1 Golden Bomber Dr.
PO Box 480
Ilion, NY 13357
Phone: 315.894.9934
Fax: 315.894.2716
Superintendent
Ilion Central School District Merger Updates
Have you taken our merger survey?
To better understand how our community thinks about the merger, we are inviting residents to take a brief survey. It will take less than five minutes and the results will help guide us as we move forward. (February 1, 2012) (Take the survey)
Ilion agrees to explore three-way merger
The Ilion, Herkimer and Mohawk boards of education agreed Saturday, Jan. 28 to move forward with plans to explore a three-way merger of the Ilion, Herkimer and Mohawk school districts for July 2013. (January 30, 2012) (Read the details)
Where do we go after merger vote?
With Frankfort-Schuyler's sound defeat of the proposed four-school merger, residents now ask, "Where do we go from here?" We move forward according to Ilion Superintendent of Schools Cosimo Tangorra, Jr. (January 23, 2012) (Read the details)
Ilion, Mohawk & Herkimer voters approve proposed merger
Frankfort-Schuyler rejects plan
Voters in three of four communities approved the proposed four-district merger on Thursday, Jan. 19. Although the four-school plan ends, district officials will begin looking at new options. (January 19, 2012) (see the results and learn what happens next).
Superintendents talk merger on WKTV
Ilion Superintendent Cosimo Tangorra, Jr. and the superintendents of the Frankfort-Schuyler, Herkimer, and Mohawk school districts appeared on a special WKTV news segment on Tuesday, Jan. 17 to answer questions related to the merger. (January 18, 2012) (Watch the segment)
A look at NYS Education Law and school reorganization
Take a look at what the law says about school reorganization. This answers many questions regarding the legal process related to the proposed merger. (Read the questions and answers)
Merger requires approval from all four districts
Despite earlier reports, all four districts must approve the proposed merger at the board of education votes, the advisory referendum and the statutory referendum. (January 9, 2012) Read the details.
Residents look for answers in the final Community Merger Discussion
During the Jan. 5 Community Discussion on the Merger, Superintendent Cosimo Tangorra spent the evening taking questions from the audience. Read a summary or watch a video of the meeting.
Recap of Dec. 6 Community Merger Discussion
A summary of the communities response to the four questions is now online. (Read the responses)
Feasibility Study Information Sessions to introduce study findings
Follow-up meetings to foster community discussion
To introduce community members to the recently released Reorganization Feasibility Study final report, Frankfort-Schuyler, Herkimer, Ilion and Mohawk Central School districts will each hold a Feasibility Study Information Session in November. (Read more information about the sessions and dates).
Final merger study report released
The New York State Education Department released the four-school merger study final report on Monday, Nov. 7. SES Study Team consultants and the 64-person Community Advisory Committee spent 10 long months examining almost every aspect of our schools uncovering the opportunities and challenges of merging Ilion with Frankfort-Schuyler, Herkimer, and Mohawk. SES placed those findings in this report and submitted it to SED. It is now available to the public:
Learn about the merger study
Ilion Central School District has joined Frankfort-Schuyler, Herkimer and Mohawk school districts to explore the possibility of merging the school districts. This page links to a wide variety of resources to help community members stay informed of the study's progress. Click any of the links below to learn the latest merger news or to catch up on any past releases:
- Summary of Sept. 29 Community Advisory Committee meeting - a wrap up of all the data in a look at how the district might look in terms of buildings, program, transportation, staffing and finances—including tax rates.
- Summary of July 27 Community Advisory Committee meeting - a last look at building configurations, a first look at a board of education, creating a new identity, and projecting staffing needs
- Summary of July 6 Community Advisory Committee meeting - takes a second look at the school leadership teams' proposal for using school buildings, the role of BOCES, school start times, and transportation.
- Summary of June 9 Community Advisory Committee meeting - examines the districts' fiscal health, condition of buildings, and the suggested building configuration for a merged district.
- Summary of June 9 school staff meeting with SES Study team - teachers and school staff learned about the study and asked a variety of questions.
- Summary of May 18 Community Advisory Committee meeting - look at the opportunities and challenges of merged sports.
- Summary of April 28 Community Advisory Committee meeting - explores ways in which a merged district might use existing buildings
- Summary of Mar. 29 Community Advisory Committee meeting - explores the possible impact of a merger on the program schools could offer secondary school students.
- Summary of Mar. 2 Community Advisory Committee meeting- explores the possible impact of a merger on the program the schools could offer elementary school students.
- Summary of Feb. 3 Community Advisory Committee meeting- explores community and school district population trends, the geography of the districts, building capacities, and a detailed timetable for the study and possible vote..
- Summary of Jan. 19 Community Advisory Committee meeting - introduces the role of the committee, the process leading to a community vote, and enrollment projections for the districts.
- Current merger study data and committee documents - this page lists the agendas and handouts from the Community Advisory Committee meetings.
- Meet the Community Advisory Committee members (PDF) - a listing of all the community members who have volunteered to serve as members of a committee that serves independently of the school districts to analyze data and use it to draw their own conclusions concerning the feasibility of a merger.
- Questions & Answers - a listing of all questions and answers that explain why the district is considering a merger and how that process takes place.
- District undertakes merger study - Overview of the possibility of merging Ilion, Frankfort-Schuyler, Herkimer and Mohawk school districts. Information on what the merger study is and how it will be implemented.
Meet your Community Advisory Committee
Each of the four school districts named 15 people to represent them in the merger study process. These 60 people help evaluate the data, ask questions, share what they learn with other community members, and share community concerns back to the SES Study Team. (See who is a member of the committee-PDF)
District undertakes school merger study
Understanding where we are and where we are heading…
By now, most Ilion residents have likely heard something about a school merger study. Depending on your understanding of what has taken place and the process that lies ahead, you might be feeling excited, concerned, or even angry. The Board of Education wants everyone to fully understand what is happening. Over the next several months, as the district explores the possibility of a merger, residents can be confident that the board will communicate everything that is taking place and that no action will take place without the community's consent. The study has just one purpose, to help us discover whether a merger is in the best interests of our students and our taxpayers-or not. (Learn more about the study)
