When Charlie Cator was elected as the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education president in July, he promised to coordinate a series of open forums to create a free-flowing dialogue between the community and the district.

Cator intends to follow through with that promise in the coming months, organizing at least three brown bag forums, scheduled perhaps on Saturday mornings, where members of the public can ask the board about anything school-related.

“This is one of the things the community said they really wanted,” he said. “We heard it this year and we heard it during the previous year too. .. We have to get more communication between the board and the community. So now is everybody's chance to come in, sit down and we'll discuss what's on your minds.”

While the board has yet to set a date for the first forum - such discussion is likely for Tuesday's regular meeting - Cator expects it to take place before Thanksgiving.

The public can submit questions, topics and themes to the superintendent's office for discussion during the forum up until the very day, Cator said.

Such topics could be School Within a School, a proposed capital project if the board asks the public to undertake one, or next academic year's school budget.

“There's talk there is going to be a lot less dollars out there for school districts, so we're going to have to make some tough decisions next school year,” Cator said. “It will be good to get some input from the public about what they think, because I'm not sure where the cuts are going to come from, and it will be interesting to hear what the public has to say.”

While the community is welcome to approach the board with questions and comments during the bi-weekly board meetings, Cator said sponsoring additional forums has many benefits.

Some community members may be unable to attend the meetings Tuesday evenings, during which board members can listen but not interact. By having a public forum, Cator said, board members can have an open dialogue back and forth and discuss at length the issues the public feel are important.