The importance of education should never be underestimated. It is one factor that affects so many other factors of a community: economy, workforce, planning, culture, recreation, quality of life, family life, taxes, public safety, public works and let&8217;s not forget pride.

There are many forums for education in Albert Lea: the library, the college and even this newspaper. But like most communities, the schools are the leading resource for education. More importantly, the schools engage and enlighten the children. In turn, the children engage and enlighten the parents.

Greater Minnesota schools now find themselves on the short end of the stick for state funding, with suburban schools getting the better share. That inequity forces the school boards to ask their taxpayers for operating levies to help keep the schools at quality levels. Albert Lea is no exception.

Before Albert Lea School District voters go to the polls Nov. 6, our community needs to have a serious dialogue on this issue. Last year, the school levy referendum was on the ballot with numerous federal, state, county and city races. Debate over the schools existed but was somewhat lost in all the other election chatter. People really weren&8217;t talking about the schools and as a result the levy request failed.

This time, Albert Lea voters will have more time to hash out this matter. Whether you are for or against, it&8217;s time to start talking. Election Day is 38 days away.

In that spirit, the Albert Lea Tribune on Sunday begins the first of four front-page Sunday features on the schools. This will be in addition to the news coverage the Tribune regularly provides about the schools in Albert Lea and about schools in the region, some which also are asking voters for levies.

We felt it important to begin our series with you, the voters. On Sunday, you will see comments solicited from people on the sidewalks of Albert Lea along with basic information about the election.

In coming Sundays you will read about the funding mechanism, what could happen if voters reject the levies and about the people who are for and against the school levy.

The most important part of all this work is you. We want to get you thinking and then talking. Please send letters to the editor on this topic. Tell the community how you feel because this needs to be a communitywide discussion.

For people to cast informed votes, they need informers. Sometimes the informer is the paper; sometimes the informer is you, the reader.