Candidates also lamented the effects of the discrepancy in parental resources between schools. At some neighborhood schools, more affluent parents are able to contribute greater amounts to classroom funds.

"It's not fair that students in North Cambridge have computers in every classroom, while kids in Area 4 are taking home photocopies because there aren't enough books," Patterson said.

Candidate Nancy Walser pointed to sociological evidence as both a cause of the discrepancies in student performance and as an impetus for change.

"The single best predictor of academic success is the mother's level of education," she said.

Candidate Elizabeth "Tad" Kenney said caring teachers are the deciding factor when financially disadvantaged kids succeed anyway.

"At some point in their education, they had a teacher in the classroom who believed every single kid was capable of excellence," she said. "That's great, but how do you get teachers like that?"

In addressing matters financial, Segat urged the district to re-evaluate its general tendency to choose the "Cadillac model," citing one new after-school program that cost the same amount of money Boston schools used to finance 19 similar programs.

Candidate Alvin Thompson was absent from the forum.