NORTH KINGSTOWN -- Wary of easy campaign promises, a handful of voters are giving school board candidates a tough assignment.

They've asked all nine School Committee hopefuls to answer 46 questions on issues ranging from school spending to teacher contracts to special education.

Their answers, due today, will be posted on a Web site next week so voters can read them and download them before the Nov. 7 election. All of the candidates have agreed to participate.

The questions are designed to move candidates beyond slogans and single issues, said Tom Sgouros, one of the questionnaire designers. Sgouros said he was frustrated by political forums where too many candidates have too little time to address complicated issues.

Too often, the candidates just say, "I'm doing it for the children," or "I care ever so deeply about education," he said.

"I want to know how the candidates view the controversial issues that dominate discussions at the School Committee meetings. They aren't easy questions, but they're important ones."

The school race is one of the hottest in the county. Nine candidates are vying for four seats. In recent weeks, five candidates -- both Republican and Democrat -- have said they will work to unseat School Supt. James M. Halley, either immediately or when his contract expires in 2008. Some candidates are releasing statements nearly every week.

Sgouros and three others residents -- Tricia Armstrong, Marion Holland and Dave Wrenn -- came up with the idea this summer after talking to each other at school board meetings and while working on referendum issues.

The group asked parents, citizen groups, school administrators, elected officials and School Department critics to submit questions.

In just three weeks, they gathered nearly 100 questions, said Wren.

"Getting people to submit questions wasn't a problem, but narrowing them down to a manageable number ... was a huge challenge," he said.

The group initially planned to ask about 20 questions. But many of the submissions were too good to throw out, so the group settled on 46 queries. The candidates get up to 250 words to answer each question.

The candidates can also explain why voters should elect them.

The questions cover a wide range of topics and concerns, including experience, start times, administration, transportation, classes, audits and the use of educational facilities. "We went out of our way to find ways to divide the group," said Sgouros.

The questions are also nonpartisan. The questionnaire group includes Democrats, a Republican and a former independent.

"The usual reasons for identifying yourself as a Republican or a Democrat don't apply here," said Sgouros, a Democrat who sports campaign signs in his yard for both GOP and Democratic candidates.

"We're stymied," added Armstrong, referring to the School Department's inability to conduct business because of constant bickering. "This is definitely needed."

The responses will be posted on the Web site www.whatcheer.net/nksc, probably by next week. Printed copies will also be available at spots around North Kingstown, Wren said.

"We've done this in a way that is not politically aligned," said Wrenn. "We're hopeful that it will help this town elect a better and more productive School Committee."

The good news, he added, is that there are more good candidates "than there are open slots."