Pittsford school board candidates stress transparency, mental-health supports and budget stewardship at forum

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Three candidates seeking seats on the Pittsford Central School District Board of Education told a packed PTSA forum Thursday evening that transparency, student mental health and fiscal stewardship would guide their service if elected.

At the Meet the Candidates event organized by the Pittsford PTSA, incumbent board members Emily Kaye and David (Dave) Burke and challenger Laura Schulitz answered questions from moderator Amy Thomas of the Monroe County School Board Association about priorities ranging from special education staffing and school meals to cell-phone rules and library materials.

The candidates framed many of their remarks around the district’s budget and the constraints it creates. Burke, who noted the district’s roughly $150,000,000 annual budget and said about 70% of that comes from the local tax levy, said a core near-term priority is supporting new building and central-office leaders through professional development. Kaye said the district must remain “resourceful and thoughtful” while protecting…