Mayfield and Northville receive grant for merger study

March 25, 2011

Now that they’ve received a $35,000 Local Government Efficiency Grant from New York State, the Mayfield and Northville school districts will move forward with a merger feasibility study. The purpose of the study, conducted by the SES Study Group, is to explore the possibility of merging the two districts.

“We are pleased we received the money to conduct this study,” said Mayfield Superintendent Paul G. Williamsen. “We know the incentives New York State is offering to districts that merge, and we are very interested in exploring those options.”

To ensure that the voices of all residents, taxpayers and stakeholders are heard throughout the study process, each district created a 15-member Community Advisory Committee. The first committee meeting will be held from 6-9 p.m., Monday, April 25, in the Northville school library. Throughout the process, the meeting sites will rotate between the two districts.

The purpose of the committee is to: listen to presentations and discussions, provide input about the data, and offer analysis during the study process; advise the consultants on issues related to the study; help keep district residents informed with accurate information about the study; and promote three-way communication among school district officials and personnel, district residents, and the SES Study Team consultants.

Northville Superintendent Kathy Dougherty looks forward to the process.

“The NCS Board of Education and administration are very pleased with the high level of cooperation and collegiality that has been growing between the two districts as the process evolves, and look forward to what promises to be excellent work by the Community Advisory Committees,” she said.

According to the SES Study Group, the study will conclude no later than November 15. The first phase in the six-stage study process includes establishing a steering committee, which met for the first time on March 21. The committee consists of the study group, two board members from each district, and the superintendents. Representatives from the Edinburg Common School District will also be at the meetings due to the fact the preK-6 district currently sends their students in grades 7-12 to Northville.

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. If residents of both districts indicate they support a merger, the districts can submit a formal merger request to the New York State Education Department. 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 a merged district could begin operating is July 1, 2012.

To see the members of the Mayfield Advisory Committee and the Steering Committee, click here.