1 Golden Bomber Dr.
Ilion, NY 13357
Phone: 315.894.9934
Fax: 315.894.2716
Superintendent
Ilion to move ahead with 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.
"Our goal must be is to create a district that offers our students the best educational experience we can. A three-district merger gives us the financial and human resources to begin moving toward that goal," said Mr. Tangorra.
The boards briefly discussed a July 2012 merger, but decided that the time frame would be too short to effectively implement and for residents to fairly consider.
The districts must now work with the New York State Education Department (SED) to reconfigure the data from the original four-school merger.
The primary objectives for the merger remain unchanged—expanded opportunities for students and stabilized district finances.
The new plan will revisit the main topics of student enrollment, building use, academic and extracurricular programs, staffing, transportation and finances. Once complete, SED will review the plan.
If approved, SED then sets dates for a public information period, board of education votes, community advisory referendum (straw vote) and community statutory referendum (final or binding vote).
"Once we know more, we will share that information with our communities. We want everyone to have they information they need to make an informed decision," said Mr. Tangorra.
