School budgets across Erie and Niagara counties were approved Tuesday night as well as propositions in several districts. Voters also elected new School Board members in a few districts plagued by recent controversies.
In Lancaster, the hotly contested School Board race ended with two pro-redskins candidates, Brenda Christopher and Kelly Depczynski, ousting incumbents who had voted to change the school's mascot earlier this year.
In a WBFO News interview, Christopher said voters were not happy with the way the board handled the change and were looking for more transparency.
"We elect officials to run our schools for us and we trust that they are going to make good decisions, but we still would like a voice in that. We still would like some direction as to what they are going to do and that’s all we wanted," said Christopher.
But Christopher insists it is 'not a mascot issue'.
"It’s absolutely is not – it’s absolutely listen to your community," stated Christopher.
Christopher said it is her to unite the community.
"Right now my biggest concern is that we unit again. We need to move forward, we need to stop the us against them attitude and we need to work together. To me – it’s just let us move forward. We need to drop this whole mascot thing. And we need to move forward, reunited this community Lancaster a top ten school, awesome place to live let’s get that back – we need that reputation back," said Christopher.
Lancaster's $99-million budget and a $57-million capital project aimed at maintaining buildings and enhancing athletic facilities was also approved by voters.
In Williamsville, district voters approved a $50-million project to install new turf athletic fields at all three high schools. They also voted out two incumbent School Board members and instead elected three candidates endorsed by the district’s teachers union.
