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Lancaster school board candidates back budget, call for more teacher support and mental-health services
Summary
At a candidate forum at Lancaster High School, the three candidates for Lancaster Central School District Board of Education said they support the district's proposed 2025'1026 budget and emphasized addressing teacher shortages and student mental health as top priorities.
LANCASTER, N.Y. — At a candidate forum hosted by the Lancaster High School Student Union, the three people running for seats on the Lancaster Central School District Board of Education expressed support for the district's proposed 2025'1026 budget and said recruiting and retaining teachers and expanding student mental-health supports are the district's biggest priorities.
Voters will decide the budget in a May 20 vote. The forum on behalf of Lancaster High School Student Union gave each candidate time to introduce themselves and answer questions from students and audience members.
Melissa Payne Smith, a 21-year classroom veteran and graduate of the Lancaster Central School District running as a candidate, said she supports the budget and wants to "support the teachers, the staff, the students, and be that connection between the community and the school district." She said the teacher shortage is the most pressing challenge: "the pool of…
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