Crossword Genius

Local spooks search around area with school (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

haunts

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'local spooks' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.

'search around area with school' is the wordplay.
'search' becomes 'hunt' ('hunt' can be a synonym of 'search'**).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'area' becomes 'a' (maths abbreviation).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'school' becomes 's'.
'hunt' going around 'a' is 'haunt'.
'haunt'+'s'='HAUNTS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for haunts that I've seen before include "Places where ghosts hang out?" , "Frequents or visits as a ghost" , "Places frequented" , "Frequently visits" , "Frequently visited places, hangouts" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).
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