Feasibility Study to Look at Options for STJ School District Mergers

      Should the St. Johnsville School District enter into a merger study with either Fort Plain School District or the Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School District? If yes, with which district should the merger be studied?

      These are the questions a merger feasibility study by Alan Pole and Phil Martin of Castallo and Silky educational consultants will attempt to answer. The merger feasibility study does NOT include the possibility of combining the three districts into one entity.

        The study would focus on the educational and financial ramifications of the potential mergers. This study is NOT a formal merger study conducted in conjunction with the New York State Department of Education. There will be no public vote associated with the results of the study. Should the questions in the study be answered in the affirmative, two districts will decide whether or not to pursue a formal merger study. The formal merger study would actively involve community and staff members from the two districts. Should this committee recommend a merger, a straw vote and final public referendum would then be held.

        Among the critical areas the merger feasibility study will explore include:

·         history and background of the three districts

·         projection of student enrollment

·         curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular course offerings

·         special education programs

·         facilities

·         transportation issues

·         teaching, administrative, and support staffing

·         employee contracts

·         finances – including the ramifications of  potential staff reduction, debt service,  and additional operating and building incentive aids associated with a merger

·         timelines and processes associated with the merger study.

·         boards of education and selection of a superintendent relative to a merger.

        The consultant’s proposal emphasizes that the recommendations presented will: benefit student learning; be sensitive to the unique cultural contexts of the school districts; be independent of special interest groups; be educationally sound, and be fiscally responsible and realistic.

            The study is expected to be completed and a comprehensive report presented to the respective boards of education in December of this year.

Dollar General Grant to Aid Reading Program

      The school district has received a $5,000 grant from Dollar General Literacy Foundation that will be used to purchase books and supplies for the Accelerated Reader Program at D.H. Robbins Elementary School.

       Superintendent of Schools Christine Battisti applied for the grant on-line in the spring and received notification of the grant award along with the check the first week of school.

       “Our students are doing very well with the Accelerated Reader Program. This was very nice surprise to start the school year,” Battisti said.  “We will purchase the books within the next few weeks.”