Jamestown Public Schools residents will get a chance to vote on the district's proposed 2026-2027 budget and choose candidates for the Board of Education on Tuesday, May 19th. JPS is proposing a $120,898,274 budget that includes no tax levy increase. District officials say the plan supports students through targeted investments, including additional teaching positions at Persell Middle School and Washington Middle School, expanded arts programming with new strings positions and added music and art opportunities at Jamestown High School, continued support for special education and student services, ongoing safety and security upgrades, and the addition of an assistant principal and secretary at the Innovation Center at Rogers School. A hearing on the budget is slated for Tuesday, May 12th at 6:00 PM at Persell Middle School.
In addition to the proposed budget, voters will consider propositions related to the sale of the Harrison Street property to the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities and a library tax increase by the James Prendergast Library (more information can be found at prendergastlibrary.org).
Meanwhile, three Board of Education candidates are also on the ballot to fill three open seats -- two three-year terms that will begin in July 2026 and end in June 2029. The three candidates are:
- Christine Schnars, an incumbent, who is seeking her fourth term since returning to the board in 2017. She first joined the board in 1987 and has previously served as its president and vice president. She was installed as president of the New York State School Boards Association board of directors in October and serves on the E2CCB Board of Education. She is a past president of the Fletcher PTA and served on the NYSPTA Board of Governors. Schnars, her late husband Jim, and her four children are all JHS alumni. She has five grandchildren currently enrolled in JPS.
- Paul Abbott, an incumbent, is seeking his seventh term, having started on the board in July 2008. Mr. Abbott has served as the Board of Education President since 2016. He is a JHS alumnus and graduated from JCC, the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Academy and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. He is retired as the Investigative Commander of the Jamestown Police Department and is currently employed by the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Department. Mr. Abbott and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters: Kelsey, a 2013 JHS graduate and Hannah, a 2017 JHS graduate.
- Carmela Proctor, who is seeking her first term on the Board of Education. A lifelong resident, Proctor retired from JPS in 2016 after spending 18 years as Principal of Jefferson Middle School. Prior to that, she served 17 years as an elementary special education teacher in the district. A proud graduate of Jamestown High School, she is a member of Zion Covenant Church and the Jamestown Area YMCA. She received her Associate's degree from Jamestown Community College, her undergraduate degree in special education at SUNY Buffalo State, and her Master's and administrative degrees from SUNY Fredonia.
Voters can cast their vote at any of the three polling sites: Jefferson Middle School (195 Martin Road), Lincoln Elementary School (301 Front Street), and Washington Middle School (159 Buffalo Street). The polls will be open from 12:00-9:00 PM on Tuesday, May 19th.
To be eligible to vote in the JPS Budget/Board of Education Election, an individual must be: at least 18 years of age, a United States citizen, a resident of the Jamestown City School District for at least 30 days prior to May 19th, and a registered voter. If you have a question regarding voter eligibility, please contact the District Clerk at (716) 483-4420.
Pictured, from left to right: Board of Education candidates Christine Schnars, Paul Abbott, Carmela Proctor. Photos by Jamestown Public Schools
