The Editorial Board’s toughest endorsement decisions this election cycle involve the candidates running to control a duplicative board that arguably shouldn’t exist. In the June 7 primary, Orange County voters will choose three members of the county Board of Education along with a superintendent of schools, who oversees the Orange County Department of Education.

The board largely is a pass-through agency that funnels state funds into the county’s 28 public-school districts. It can overrule school boards that reject charter schools or inter-district transfers, but has little power beyond that – and operating the alternative schools that serve 10,000 students who are incarcerated or in foster care.

Oddly, voters separately elect a superintendent who oversees operational services to districts. It’s such an under-the-radar position that since 2002 the superintendent has run unopposed. In recent years, however, these positions have been caught up in the maelstrom of culture-war politics.

The current board majority – Mari Barke, Tim Shaw, Lisa Sparks and Ken Williams – has advanced high-profile conservative positions and repeatedly butted heads with veteran Superintendent Al Mijares, whose positions are far more establishmentarian.

They have battled over mask mandates, budget authority, legal counsel, pension payments and salaries. Taxpayers have footed millions of dollars in related legal fees. The fracas has delved into social issues, even though the state and local districts are responsible for ethnic studies and sex education curricula.

To its credit, the board has strongly supported charter schools and choice – something that’s of utmost importance to this Editorial Board. Our endorsements reflect the reality that we often must choose among highly flawed choices. They also reflect our attempt to prod the board majority to spend more time on substantive, local issues and less time preening for Fox News.

In the Area 2 board race in the northwest, we endorse Mari Barke. She is the ringleader of the majority, is unnecessarily contentious and sometimes advances dubious causes, but her main opponent, Martha Fluor, takes predictable establishment positions. Libertarian Christopher Ganiere’s approach is indistinguishable from Barke’s, so why change?

In the Area 4 race in the northeast, we endorse incumbent Tim Shaw. He’s solid on charters and has resisted political bomb throwing. His main opponent, Paulette Chaffee, champions teachers’ unions and embarrassed herself in her previous run for public office with a yard-sign controversy.

In Area 5 in South County, we endorse Lisa Sparks. We’re dismayed by her role in turning the board into a ruckus, but her opponent, Sherine Smith, is another pro-union candidate. We’re still better off with a confrontational conservative majority than a board controlled by the education establishment.

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Obviously, our endorsements do not suggest an endorsement for all the positions they take.

For superintendent, we reluctantly give Mijares the nod. We’re peeved at his support for a state law that limits the ability of county boards to overturn districts’ anti-charter decisions. However, he’s a competent administrator, has done a good job managing alternative schools – and provides a needed check on the board’s excesses.

His opponent, Stefan Bean, is that majority’s choice. We like what he said about parental involvement, but his failure to substantiate his allegation that school districts are teaching inappropriate sexual matters to kindergartners is a red flag.

The status quo is problematic, but is probably better than the likely alternatives.