Parents and other residents in the Dowagiac Union School District have several decisions in front of them concerning the future of their children’s education Tuesday — four, to be exact.

Three positions on the district’s board of education are up for grabs, with three incumbent officers challenged by three opponents, including a former Dowagiac superintendent. In addition, a $4.6 million millage for the district will be on the ballot.

The three incumbents running for positions on the board include Board President Michelle Helmuth-Charles Michelle Helmuth-Charles, Secretary Beth Davis and Treasurer Julia Smith.

Also running are Ron Jones, a retired educator who served nine years as the superintendent of Dowagiac schools; W. Douglas Kolmodin, a retired banker who served on various local organizations such as the Dowagiac Elks and the Dogwood Fine Arts Festival committee; and Phyllis Anne Sarabyn, a financial advisor with Edward Jones.

The millage is a renewal of the district’s standard millage, which has been in place since 1995.

The language of the proposal is as follows:

“Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18 mills ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, in Dowagiac Union School District, Cass, Van Buren and Berrien Counties, Michigan, be renewed for a period of four years, 2015 to 2018, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes?”