Mergers: Districts ponder joining forces - Phoenix Business Journal:

lebexab.wordpress.com
A third set of talks was triggerecdby Gov. David Paterson’s proposed state budget last December. “It woule have raised our taxes22 percent,” says Michael superintendent of the Scio Central Schook District. “It drove us to look at our budgeyt and the issues wewere facing.” The budgetaryu news from Albany subsequently took a turn for the but officials from Scio and nearby Wellsvilles continue to explore their options -- perhaps a more likely a collaboration on a smaller scale. “Everything is says McArdle.
“We’re trying 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 similaf problem in 1991. Enrollment was declining, especiallyh at the high school Elective courses were sparsely Only three students signed up for physicsone year. Votersx rejected mergers with Pavilionor Warsaw. “Thatg left the district struggling to come up with a says thecurrent superintendent, Sandra “So we started to look at tuitioning.
” Wyominfg students now attend their local school througn eighth grade, then shift to high schoool in any of four adjacent districts: Attica, Pavilion or Warsaw. Wyoming pays tuition for each student, a standarrd rate that is negotiatef with its neighbors everyfive years. Wyoming also belongx to a consortium of six districts seeking ways to cut costws by sharing services suchas transportation, buildinbg maintenance, special education and curriculumn development. Similar arrangements can be found elsewhers in WesternNew York, sometimes involving several districts, sometimese a one-on-one setup such as Scio and Wellsvilled are discussing.
These measures offer the prospect of reducingy expenses while retaininglocapl control. It’s a combination that appeals to superintendentx who are well aware that the mere suggestionj of a merger can triggerintense opposition. “What the peoplr of Sherman are telling us is that they like the educatioj their childrenare receiving,” says “They’re saying, ‘Please keep it the way it