School candidates clash on budget cuts and oppose broad book bans

School-committee candidates addressed both immediate budget cuts and the recent national debate over book bans. Jane Owens said she would not support banning books and defended professional decision-making: "The very simple answer is no. I would not support banning books," she said, adding that librarians and teachers are trained to curate age-appropriate materials. Anjana Chenigiri also opposed bans, saying she celebrates banned-book weeks and supports reading with age-appropriateness and parental consent. Chris Kumsi and others echoed support for reading and opposed broad bans.

On budget reductions, Owens and other candidates emphasized working with the superintendent to review the budget line-by-line and to protect core services. Owens said the superintendent’s recent presentation on cuts made clear that some consultants or programs could be reduced but cautioned about cutting items that distinguish a high-performing district. Steven Durek said the committee produced a budget that reduces spending by roughly $400,000 from a level-services request to help taxes, calling it "the least painful" way to proceed. Several candidates proposed reviewing contracts and consolidating services to preserve teachers where possible.

One candidate, Conklin, said he supported banning books and criticized diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and pandemic-era policies; those remarks were contested by other candidates and were part of a broader partisan critique he raised throughout the forum. The school-committee discussion identified no formal policy change; candidates said budget and materials decisions will proceed through the superintendent and the committee if elected.