1 Golden Bomber Dr.
Ilion, NY 13357
Phone: 315.894.9934
Fax: 315.894.2716
Superintendent
Community merger committee looks at physical and program possibilities
The Community Advisory Committee got a clearer look at how a possible merged school district might look at their third meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 2 at Herkimer BOCES (view the agenda (PDF).
The committee built on previous work undertaken at its February meeting when SES Study Team first introduced data related to enrollment projections and building capacities.
In this meeting, the committee broke up into the three subcommittees—Education, Finance/Personnel Committee, and Functional Support Services and Operations to discuss the data. The subcommittees each made observations related to the data, then noted the opportunities and challenges the data presented. SES Study Team consultants Paul Seversky, Doug Exley, and Sam Shevat recorded members’ comments and will present them at the next meeting.
Program possibilities
The group then had a chance to look at a complete listing of the K-6 grade program offerings for each of the districts. (see the listing (PDF)).
Everyone also reviewed a summary of the latest grade 3-6 New York State assessments in ELA, math, and science (see the summary (PDF)).
After a break the group was invited to ask 12 school district guests any questions related to the data. On hand were the superintendent and an elementary school principal and teacher from each district (see the representatives (PDF)).
The focus quickly turned to the recent assessment results and what districts were doing to improve student performance. After a lengthy discussion of the many problems facing districts, conversation slowly moved to the positives that could come from the additional resources available in a merged district. Among them were:
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A combined district could combine the strengths of each district and better meet students’ needs. As one person said, “We could merge our collective brains.”
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Improved efficiencies could free some staff to focus on necessary tasks such as curriculum development.
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A combined district could better justify and afford additional services such as counselors and social workers.
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A combined district could expand opportunities for students such as foreign languages, health classes, computer skills/technology, BOCES honors club, drama club, school newspaper club, and intramural sports.
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A combined district could open the possibility of a magnet school. Interestingly, when one member asked if the guest panel could see identify any ways that a merged district would negatively impact program, not one of the guests could name a downside.
“Unfortunately, the conversation was cut short by the time. Many questions were left unasked or unanswered,” said SES Consultant Doug Exley. “We are still working out the details, but we hope to address them at our next meeting.”
Future CAC meetings will be held Tuesday, March 29 and Thursday, April 14. Meetings begin at 6 p.m. at the Herkimer BOCES.
