a good opportunity to check on the state of the district.

“I just moved back to the area and I wanted to make sure that the school district is on the up and going in the right direction,” Rowe said.

Rowe said the forum was beneficial, partially because of candidate preparation.

“I think it went well,” Rowe said. “All of the candidates, … they’re very professional and obviously have done a little bit of research.”

Tiffany agrees.

“I think it went pretty well,” Tiffany said. “I was pleased with it.”

According to Rowe, the forum will influence his decision on which Board candidates to vote for.

“Honestly, it was actually very informative. It kind of helped me learn a little bit more about each one and which direction I kind of want to go.”

Board elections will be Tuesday, April 7.