BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Reducing class size, improving teachers’ salaries and renovating schools dominated Carroll school board candidates’ first forum Monday night.

Five candidates showed up at Frisco’s Family Pub in Westminster to make a first impression that could help them survive the Feb. 12 primary election, which will reduce the field to four. About 30 residents attended, and the general election in November will decide which two are elected to the five-member.

The candidates:

» Barry Potts, head of the county teachers’ association, called teacher retention and attraction his top priorities.

Half the county’s teachers leave in their first five years because salaries are not competitive with surrounding areas, he said.

“We’re dealing with more of a revolving door, and this is not good for our kids,” Potts said.

A first-year teacher in Carroll makes about $37,000 a year, putting the county next to last in the state.

» Jennifer Seidel, a Mount Airy parent and former teacher, put school renovations and teacher retention atop her priorities.

She has pushed for renovations for Mount Airy Middle School, the oldest in the county not to have a complete renovation.

And the county should offer contracts to college seniors at job fairs to ensure it has enough teachers to reduce class sizes, she said.

“By offering them a contract in April or May, we can make sure we get the cream of the crop,” she said.

» Jeff Morse was appointed in May to the board by Gov. Martin O’Malley, replacing Tom Hiltz, who resigned.

Morse said student achievement, while respectable, can be improved by reducing upper-level class sizes.

High school classes average 25 students, Superintendent Chuck Ecker said.

But Morse, a biology teacher, said he’s seen Advanced Placement classes in Carroll with up to 35 students.

» Cynthia Foley, a current board member, called a budget crunch the most significant challenge facing schools.

With $5 million cut from the state’s funding to Carroll schools, she said now is the time to renovate, not build new schools.

Last year she encouraged waiting to build Manchester Valley High School but got no support, and enrollment numbers are now falling below projections, leading to public outcry over the redistricting plans.

» Jeff Sheehan, one of four finalists to fill Hiltz’s seat in the spring, said he is the best fit to improve communication and pull board members together.

His top priorities include the budget, class sizes and teacher retention.

“Do we really need to build more schools or can we remodel and have a bigger impact on our kids sooner?” Sheehan asked. “Spend your money where it makes the most impact on students’ performance.”

msilvestri@baltimoreexaminer.com