First Bell: Board candidate Randy Masten chats today at 11 a.m.; ‘Love and Logic’ classes to be offered at Central; Spring Break had early start

A few education-oriented items from around the area, and beyond:

We’re down to two full weeks before Election Day, and this week we’ll have four candidates for Lawrence school board available — live — to answer your questions online.

Randy Masten, a retired U.S. Army officer, is scheduled to take part in an online chat today at 11 a.m., from here in The News Center.

Other chats this week:

• Ola Faucher, 11 a.m. Tuesday.

• Jim Clark, 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

• Tyler Palmer, 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Remember that you may submit questions in advance for any or all of the chats (just follow the links at the side of this story). You also are invited to follow along while candidates are writing their answers, sending in follow-ups if you like.

I’ll be moderating the chats, posting questions posed by readers.

And in case you missed some previous chats or would like to compare candidates’ answers, transcripts are available for review. Again, just follow the links to the side of this story.

Nine people are campaigning for election to occupy four available seats on the board. Winners will take office in July.

In-person advance voting continues now through noon April 4. The general election is April 5.

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Parents and students — both in or on their way to — Central Junior High School are invited to take part in a free series of classes and activities designed to help everyone deal with the challenges of handling and actually growing up.

“Parenting Teens and Tweens with Love and Logic” will be conducted from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for six consecutive Tuesdays, from March 29 through May 3. The classes and activities are free, and include dinner and childcare.

Leading the sessions will be:

• Rebecca Clark, Central’s parent involvement facilitator.

• Deb Keary, a WRAP social worker at Central.

• Michael Maher, a WRAP intern.

• Jeanette DeVilbiss, Central’s school psychologist.

“Love and Logic is being able to respond to whatever your child does, in a loving way, but still apply logical consequences,” Clark said. “It’s a replacement for anger or other things you might do.”

To reserve a spot, contact Clark at 330-2411 or rclark@usd497.org.

( Central Junior High School could be renamed Central Middle School next year, or Liberty Memorial Middle School, or even something else, depending on what the Lawrence school board decides, presumably during the coming weeks.)

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Spring Break formally starts today, but it would be difficult to argue that it didn’t start late last week.

At least one district school had at least a quarter of its students out Thursday, as parents pulled their kids to attend the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.