Merger petitions signed, vote now next step

By Manor Ink Staff

Town of Rockland, NY – The Roscoe Central School and Livingston Manor Central School boards met together on Thursday, Nov. 7, in the RCS auditorium. At this meeting, the two boards accepted the district clerk’s certification of the signatures and the petition totals. The petitions were required in order for the state to schedule an official merger referendum.

Board members from both districts agree that public education in the community will be better if the schools merge into a consolidated district. They made a formal request to Sullivan BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Robert Dufour to ask the Commissioner of Education to initiate the formal reorganization process and call for a public vote. The tentative date for a vote is Thursday, Dec. 19, from noon to 8 p.m. Once that is official, residents will receive notice by mail.

Between now and then, Superintendent John Evans will meet with interested citizens to discuss the merger opportunity and answer questions. The Livingston Manor Library will host one of those sessions for the public on Thursday, Dec. 12.

The process is now in the hands of the NY State Education Department. They will formally issue an order for a public vote. “Until then, it is a waiting game on our end,” Evans said.

School board members on the merger

James Buck, President
LMCS Board of Education

I am in support of the merger because it will mean increased NY State aid for our district, cost savings for the taxpayer and, most importantly, increased services for our children. Our number one mission in public education is to educate our children.

Through the merger, the new district will be able to offer an expanded curriculum to our students, including more elective and advanced placement/college classes. In our elementary classes, we will be able to have transitional classrooms, where students who may be struggling can be taught at a level that is more understandable for them. We will be able to bring many of our special education students back to the district, saving the taxpayers money by reducing the amount we pay to other districts and BOCES to provide services that we are currently unable to provide.

In addition, the merger will afford the district a higher building aid ratio, which will allow for upgrades and general repairs at our facilities at a reduced impact to the taxpayer. The long-term outlook for NY State funding for public education is dire, as evidenced by last year’s proposed $1.3M cut to state aid to LMCS alone. The merger will provide the district with financial security for the near term, and will allow the district to better plan for its financial future, thus helping to offset the expected decreases in Foundation Aid.

As a parent of three elementary-aged children in LMCS and a former student in both districts, I feel that this merger is best for both communities and both school districts. I would hope that all voters make their voices heard and remember what is ultimately most important when deciding, and that is providing the highest quality education for our most valuable asset, our children.

Jill Smith, Vice President
LMCS Board of Education

The merger has my full support as both a parent and a taxpayer. With the proposed improvements that would come along with the merger, I believe our students will be given more opportunities than we are currently able to offer, without losing the benefits of a small and close-knit district.

I am particularly excited about the potential for bringing more of our special education students back to the district, to maintain a less-restrictive environment that will foster more positive growth and learning. We also stand to see some fiscal benefits as well, like a decrease in our taxes. However, I hope that voters recognize that the benefits to the students are the real bottom line.

Gary Dahlman, President
RCS Board of Education

I have been on the school board since July 1, 1998, and have seen many changes in education funding and population in both school districts. We have done many things cooperatively for many years, with the goal of providing the best education and as many programs as possible for the students in both schools. Sharing many non-teaching positions and our sports programs has helped us keep as many teaching staff as we have, while not negatively effecting the students in both districts. We have reached our limit in ways to save money without cutting programs. Taxpayers are already feeling the pain, with costs of living going up in all areas. The additional aid the state has made available this year gives us an opportunity to merge the schools to save costs and increase what is offered to students in both districts.

Everything that we have done so far has had positive results as far as helping students and I look forward to what we can do as a merged district.