Pittsford board candidates outline priorities on budget, mental health, special education and cell phones

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Three candidates seeking seats on the Pittsford Central School District Board of Education discussed budgets, student mental health, special-education staffing and cell-phone policy during a May 20 forum hosted by the Pittsford PTSA.

The candidates — incumbent board member Emily Kaye, incumbent David (Dave) Burke and candidate Laura Schulitz — each delivered opening remarks and answered a rotating series of community-submitted questions moderated by Amy Thomas, executive director of the Monroe County School Boards Association. Colleen Emmons, the PTSA’s event coordinator, organized the program and the district provided technology for a streamed broadcast.

The forum focused on practical, district-level issues rather than partisan politics. Candidates spoke repeatedly about fiscal constraints and the district’s obligation to maintain programs while keeping taxes manageable. "We have a $150,000,000 annual budget. Seventy percent of that comes from the tax levy in our community," Burke said, framing the scale of the budget challenge and the pressure on local revenue. Kaye cited recent community advocacy that helped secure a 3% state aid increase this year and described collaborative budget decisions…