Voters will soon choose between experience or promises in less than five weeks' time as campaigns begin to wind down. In many races, incumbents are touting experience and plans to complete unfinished tasks. Hopeful newcomer candidates who want a crack at change are promoting their ideals and commitments.

Tuesday night at Reed High School followed suit as incumbents and their opponents for Washoe County School District Board of Trustee and Nevada State Board of Education faced off in a debate for the public to learn where they stand on issues.

Issues ranged from full-day kindergarten to school uniforms, needs of public and charter schools to the WCSD-1 ballot initiative.

Current Washoe County School Board Trustee Jonnie Pullman and her opponent, Ken McKenna, are running for the Nevada State Board of Education District 8, the only seat for a Washoe County representative.

Pullman was asked questions based on her experience on the school board for 12 years and McKenna touted his professional experience as a lawyer, but both argued that the state board has not accomplished much to help the local boards and schools.

Pullman was asked about the difference between the state and local boards, to which she replied that one of the state board's most important jobs is to show strong fiscal and collaborative skills when submitting a budget to the Nevada Legislature.

"They advocate and provide leadership," Pullman said. "It's not something you can go in and shake a stick at. We all know education is a priority. ... Expertise doesn't come from where you're born or what side of the tracks you're from; it's about long-term participation and tapping into the issues."

McKenna, who shared that he has sued school districts in Nevada for discrimination and promotion practices, said administration can be a good thing with the right people in place.

"What I would hope to bring to the board is dynamic leadership," McKenna said. "I think it's supposed to be proactive. I think if a board is proactive and gets behind its initiatives, then we have more alternatives ... to provide excellence in the classroom to encourage students."

The Washoe County School Board seats for Districts A, D and E also are open for election.

In District A, which covers southwest Reno and Incline Village, Trustee Dan Carne, opposed by 20-year teacher Celana Wasson, is running for a third term after eight years on the board. Carne said his district has seen a decline of about 300 students enrolled in his schools because of a high transient rate.

"These types of issues cause students we deal with to be a moving target," Carne said.

With a 50 percent minority rate and financial burdens on families in hard economic times, Carne said, one of the tasks he's helped with on the board is developing a financial department that has increased the school district's reserves and finances.

In a question about some Washoe County Schools not complying with No Child Left Behind, Wasson called it an "embarrassment" to the district, saying accountability would be key to help five schools that have failed four years in a roll, offering the suggestion of rezoning to help "high-hopes schools" that have potential of becoming great schools.

"There are a lot of high-hopes children that demand a lot of attention," Wasson said. "Not only that, but they are not in a good learning environment."

Southeast Reno District D candidates Byllie Andrews and Ken Grein wrestled with Spanish immersion programs and school revitalization.

"Some of the criticism (of Spanish immersions programs) is because the public doesn't understand what immersion exactly is," Andrews said. "The best way to respond is to try to educate the public on how immersion came about, that it's obtained through grants, not taking money from other classrooms. ... I think it's fantastic that our students are going to grow up bilingual."

Grein said bringing the parents in to see what's going on would help. He also responded to revitalization as the top priority in the district.

"We have numerous schools that are over 50 years old," Grein said. "When you take a look at needs to be met, the technology, the addition of classrooms and libraries, music rooms, safety issues and teachers who have lockdown outside – that's unsafe. That's wrong. We should not put those kids and staff in those positions."

Candidates Scott Kelley and Denny Martindale, who are pursuing District E, which represents northwest Reno, Verdi and Mogul, tackled the tough and awkward questions about full-day kindergarten and sex education.

"Yes, I support full-day kindergarten," Kelley said. "I believe nowadays, children are getting smarter faster and usually by the age of 3 or 4, they already have a grasp of technology, learning to read about the world. ... I don't think the funding is there (for full-day now), but I think it's something that might happen if the economy starts to improve."

Martindale said providing youth with comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education, including information about AIDS, from qualified teachers is "the right thing."

"Looking at content is something we need to do," Martindale said. "You have to be honest and concerned. You have to make sure they're getting the right information and not out exploring."

The debate will be aired on Charter channel 11 on Oct. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. and on channel 21 on Oct. 12 from 12 to 2 p.m.