Lenox Candidate Forum for Select Board and School Committee - May 4, 2026

The League of Women Voters of Central Berkshire County hosted a candidate forum at Lenox Town Hall on May 4, 2026, for the upcoming May 11 town election. Candidates for both the Select Board (three-year term) and the School Committee (one-year term) presented their views and answered audience questions. Two of three Select Board seats and one School Committee seat were contested.

Select Board Candidates Forum

Candidates David Roach (incumbent), Max Scherf (incumbent), and Jared Weber each had seven minutes to identify the three most important issues facing Lenox and the Select Board.

• David Roach highlighted the future of the all-volunteer fire department, noting it could become a paid department costing over $2 million annually. He proposed building affordable housing for volunteer firefighters at the fire station site and subsidizing housing allowances. He also stressed Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) liability, stating the town has saved $8 million but needs another $12 million over ten years.
• Max Scherf prioritized fiscal health, emphasizing Lenox’s triple-A bond rating and the risk of losing it with continued debt. He called for strategic capital planning and closer collaboration with town boards and committees. On affordability and affordable housing, he expressed support for the town's affordable housing efforts and acknowledged challenges for lower- and middle-class families.
• Jared Weber focused on open and accessible town government, proposing regular office hours and improved communication. He emphasized recruiting more residents onto boards and committees, leveraging his headhunting background. His third priority was responsible stewardship, broadening the economic tax base to reduce residential tax pressure by supporting local businesses and exploring development in Lenoxdale.

Audience questions and responses:

• Affordable housing and child care: Roach suggested using tax incentives or housing trust loans to support home-based child care and welcomed proposals to the Select Board. Scherf said the LCC issue involves a retiring operator and a town-owned building needing $10 million in repairs; he urged finding a new provider and exploring CPC or grant funding. Weber proposed a temporary subcommittee to examine child care viability and suggested community partners.
• Tax increases (22% over two years): Roach noted that much of the increase is driven by uncontrollable costs like health insurance (18% last year) and mandated repairs; the board works to hold level services. Scherf emphasized long-term capital planning to avoid reactive spending and supporting businesses to shift tax burden. Weber echoed broadening the commercial tax base via support for tourism, inns, and cultural institutions, and creative development in Lenoxdale.
• Senior activities: Roach said the Community Center runs a strong program with many active seniors. Scherf welcomed seniors to suggest activities to the board. Weber, a Community Center board member, agreed programming is robust and suggested better public awareness via social media and newsletters.

School Committee Candidates Forum

Candidates Richard Burke (incumbent) and Stephanie Kluka each had four minutes to identify the two most important issues facing Lenox schools.

• Richard Burke said the top issue is maintaining the quality and character of Lenox schools amid rising costs and policy challenges. He advocated for career and technical education (CTE) to prepare students for both college and vocational paths without full regionalization. He stressed collaboration with other districts to share services.
• Stephanie Kluka focused on programming for diverse learners (students with IEPs or 504 plans), noting a rise from 4% to 12% of students on 504s since 2014. She advocated for inclusive in-district programming, building community partnerships, and creating a unique vocational niche for Lenox rather than regionalizing. She cited her experience as both a special education teacher and parent of two children on IEPs.

Audience questions and responses:

• School choice repayment rate (set in 1990): Burke explained that Lenox’s policy is to accept choice students only in existing classroom spaces without hiring new teachers, so the incremental cost is low. Kluka said the solution lies in petitioning Boston to change the rate, and also in making Lenox more affordable to attract families.
• Regionalization for vocational education: Burke opposed full regionalization as proposed by the Commonwealth (three regional districts in Berkshire County), arguing it would dilute Lenox’s school quality. He supported other forms of collaboration and noted the district is already exploring shared services. Kluka agreed that regionalization is not the answer; instead, Lenox should develop niche vocational programming unique to its community.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken at this forum. The election for Select Board (vote for two) and School Committee (vote for one) will be held on May 11, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Lenox Town Hall. Voters were encouraged to participate.