CARY - No visible elbows flew at the Wake County school board forum last week, but candidates Debra Goldman and Lois Nixon repeatedly displayed the sharp edges of their competing visions for Wake schools.

About 50 people crammed into a Chamber of Commerce meeting room on Sept. 9 for a forum presented by the nonprofit group Wake Education Partnership. Goldman, a community volunteer and former firefighter, sought to paint Nixon, a retired environmental educator, as old school.

"My opponent is old-guard, status quo ..." Goldman, who has lived in Cary for four years, said in her closing statement. "Then you have me."

Nixon, a 30-year Cary resident, portrayed herself as independent: "I don't represent any person or any group's agenda."

The candidates will appear on the Oct. 6 ballot as choices for the District 9 school board seat being vacated by Eleanor Goettee. The countywide election is widely viewed as a contest between supporters and opponents of the current school board and administration, along with policies including busing for economic diversity and year-round schools.

"Our schools have helped put us on many, many 'best places' lists," Nixon said. Goldman said that students in the western Wake County district have been "abused" by repeated reassignments. She also disputed Nixon's statement that assigning students to year-round schools has saved Wake hundreds of millions in averted construction costs: "They are not saving us money; they are not fully enrolled."

Nixon and Goldman also differed on whether Wake schools need more money. Nixon called the system underfunded, citing needs including more language and technology curriculum as well as better preparation of students for green jobs and service economy opportunities.

"In the 21st century, our students will not be compared with Charlotte-Mecklenburg [schools]," but with young people competing for jobs from all over the world, said Nixon, a former Wake County employee.

More money is not the solution, said Goldman. Instead, the school board and administration should make sure they are good stewards of resources under the current budget.

"The best way to regain trust is through wise expenditures," she said.

Nixon generally praised Wake County schools and the quality of life she said has resulted from their good reputation, but she offered criticisms of the school board as well.

"The board of education needs to be more family-friendly and more aware of the unintended consequences of their actions," Nixon said.