As it begins its budget process for the 2016-2017 school year, the Mathews County School Board hopes to renew a longstanding practice of inviting supervisors to a joint dinner meeting to review the request.

But one school board member, speaking during Tuesday night’s school board meeting in the Mathews High School media center, thinks the attempt at fraternization may come across as hollow, given the sharp comments exchanged the night before at a campaign forum between a current supervisor and a school board candidate.

“After last night, if I were (county supervisor) Edwina Casey, I don’t think I’d come,” school board member Jen Little said. Little was referring to Monday night’s candidate forum at the Piankatank Ruritan Club in which Casey was confronted by school board candidate John Priest as Priest challenged Casey on her familiarity with the schools.

“Mrs. Casey was not spoken to in a nice manner last evening,” Little said. &ldquo...