Two of the three Neighbor Island seats on the state Board of Education are up for grabs this election, with candidates saying they are focused on the unique challenges that face rural schools.

From attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers to assuring that future policies on closing or consolidating small schools don't have adverse effects on the Neighbor Islands, all the candidates say rural schools need a strong voice on the public school board.

Kaua'i member Maggie Cox and longtime Big Island member Herbert Watanabe are up for re-election. But both face challengers who say the status quo has not helped students in rural schools succeed.

Cox faces Larry Fillhart, a Kaua'i carpenter who also has a degree in secondary education.

On the Big Island, Watanabe faces Waimea businessman Bill Sanborn, who has run unsuccessfully for State House twice before.

All Neighbor Island residents may vote for all Neighbor Island seats on the BOE.

Watanabe, who has been on the board for 12 years, said budget cuts to public schools is by far the most pressing issue facing the next group of BOE members.

During recent budget discussions, Watanabe made strong arguments for protecting school-level programs and staff from cuts. He said if public schools were forced to take the worst-case scenario reduction of some $69 million, cuts would have to be made at the classroom level.

"The governor said she feels that there are other areas that could be cut. How can she make that statement? Tell us where we can cut then," Watanabe said.

Watanabe said he's also concerned about the possible closure or consolidation of small schools, one of the options that has been mentioned to help deal with the current budget shortfall.

"Some people don't have a concept of how far some kids have to go for school. If you close a small school on the Hamakua Coast, (the next closest school) is 20 miles away," Watanabe said.

Watanabe is stressing his years of experience on the board as well as his career a teacher, vice principal and DOE facilities specialist.

"Change is not going to happen with a new person coming on board. Change is constant and it happens every day," he said.

Challenger Sanborn said he entered the race because he's concerned that Neighbor Island schools are not receiving the support they need from state offices in Honolulu.

"I am for decentralizing," Sanborn said, referencing previous proposals by Gov. Linda Lingle to create local school boards.

"Decision-making needs to be local, not such a big black hole," he said.

Sanborn also said he's concerned about cuts to the DOE budget, but he said he's not entirely convinced that money is being spent efficiently.

"I am not convinced that the budget process starts at the classroom and moves up. It appears to me that it happens top down," he said.

Like other challengers in other BOE races, Sanborn is targeting Watanabe's long tenure on the board, and says it's time for a change.

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm not sure what experience is going to do other than tweak the same old system," he said.

On Maui, retired school principal Cox, who has served one term on the board, is seeking re-election.

Cox said she, too, is concerned that Neighbor Islands have a harder time getting the same type of support that O'ahu schools have.

"We're not Neighbor Islands, we're outer islands. We're not treated like neighbors," Cox said.

"We're not close to the people on O'ahu and sometimes we wouldn't get a response for two or three days," she said.

Cox also said she's concerned that budget cuts could adversely affect the already limited number of resource teachers helping Neighbor Island schools.

"Mary Cochran (BOE Maui member) and I have been very vocal in making sure our Neighbor Islands are not shortchanged. Our kids are just as important," Cox said.

Cox also said the governor should look elsewhere when deciding where to cut the state budget.

"At the (National Association of State Boards of Education) conference, I've had several people tell me that even though their states are dealing with massive cuts, education is being spared," she said.

Her challenger, Fillhart, has never run for public office before, but said he decided to enter the BOE race because he felt the public school system is "failing our kids."

"I've been in Hawai'i for 34 years and literally, the education system hasn't changed," Fillhart said.

Fillhart said he is opposed to making cuts that affect the classroom. Instead, he said he would propose across-the-board pay cuts to save money.

"Why can't administration take a cut in pay?" he said.

Fillhart said if he's elected, he would "fight the governor" when it comes to cutting the public school budget.

"How can we cut the education budget and then try to meet our federal standards?" he said.

"Throwing money at it isn't going to fix the problem, but the solution isn't taking money away," Fillhart said.

The Board of Education consists of 14 members who oversee a budget of more than $2 billion for the state Department of Education and set education policy for the state.