1 Golden Bomber Dr.
Ilion, NY 13357
Phone: 315.894.9934
Fax: 315.894.2716
Superintendent
Wrapping up building configurations, a first look at a board of education, creating a new identity, and projecting staffing needs
The Community Advisory Committee took another step in the merger study process at its ninth meeting on July 27 held at Mohawk's Jarvis High School. This evening's topics included building configurations, the makeup of a board of education, what and how to name the new district, and the staffing needs of a merged district. View the agenda (PDF)
A last look at building configurations
In response to discussions held at the July 6 meeting, the committee began by revisiting the question of which buildings would be better suited to house grades 5-6 and which would house grades 7-8. After breaking into groups for discussion, the subcommittees presented their final opinions. All agreed that neither arrangement should be a "deal breaker," but they felt the swimming pool at Herkimer High School would be more useful to grade 5-6 students and the proximity of Frankfort-Schuyler's sports fields would benefit the modified sports teams of a grade 7-8 school.
A new board of education
The next discussion centered on how a board of education might look.
The law only vaguely describes the requirements to be a board of education member—a board candidate be at least 18 years old, able to read and write, a district resident, be removed from the district (no longer an employee or student) at least one year, cannot hold an incompatible office, and cannot be incompetent.
Using this as a starting point, the committee broke into subcommittees and reported their vision of a new board back to the entire group. The subcommittees generally agreed that the board should be made up of a minimum of seven or nine members serving staggered terms of one to three years.
They recognized that the initial board members of a newly merged district would carry greater responsibilities to get the district operating smoothly as quickly as possible. The committee described a good board member as a good listener, a good communicator, committed to the merger, having an education or business background, possibly having board of education experience, committed to children and the community, thick-skinned, and having the time to serve.
Many expressed a desire to require each of the current districts be represented on the new board. School law, however, prohibits any attempt to restrict board membership.
A school name, colors, and mascot
The next challenge was to imagine the process to name the school and adopt school colors and a school mascot.
Regarding a school name, the committee suggested a wide range of options including allowing the students to choose, holding a community-wide vote, or allowing the board of education to decide. Some members suggested voting on possible district names as early as the straw vote while others suggested waiting until after the final referendum.
Nearly everyone agreed that choosing school colors and a mascot should be left to the students. It was strongly suggested that the new colors not include those of the existing districts, but be something unique to the new district.
Staffing the new district
Based on information presented in the previous meetings, the committee looked at how the new district might be staffed including administration, teachers, and support staff. The data included the total cost compared to current costs.
What's next?
The next meeting will address the specifics of district finances. The study team is awaiting each district's final tax rates and the communities' equalization rates to be issued sometime in August before scheduling the next meeting.
