Ronnie Young, standing, takes his turn answering a question during a forum for Providence School Board candidates.

The Providence Journal / Connie Grosch

PROVIDENCE — Candidates for the Providence School Board tried to walk a fine line last night. They tried to gently criticize the teachers’ union without blaming the individual members.

Eleven applicants appeared at a public forum sponsored by the Providence School Board Nominating Commission and moderated by Raymonde Charles from Rhode Island Kids Count.

Eleven candidates are vying for three openings on the board and two of the applicants are current members — President Mary McClure and Ronnie Young. A third member, Bert Crenca, chose not to re-apply.

The toughest question came from the audience: What is your opinion about the current balance of power between the union, the school administration, parents and the community and what would you do to change it?

“The contract dates from another era,” said McClure, who has served on the school board for 16 years. “We are working hard” to create a contract that makes sense for the 21st century.

Victoria Richter, a Russian immigrant who has taught for 20 years, was one of the only candidates who argued that teachers need more autonomy from central administrators and said she supports site-based management, which allows principals to hire teachers.

“The faculty operate as though they inhabit a culture that is reduced to the letter of the law,” said Phillip Gould, a professor at Brown University, who said that unions must put the interests of children first.

“Teaching is a calling,” said Maurice Methot, a professor at Emerson College in Boston. He said something is wrong with a system that begins each year with the threat of a strike.

Brian Lalli, who works at Rhode Island College, said he supports a merit system that would reward high-performing teachers, while Rebecca Pazienza, who works in public relations, said that if teachers aren’t putting their students first, then they are in the wrong profession.

If they could change one thing in the Providence schools, what would it be?

While nearly everyone agreed that the lack of adequate funding was the biggest challenge, a couple of candidates said the schools should move away from the growing emphasis on basic skills and test scores.

“We need to make our schools places of inspiration,” said Christine Wilford, president of the Greater Providence Moms’ Club. “School isn’t only about phonics drills. There’s no inspiration there.”

“We need to create a place where children want to learn and teachers are happy to teach,” said Grace Brown, a parent, former engineer and daycare provider. “I feel sad for the children who feel imprisoned during the 12 years they’re in school.”

The candidates were also asked to describe how the schools might engage parents because research has shown that parent involvement improves student performance.

Ronnie Young, who works for Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services, said schools need to showcase their students by inviting the public to talent shows and science competitions. Gould said that schools have to turn parents into “active learners” by inviting them into the classroom and sponsoring forums that speak to their interests.

“What gets parents involved is other parents,” Lalli said. “Parents need to feel that they belong. We have to break down those walls.”

And Wilford said that schools need to take advantage of their parents’ professional skills and help schools start their own parent-teacher organizations.

Asked to define the most critical issues facing the schools, Pich Chhoeun, president of the Cambodian Society of Rhode Island, mentioned the dropout rate.

“I dropped out of high school,” he said. “I understand the struggle. I know how difficult it is to get a general equivalency diploma.”

Ines Merchan, who works for the Rhode Island Foundation, cited three major challenges confronting schools: the failure to hold students to high standards, the lack of parent involvement and the high rate of suspensions and expulsions: “I hate to hear our kids say, ‘I can’t do that.’ ”

The nominating commission will recommend a list of finalists to Mayor David N. Cicilline, who will present his choices to the City Council for its review. The new board members will be appointed in January.

The forum was held at the Public Safety Complex.

lborg@projo.com