The four candidates for the Denton School Board fielded questions about school finances and representation of parents and minorities on the board during a forum Thursday night.

For about two hours, 11 people questioned and listened to incumbent Curtis Ramsey and Sheryl English, who are vying for Place 1, and incumbent Jeanetta Smith and Tony Puente, who are seeking the Place 2 seat.

The forum was hosted by the Robson Ranch Democratic Club.

Voters will elect two candidates to the seven-member board on May 9. Early voting begins April 27. All the candidates are seeking three-year terms.

Puente questioned whether the board was handling finances prudently and whether the district’s investments were made in the best interest of students and teachers. Puente, 37, a finance employee with the city of Denton, said he would bring diversity to the board because of his understanding of government finance and how it impacts school districts.

Considering the length of time the incumbents have been on the board, “their basic understanding of financial issues” is disappointing, Puente said.

“The reason why some people run is not because everything is perfect, but there are some issues that need to be fixed,” Puente said. “I think it’s time to have diversity in the district ... and someone with a business background.”

Smith, a 68-year old former educator with 39 years of experience, is seeking her second term and said the board is doing a good job of handling investments. She suggested her opponent do more research regarding his claim.

“I question what he’s saying as being correct,” she said.

Attendees expressed a concern about what the district will do to recuperate tax revenue lost as a result of the transfer of Presbyterian Hospital of Denton from Community Health Systems to Texas Health Resources. The transfer made the hospital a nonprofit, which means the facility is now tax-exempt, hospital spokeswoman Ellen Painter said.

Wendell Watson, a Texas Health Resources spokesman, said the tax exemption took effect immediately.

Debbie Monschke, district executive director of administrative services, said the overall impact of the change would be a loss of about $1.6 million for the district, impacting the district’s debt service with a loss of $485,000.

Based on the state funding formula, Monschke said as property taxes decline, state revenue increases, which will mean a neutral impact on the district in maintenance and operations expenses.

Ramsey said Thursday that the loss looks minimal but “it’s going to hurt,” and that the issue will have to be given attention. Ramsey said the district will adjust and that the change also would affect city and county governments.

Some audience members questioned whether the current board could truly know what’s going on in the district outside of board meetings, since no member has children in the district.

English, 45, said she serves on three campus councils for her children in the district and works as a real estate agent in the area. From those positions, she’s noticed a “disconnect” between parents and the board. Parents feel they have no voice and that the board doesn’t care about the issues that concern them, she said.

“I want to make sure that everyone has a voice, especially the parents,” English said.

Smith countered that parents speak with board members to voice their concerns. She said that while trustees cannot micromanage every detail or issue at every school, they are there to listen and offer suggestions.

Ramsey, an 82-year-old retired professor who’s served five terms on the board, said the trustees have always made themselves available to hear the concerns of the community, whether it’s through public forums or corresponding by phone or e-mail. The board is always open but cannot change every detail a campus faces, he said.

Candidates also fielded questions about the ethnic makeup of the board and whether it mirrors the overall population of the district.

All candidates agreed that they would represent all schoolchildren regardless of race.

But English said having a board that mirrors the population of the district could only make the board stronger.

Ben Miller, president of the Robson Ranch Democratic Club, said that because the race is nonpartisan his organization will not be endorsing any candidates. Robson Ranch is a retirement community just south of Denton.

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com .