City voters on Tuesday moved closer to seating their first elected school board since the 1999 state takeover, winnowing a list of 51 candidates for 11 seats. \"This is a crucial election,\" said Sharon Elliott, associate professor of teacher education and a Detroit resident. \"As the Detroit Public Schools goes, to a great extent, the city of Detroit goes.\" \"It is a year of potential, but there is no time to be dragging feet.\" Elliott said having members elected by the district will help improve the board. \"Then there will be some immediate accountability,\" she said.