Early voting starts Dec. 1, and two candidates facing off for the at-large seat on the Austin ISD board of trustees are slated to answer questions Dec. 2 at a candidate debate.

Teachers union Education Austin is co-sponsoring the event with local groups Students United for Public Education and PRIDE of the Eastside. Education Austin President Ken Zarifis said a student panel will moderate the debate between candidates Kendall Pace and Hillary Procknow. Pace and Procknow are on the ballot for joint special runoff elections, scheduled for Dec. 16.

Zarifis said he perceived a lack of information about candidates leading up to the November elections.

"It was a very long ballot. The school board trustees were at the bottom of the ballot," he said. "It was overwhelming for voters."

Zarifis said the debate, which will be broadcast on AISD Channel 22, will include questions and input from AISD students. Students are also being encouraged to tweet about the event using the "#ouraisd" hashtag, Zarifis said.

"We can't be making decisions about education without asking students what's wrong and what's right," he said.

The debate is slated to take place Dec. 2 from 7–8 p.m. in the board auditorium of the Carruth Administration Center, located at 1111 West Sixth Street.