Candidates in the race for District 1 of the Tulsa Public Schools Board say they're prepared for what Election Day could bring.
NewsChannel 8 spoke with both candidates ahead of a public forum Tuesday night co-hosted by the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association and the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Tulsa.
Stacey Woolley is the incumbent in the race, having won her election four years ago. Woolley is challenged by newcomer Jared Buswell.
"We wanted to provide an informational forum where people could come and hear the candidates speak," said TCTA President Shawna Mott-Wright. "And we're going to be asking them the same questions. Neither candidate has seen any of the questions."
Mott-Wright assured NewsChannel 8 that transparency and fairness were at the center of the forum.
She said that while both candidates' campaigns had requested the questions, neither of them would be getting them ahead of the discussion.
Mott-Wright said questions were based on input from TPS families and staff.
"There's just a whole lot that [board members] do that affects kids day in and day out," said Mott-Wright.
Both candidates agreed to interviews with NewsChannel 8 prior to Tuesday's forum.
NewsChannel 8 spoke with Buswell first, who said he would be focusing on making sure voters were aware of the issues he had with the way the school board was currently run.
"There's really just a small core group of people that are kind of blocking the rest of the community from being able to have influence and a voice on our public schools, and the opponent I'm running against is one of them," said Buswell.
Buswell also said that having accountability, transparency, and fair representation on the board were important priorities.
NewsChannel 8 gave Woolley a chance to respond to his comments in her interview, which she said couldn't be further from accurate.
"This idea that I somehow have a political agenda is just absolutely untrue," said Woolley.
Woolley did however concede to a point Buswell made about there being dysfunction on the board.
"I would agree that there is dysfunction amongst our board right now, but that's why we continue to work," said Woolley.
Woolley said that it would be disappointing to her to step out on that progress in which she calls "the middle" of her journey.
Buswell also addressed complaints that she can come across as unavailable as a board member and limits her social media comments.
She said that she replied to more emails than Buswell might expect, but that she also has other responsibilities that may slow her response.
As for the social media limitations, Woolley said that decision was made after rude comments on her board member page.
"To say hateful things and just be accusatory and quite frankly, ugly," said Woolley.
The livestream for the public forum is available to watch here.
Election Day is Tuesday, April 4.