Haase, who taught for more than 35 years in Fort Payne, said she would like to see the student-teacher ratio lowered in Alabaster schools, and said the school should work on ways to overcome the language barrier for non English-speaking students.

Schofield said the city school district should look at ways to raise the graduation rate, and said the school needs to “quickly address” space needs by constructing a new school or adding onto existing schools.

Tisdale said the city schools should hold open forums to allow parents to voice their concerns about the schools, and said parents and teachers should be supportive of their students.

Other school board applicants are David Drake, Kelly Watts, Clay Hester, John Mark Willis, Melanie Shores, Paul Barnes, Tyrone Quarles, Dorann Tanner, John Myrick, Cathy Bailey, Mike Allen, Danny Goggins, Bobby Molan, Chris Honeycutt, Trisa Moutardier, Cedric Burden, Henry Raymond, Eric Starling, Karen Norris, Sybil Owens, Stephan Poplin, Maurice Waugh, Ron Griggs, Adam Moseley, Steven Crainich, William Alexiou and David Dixon.

After the Education Committee interviews conclude Feb. 4, about 10 candidates will be chosen to be interviewed by the full City Council. The council likely will appoint school board members during its Feb. 20 or March 5 meeting, Brakefield said.