Mayfield and Northville boards
January 18, 2011
On Wednesday, Jan. 12, the Mayfield Board of Education approved SES Study Group to conduct a merger feasibility study of the Mayfield and Northville school districts. The Northville board approved the same measure Tuesday.
The study will not begin until the state approves a $35,000 Local Government Efficiency Grant. The grant, along with $5,000 of “in-kind money” contributed by each district, will pay for the study. The in-kind money is not going to the consultants.
The purpose of the study is to explore the possibility of merging districts or sharing services. Historically, school districts that merge receive a 40 percent increase in operating aid for five years. The additional funds then decrease by 4 percent each year, ending after 14 years.
“Now, we’re just waiting for the grant to be approved,” said Mayfield Superintendent Paul G. Williamsen. “From what we know right now, the incentives New York State is offering to merging districts are very good and we are very much interested in exploring those options.”
According to a document presented by the SES Study Group, merger studies typically take from six to nine months. The first phase in the six-stage process includes establishing a steering committee, which the boards discussed Tuesday night. The committee will be comprised of the superintendents and at least one board member from each school district.
During the process, the community plays a vital role. In stage three, each district selects 12-15 community volunteers to serve on a community study committee. The volunteers then form three sub-committees that work closely with each other.
“The community is key to the success of the study. The study is not just about them, it’s from them,” SES member Douglas A. Exley said.
Williamsen echoed his sentiments.
“We want the community to have a strong voice in this process,” Williamsen said. “Their input is vital because we need to work together to do what is in the best interests of our students and taxpayers.”
SES Study Group consists of former school superintendents Paul M. Seversky, Samuel A. Shevat and Exley. Each member of the group has been part of a merger or school consolidation.
The group said if the grant is approved in early February, they could conclude the study in September or October. Once the study concludes, each board will decide if it wishes to move forward. If both boards approve, each district will hold an initial referendum (straw vote) asking whether the voters would support a merger.
With that show of support, the districts can submit the request for approval by the Department of Education. If the department approves the request, the communities will hold a second referendum, this time to formally approve the merger. A merger proceeds only if both districts approve both referenda.
The earliest the two districts could merge is July 1, 2012.