Merger study done, ‘straw poll’ next

By Diana Fredenburg | Manor Ink Mentor

Livingston Manor, NY – The LMCS and RCS Boards of Education, along with the Merger Advisory Committee, met on Sept. 12 at LMCS. At the meeting, Alan Pole and Deborah Ayers of Castallo & Silky presented the completed merger study that was submitted to the NY State Education Department.

The 18-member advisory committee includes district residents, employees and students from both school districts. Committee members discussed the study and took questions from the audience and the board.

In October, both boards of education will have the opportunity to decide whether the merger process should go to a public vote. If approved by the boards, the districts will schedule an advisory referendum, or “straw poll,” likely for late in October. All eligible residents of both districts will have the opportunity to vote in the straw poll to indicate whether there is support for the merger.

If a majority of voters in both districts approve the advisory referendum in October, a binding referendum will be scheduled by the state Education Department, likely in early December. If voters approve the binding referendum in both districts, the districts will merge. A merged district would begin operation as of July 1, 2023.

For more information, visit either of the schools’ websites at lmcs.us/page/merger-study or roscoe.k12.ny.us/article/824704.