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On the surface, the debate over the Zone 1 seat on the Moscow School Board up for grabs in Tuesday's election is taking shape around a continued decline in student enrollment.
Tim Kinkeade, 37, is a business owner, father of three and member of the Citizens for Quality Education, a district-sponsored committee charged with studying future building needs.
He wants to improve communication between the district and the community and "begin dialoguing on the issue of eroding enrollment."
The other contender, Mark Beauchamp, is a single, 25-year-old graduate of the private, religious New St. Andrews College of Moscow, who calls his election committee the Committee with Distaste for Small-time Fascism.
He says the exodus from the public schools is no mystery and accuses his opponent of insipid "Dilbertisms" that make no sense.
An example:
"We need to know why our district has suffered loss of students and we need to begin a discussion on how to stabilize and rebuild the enrollment," says Kinkeade, owner of Advantage America Mortgage Co., in a news release.
"I'm surprised there isn't already a task force out there charged with, 'Where are they going?' ... and how can we market ourselves as a positive educational experience for all children?"
That's the kind of statement, says Beauchamp, that shows his opponent is big on platitudes but not fit to represent the community on the school board.
"I'm not making a mockery of the system," Beauchamp says, "but I certainly am thinking this is a really funny debate.
"I can't believe that Tim would just open himself up like that saying we need to know where our students are. ... If they're (Kinkeade and the school board) honest with themselves they know where the students are -- they're in other schools!"
Kinkeade and Beauchamp are campaigning for the seat vacated by the board chairman, Michael Curley, who is not seeking re-election.
Underlying the contention over student enrollment is a fundamental difference of opinion over the quality of education in public schools and how well they compete with the proliferation of alternatives in the Moscow area, including private, charter and home schools.
Kinkeade, who is active on a number of community committees and task forces, says he is convinced the quality of education at Moscow is top-rate, proven by students' grades and test scores.
He also points to the relatively low cost per student and the district's fiscal responsibility.
The main problems, as he sees it, have to do with the failure of administrators to keep the public fully informed about their decisions.
"I think that there needs to be a greater effort made toward communicating with all the patrons in the district," Kinkeade says.
The budget crisis has gotten patrons' attention and so now the board and administrators need to capitalize on that and persuade voters of the urgency of the district's challenges, namely in replacing and upgrading its buildings.
The board's controversial decision to combine the students of West Park and Russell elementary schools, Kinkeade says, "is a symptom of a larger problem within the district, which is the failure to seek meaningful public participation before important policy decisions are made."
Beauchamp, on the other hand, says public schools have a monopoly and an unfair advantage over private schools that must fund themselves without tax dollars.
"And yet (public school) population is declining and enrollment in these other schools is increasing.
"There are lots of different reasons, but it's mainly because of the quality of education."
If he were elected to the school board, Beauchamp says, he would begin by asking parents why they have taken their children out of public schools.
"I'd like to find out why these other schools are flourishing so well and why people are going to them.
"There are lots of other services offered to the world that are market-driven in a market-driven society. But even when the product is free (as in public education), people aren't going to it.
"On the other hand, people are going to Logos (a private Christian school in Moscow) even if they have to pay for it."
Beauchamp's candidate petition was signed by a number of students and faculty members of New St. Andrews and Logos schools. He says the name of his election committee is intended as a spoof directed at those who accuse his supporters of being right-wing radicals.
"We wanted to use the word 'fascist' before someone else did," Beauchamp says. "We should have used the word 'Taliban,' which is what they call you if you disagree with anyone nowadays.
"The whole idea is to use these different buzz words. It's kind of stealing their thunder before they can say anything."
But despite his satirical approach, Beauchamp, who is in the process of starting his own book store and plans to remain in Moscow, says he is serious about wanting to be on the school board.
"What I'm saying is, at the moment I think the school board is sabotaging itself. By running and asking these questions, I'm saving them the trouble of ignorantly walking into a mess.
"I seriously want to be on the school board and raise the questions. I'm not doing this to satisfy my own curiosity, but I am doing it because I like this community and I want to be a part of it."
Beauchamp admits to a literal view of the Bible and says he would support such things as creationism being taught in the public schools.
"What's wrong with telling people that the Earth was created in seven days? It seems kind of odd that people wouldn't be able to talk about something like that. ... (but if public schools) were going to be truly multicultural then we have to give equal time to everything. A public school should be teaching every single thing."
Kinkeade refuses to respond to Beauchamp's charges for the most part, but says he finds his opponent's position scary.
"This is the district that my daughter has been educated in for the last six years and this is also the district where my two sons will be educated," Kinkeade says.
"I fear his agenda is not in the best interest of my children. And I fear that largely because he won't tell anybody what his agenda is."
The election will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the district office board room. Only qualified voters living in Zone 1 may vote.
Zone 1 covers most of the northeastern portion of Moscow and the adjoining rural area. Maps of the district are available at the district office and schools.
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Hedberg may be contacted at khedberg@lmtribune.com