By Steve Brandt

Now here's a novel idea -- let's ask teachers about education.

That's the lesson plan for Oct. 4 at the latest community forum on education hosted by six Minneapolis civic and educational organizations. It comes as just about everybody seems to be offering prescriptions for changing how schools are run and teachers teach.

Teachers who are expected to discuss topics ranging from teacher evaluation to testing include: Crystal Ballard, n Olson Middle School teacher of college readiness skills; Jim Barnhill, a South High School special education teacher, member of the board of Minneapolis Federation of Teachers and of several district groups on evaluations; Susan Bell, a retired elementary-middle grade teacher for 38 years in Minneapolis and St. Paul and now test coordinator at Hmong International Academy; Paul Hegre, a teacher working at the district office on evaluation after 23 years at Seward Montessori School and Na-Way-Ee Center School; and James Kindle; a union steward and English Language Learner teacher at Anne Sullivan Communication Center.

The forum is scheduled for 7:30-9 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Av. S.

A subsequent forum to quiz school board candidates is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 25 from 7:30-9 p.m. at Jefferson Community School , 1200 W. 26th St.