New London - Those running for the Board of Education are from all parts of town and all walks of life, but Tuesday night they all agreed on one thing: the city's schools are failing.

Yet only a few of the seven Democrats, four Republicans, two Green Party members and two petitioning candidates who attended a forum at the Senior Center presented concrete ideas on how to improve the schools' performance.

Political newcomer Mirna Lis Martinez, a Green Party candidate, suggested that the school district use arts to lure and engage students who may need prodding to stay in school.

"We need people who can detach and think outside the box," she said.

The candidates, seated at a long table at the front of the room, were give one minute to answer questions and 30 seconds for rebuttal. They also were asked about how they feel about the state threatening to take control of the school board.

Nearly all said they wouldn't like it, including Republican Carlos Wimberly, who said, "I work for the state and, believe me, you do not want them in your house.''

Only Bill Morse, the sole Democratic incumbent running for re-election, viewed the possibility with optimism. He said the city would have access to grants and educational experts who might be able to help.

Morse also said all teachers need to be reading teachers to some degree to help students learn to comprehend what they read. He said he would work on developing a policy for that.

Incumbent Republican Jason Catala suggested firing the superintendent and bringing in someone who "lives and dies New London."

Democrat Margaret Mary Curtin, a former mayor and city councilor for 16 years, said she wants better communication and transparency on the board. She said she would advocate for two board meetings a month, rather than one, and for school board meetings to be held in City Hall, where they could be broadcast live on cable television.

About 100 people, including seniors and students, attended the forum, which was sponsored by the Neighborhood Alliance and League of Women Voters.

It was the first forum for the school board candidates. No other gathering for all the 17 candidates is scheduled before the Nov. 8 election. Seven of the 17 will be elected to the board.

This year, three Democratic incumbents are not seeking re-election: board President Alvin Kinsall, Susan Connolly and Louise Hanrahan.

The other four incumbents - Morse, Catala, Ronna Stuller of the Green Party and Republican Barbara Major - said they hope new board members will work together to help turn the schools around.

"I think we can all do better with a really good board,'' said Major. She and Catala, who have represented the minority party on the school board for two years, said they have been stymied by the Democrats, who they said don't let them ask questions at the meetings.

"I'm hoping there will be seven members who will be bipartisan,'' said Sharon Wyatt Giesing, a Republican.

Eric Parnes, one of two petitioning candidates, said he ran because he's upset with the school district's low test scores. "We shouldn't be at the bottom of the barrel,'' he said.

Catala and Major, who are seeking second terms, head up the Republican slate. Also running are Wimberly, Giesing, Corina Vendetto and Heidi Cooper. Vendetto and Cooper were unable to attend the forum

Democrats have presented a slate that includes Morse, Curtin and newcomers Delanna Muse, Sylvia Potter, Reona Dyess and Robert Funk. Elizabeth Garcia Gonzalez previously served three terms on the school board.

Stuller and Martinez are Green Party candidates. Parnes and Loreen Louise Lockwood are petitioning candidates.

k.edgecomb@theday.com