AUBURN -- Drivers education, student resource officers and high school dropout rates are among the issues candidates want to tackle, should they win seats on the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education.

Six contenders will vie for three seats on the board next month; the competition is bringing a mix of youth and veteran candidates to the fore.

"Students who take drivers ed are less likely to be in accidents in their lifetime and throughout their driving years," said 18-year-old Craig Newert. An Auburn High School senior, Newert said his commitment to the area sticks out among peers eager to explore the country and even the world after graduation. That said, all the candidates are longtime Auburn residents.

"The basic skills that a kid learns with a drivers ed teacher will prepare them for when they practice with their parent," said Joe Leogrande, going for his second consecutive run. Leogrande, a certified drivers education instructor, included bringing the course to the high school in his platform last year. A Canandaigua teacher, Leogrande also expressed concerns about Auburn's high school dropout rate, as did candidate Thomas McKellop.

McKellop, who runs an employment group through the Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes, said he meets people in the course of his work who have dropped out of high school and regret their decisions.

"It's especially tough working with people who don't have a high school diploma, because they have problems with literacy skills," he said.

McKellop and candidate Fred Cornelius also see student safety as a major issue for Auburn schools.

"We should make sure (resource officers) remain available and remain a resource for school security," Cornelius said.

Candidate Sean Stanyon has put his energy into politics since the seventh grade, when he saw Hillary Rodham Clinton come to town for the first time. Stanyon said he would focus on hiring more teachers aids and helping schools raise money through commercial sponsorship. Like Leogrande, Stanyon ran last year on a platform that focused on curbing the dropout rate and inspiring other students to get involved in community service.

Candidate Sam Giangrecco could not be reached in time for this article. Giangrecco, the sole incumbent in the race, is currently serving his first term on the board. Board members Judith Freeman and Charles Beck, whose seats are also up this year, are not seeking re-election.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Citizen.