Story Created:
Jan 3, 2012 at 11:50 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jan 4, 2012 at 3:58 PM EDT
FRANKFORT, N.Y. (WKTV) - Another community-based discussions on the proposed four district merger between Frankfort-Schuyler, Herkimer, Mohawk and Ilion school districts was held at Frankfort-Schuyler High School Tuesday night.
The meeting included a summary of the proposed merger, answers to questions Frankfort-Schuyler Superintendent Robert Reina has received, as well as a question and answer session with meeting attendees.
Reina also addressed where the Frankfort-Schuyler School District will stand if a merger is voted down. Reina said that without a merger, Frankfort-Schuyler Central Schools is looking at a shortfall of $828,000 going into 2012-2013 budget, which will force the school board to make some difficult cuts.
"We'd have to look at non-mandated programs and services," says Reina. "And the non-mandated programs and services in school districts typically involve the extra curricular activities - the clubs the athletics, different elective courses that aren't required - those types of things."
Many meeting attendees that asked questions were upset, saying they felt there "were still too many unknowns, the specifics aren't there, and are concerned the anticipated state aid is not guaranteed."
Reina says he does not know of any merged school that hasn't received state aid.
The school board for each of the four districts will vote January 10 on whether or not to move forward with the merger study. If passed, there will be a straw vote on January 19 to indicate the community's feelings.
For anyone that wasn't able to go to Tuesday's meeting and would like to see the questions and superintendents' answers on the proposed merger, you are encouraged to visit:
www.frankfort-schuyler.org Another community meeting on the merger is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 5 at Ilion High School in the Large Instruction ROom.
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