OTSELIC VALLEY – A total of 436 Otselic Valley voters took to the polls yesterday to decide the fate of a proposed $17 million building project that will have a significant impact on both the OV Junior-Senior High School and Elementary School, located in South Otselic and Georgetown, respectively.

Voters approved the project – 288 to 148.

Superintendent Richard Hughes said he was pleased with both the vote and the voter turnout.

“Nearly half the registered voters in both Chenango and Madison counties came out to vote. I think it’s great that people came out to voice their opinion and make their choice. This decision sets a path for the next 20 to 30 years,” he said.

According to Hughes, approving the merger is “a much better option” than many the district has considered over the last year. Hopefully, he added, the project will “maintain and hopefully expand” educational opportunities for students.