canton-potsdam merger study · merged canton/potsdam district 221.2 sq. miles parishville-hopkinton...
TRANSCRIPT
Canton-Potsdam
Merger Study
A Brief
Synopsis
Merger Study: The Essential Question
“Would educational opportunities be sustained or enhanced for all students at similar or reduced cost to taxpayers by combining the two districts?”
Study Consultants: “Yes…Our analysis indicates that educational opportunities would indeed be enhanced should a merger take place. And given the efficiencies inherent in merging these two school districts, such opportunities could be provided at less cost.”
Curriculum and Instruction
• Potsdam and Canton are two of the top three ranked schools in the North Country
• Both districts have experienced significant reductions in staff and programs
• Despite challenges, student achievement remains strong and class sizes are still relatively favorable
• Further cuts will impact core academic areas and increase class sizes
A merger would provide the opportunity to offer some 50
programs to all students now in only one school or the other.
• State aid reductions since 2009 have forced both schools to use fund balances to balance budgets and maintain programs.
• Both districts will exhaust their fund balances in the near term.
• Merger would bring additional Incentive Operating Aid of $35 million dollars to the combined district
• In a merged district, tax rates would decrease for both communities.
Fiscal Analysis
Staffing
• Over 100 faculty and staff lost since 2008-09
• Study recommends more teachers, less
administrative and operations personnel
• Study identifies nearly $1 million more in
personnel and operational savings over the $6
million dollars in previous budget reductions
A merged district could offer an academic program
equal to or better than the combined offerings of
the current programs at little or no additional cost.
Facilities
Recommended configuration of schools: Pre-Kindergarten through grade 5 elementary
schools in each community A 6-8 grade middle school located in Canton A 9-12 high school located in Potsdam
North Country District Size-Sq. Miles
Saranac Lake Central School District 639.6 sq. miles
Malone Central School District 357.5 sq. miles
Edwards-Knox Central School District 252.2 sq. miles
Colton-Pierrepont Central School District 239.8 sq. miles
Gouverneur Central School District 221.7 sq. miles
Merged Canton/Potsdam District 221.2 sq. miles
Parishville-Hopkinton Central School 217.55 sq. miles
Transportation
• A merged school district would span approximately 221 square miles.
• Smaller than the Saranac Lake Malone, Colton-Pierrepont, Edwards-Knox, and Gouverneur school districts
Transportation
Although there would be longer bus rides for some, transportation time would not change dramatically for most, as nearly 90 percent of students in a merged district would live within 15 miles of their school.
Athletics
Athletics
In a merged district there would be:
More athletic opportunities overall, but more
competition for positions in soccer, basketball,
and ice hockey
More fully subscribed and competitive teams
Improved coach-to-athlete instruction and
supervision
“What will happen if our schools don’t merge?”
•No one can say with 100% assurance
•Without merger, students will not be able to take advantage of an enhanced educational program at reduced taxpayer expense
•Without the $35 million in additional state aid, neither school can sustain current programming
• Painful choices may have to be made
•Non-Mandated programs at risk:
Athletics and extracurricular activities
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
AP Programs and all electives
Arts
Next Steps
• Town Hall meetings with a detailed presentation of the merger study findings and Q & A segments
September 24 and October 21 in Potsdam
October 27 in Canton
• Advisory Referendum (“Straw Poll’) on October 30, 2014
• If the merger is approved by both communities during advisory referendum, the process will proceed to a final vote on December 16th 2014.
• If both votes are favorable, the new district would become operational on July 1st, 2015