WESTPORT — The town’s Board of Education sets policies for one of the state’s most highly rated school districts, which this academic year has roughly 5,300 students and a budget of about $144 million.

Despite its consequential role in town, Westport’s school board — like all others across Connecticut — has a unique role in government since it is considered a quasi-state agency and not strictly a town board.

To promote better understanding of the Board of Education and how it operates, the League of Women Voters of Westport will host a Sept. 6 forum, “Know Your Town: The Board of Education.”

The event will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road. Register to attend the free program by clicking here.

Three members of the school board will be the panelists: Chairwoman Lee Goldstein and Secretary Neil Phillips, Democrats running for seats in the November election, and Dorie Hordon, a Republican.

Their discussion will focus on “how the board governs our school system, sets operating and capital budgets, evaluates and deliberates on major policy decisions, and how the public can most effectively participate in the process to express their ideas or concerns,” according to the LWV forum organizers.