Salem — The question of the town's seventh and eighth grades and the results of the school district efficiency study are unifying candidates for the Salem Board of Education in this year's race.

In responses to a survey sent out by The Day, candidates of both parties referred to the level of collaboration with East Lyme Public Schools as a major issue facing the board.

Salem's only school serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade; students in grades 9 through 12 attend East Lyme High School.

The board has been investigating the viability of sending seventh- and eighth-grade students to East Lyme Middle School.

Three six-year seats and two two-year seats on the Board of Education are up for election this year.

Salem Registrar of Voters Georgia Pech said that because only two people have been nominated for the three six-year seats, the Board of Education will have only eight elected members and will conduct interviews for a two-year position for the ninth seat.

The 2017 election will then have three six-year seats and one four-year seat to account for this year's vacancy.

The Democratic Town Committee endorsed Jennifer D'Aiuto and John S. Trusler for full six-year seats and Phil Teixeira for a two-year seat on the board. The Republican Town Committee endorsed George Jackson for a two-year seat.

Jackson said the board will have to consider the additional cost of sending the seventh- and eighth-grade students to East Lyme.

He said Salem School has good test scores compared to East Lyme, and taxpayers likely will not want to pay more just for a few more club options.

D'Aiuto said the board has been collecting feedback from residents regarding the plan, and the Long-Range Educational Planning Subcommittee will have a presentation in November or December to present its findings.

Teixeira said in his response to The Day's survey that he will work with the Board of Education to review other recommendations made by the efficiency study, which was completed in May.

Since the school budget is nearly 75 percent of the overall town budget, he said, transparency and accountability from the board will be critical.

The board also will consider sharing other services with East Lyme as well as within the town in order to save money.

Salem School and the Town of Salem have separate business managers and technology maintenance contracts.

Trusler could not be reached for comment.

a.hutchinson@theday.com

Twitter: @ahutch411