For the past year, students in the Mars School District have been taking the Rachel’s Challenge. The program aims to foster a positive, accepting environment focused on kindness to others, not only in school but in the community at large.

By all accounts, the program has had a significant impact on district students, who have taken the building blocks of the challenge and expanded their own programs.

Perhaps those students can spread their message of kindness to adults in the district.

During last week’s primary election, nine of the 10 people seeking five seats on the Mars School Board advanced to the fall general election.

However, there was not much excitement from several of Tuesday’s winners. Five of the candidates, who campaigned as the Mars Community Change group, were disappointed, irritated and downright angry at what they believe to be dirty politics leading up to and on election day.

Those five candidates cross-filed on the Republican and Democratic ballots. They were the only five to appear on the Democratic ballot, despite two of the members being registered Republicans.

The group was upset at mailers sent to district voters linking their campaign to “left-wing Progressive Democrat advocacy organizations.”

The letters, pamphlets and signs aimed to make clear who the “real Republicans” on the ticket were. They indicated that campaign contributions to the group came from outside sources, and that the campaign was organized by a Washington, D.C., based campaign consulting firm that had worked with the likes of Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

As are all school board elections, the race in Mars is for seats on a non-partisan board. Unfortunately, in a world in which political divides are wider and deeper than ever, the slightest hint of a connection to polarizing politicians can have an impact — no matter how far-fetched the connection may be.

The tone of this race has been tense from the start, with school board meetings at times serving as a de-facto airing of grievances for parties on all sides. Conversations over budgets and contracts have often turned into battles of who is right and who is wrong.

While decisions by the board and outlined plans by candidates are fair game for criticism — whether an election is occurring or not — the rhetoric during the past several months goes beyond that. The attacks have become personal and, at times, childish. Accusations have been tossed around without consideration for the fallout.

It is the children of the district who ultimately suffer — the same children for whom members of the board are entrusted to make the best decisions. The same children who have spent the past several months learning and growing to become better, kinder citizens.

The five months before the general election could be crucial in setting the tone and tenor of how the board and district will function with a guaranteed four new members this winter.

Everyone involved in this ongoing war of words and accusations — from current board members and board hopefuls to political groups — should follow the lead of the students they desire to serve.

As the adage goes, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, say nothing at all.”