Mergers: Districts ponder joining forces - Houston Business Journal:

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A third set of talks was triggeredby Gov. Davied Paterson’s proposed state budget last “It would have raised our taxes 22 saysMichael McArdle, superintendentg of the Scio Central School District. “It drover us to look at our budget and the issuee wewere facing.” The budgetary news from Albany subsequently took a turn for the but officials from Scio and nearby Wellsvill continue to explore their options -- perhap s a merger, more likelt a collaboration on a smaller scale. “Everythingt is open,” says McArdle.
“We’re tryinh to find the best wayto go, the way to get the best educationak opportunities for our students and to keep our tax rate The Wyoming Central School District faced a similar problem in 1991. Enrollment was especially at the high school Elective courses weresparseluy attended. Only three students signed up for physics one Voters rejected mergers with Pavilionor Warsaw. “Thayt left the district struggling to come up with a says thecurrent superintendent, Sandra Duckworth.
“Sop we started to look at Wyoming students now attend theit local school through eighth then shift to high school in any of fouradjaceny districts: Alexander, Attica, Pavilion or Warsaw. Wyoming pays tuitionh for each student, a standard rate that is negotiated with its neighbore everyfive years. Wyominf also belongs to a consortium of six districtas seeking ways to cut costsz by sharing services suchas transportation, building maintenance, special education and curriculum development. Similar arrangements can be found elsewherer in WesternNew York, sometimes involving severalk districts, sometimes a one-on-one setup such as Scio and Wellsville are discussing.
These measures offer the prospec of reducing expenses while retainingglocal control. It’s a combination that appeals to superintendents who are well awaree that the mere suggestion of a mergef can triggerintense opposition. “What the peoplew of Sherman are telling us is that they like the educationm their childrenare receiving,” says “They’re saying, ‘Please keep it the way it is.
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