CHENANGO COUNTY – The Commission on Property Tax Relief released its final report last week, calling for state mandates that would force consolidation for schools with less than 1,000 students.
In Chenango County, three of the county’s nine districts fall into that category: Afton, Otselic Valley and Oxford. In addition, the commission recommended the Commissioner of Education be granted the “discretional authority” to order consolidation of schools with less than 2,000 students, which would include all of the remaining Chenango County school districts, with the exception of Norwich.
According to the Commission’s report, “As a first step in determining where and how these recommended consolidations should occur, the State Education Department should undertake reviews that examine school districts under objective standards based on pupil enrollment trends, geography, breadth of educational programs, potential fiscal savings and level of tax burden.”
Otselic Valley Superintendent Larry Thomas, whose district educates approximately 480 students, said he wants to wait to see how the governor reacts to these recommendations. “I understand the need to look at every possible option in every area.”
“These are tough times, and there are many different ways this could go,” Thomas said. Over the past year, Otselic Valley has also been discussing a major building project. Thomas said the commission’s recommendations may determine how the district chooses to move forward.
While Thomas acknowledged the property tax burden, he did not agree consolidation of smaller schools was the best course of action. “I have mixed feelings. I understand what they are saying, but I don’t agree with it.” The superintendent explained that his district encompasses between 105 to 110 square miles. “If you merged, that would create a district that was 200 to 250 square miles. The idea of elementary kids on the bus for 90 minutes, each way, every day is tough to swallow.”
Oxford Superintendent Randall Squier seemed somewhat more open to the possibility of consolidating districts. “I understand that the state is looking at ways to lessen the tax burden on New York State residents,” Squier said. He explained that consolidation would be a difficult and emotional process for districts and residents, but said he was open to looking at it.
“On the surface, it might seem like larger schools are more effective and efficient, but there’s a tipping point the other way too,” Squier said.
“We need to look at what we have and the savings that could be created.” Oxford currently has approximately 870 students, but Squier said within five years, he expects that number to be under 800. While Squier wasn’t completely sold on the idea of consolidation, he said, “it’s worth looking at and determining if there would be a cost savings or not.”
Squier, like Thomas, has a large district geographically. He said the first students get on the bus at 6:45 and have to ride for approximately an hour already; however, he said if consolidation were to occur, he would assume elementary schools would remain in each of the current districts, and that one central high school would be created.
The Oxford School District has also been discussing a building project. When asked about the impact the study would have on the project, Squier said the district is walking slowly through the process because of the uncertain nature of future state aid and the decisions of the legislature. However, he said, regardless of what happens, there are repairs that need to be done.
The report cited studies that found higher pupil counts are related to increased educational opportunities; however, Afton Superintendent Elizabeth Briggs said there are benefits to smaller school districts as well. Briggs, who oversees a district with approximately 730 students, explained that the DCMO BOCES has been studying students who leave school before graduating. “One of the things they’ve found is that those students do not make a connection with somebody. In a small school it’s much easier to make those connections, because our ultimate goal is to get everyone to graduate.”
Briggs said consolidation is definitely something that needs to be looked at to see if there is actually a cost savings. “There may not be. We need to look at the details before we jump in.”
While Briggs was unsure about the consolidation issue, she said there is a need for shared services among school districts, one of the other main recommendations made by the commission. “If the current economic conditions continue the way they are, we at least need to look at sharing programs, like special education, or college and [Advanced Placement] courses. That would allow us to offer more to students.”
Governor David Paterson has not yet announced his stance on the commission’s recommendations. Area superintendents have said this is not something that will happen overnight.