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Today's Poll: Should local school districts merge?

By Howard B. Owens
Dave Olsen

Personally, yes, I think makes good fiscal sense to do so. But what I think, or even what Andrew Cuomo thinks is not important, what is important is what the taxpayers in a local district want. According to the article, mergers aren't very popular. Instead of trying to force his agenda and control the education system, Godfather Andy should be trying to find ways to get the state away from controlling local school districts. Of course, there is almost no chance of that.

Dec 29, 2014, 9:12am Permalink
Fred GUNDELL

Towns like(But not exclusively) Pavilion, should do so immediately. The total student enrollment of 700 students can not be supported by a shrinking Tax Base. As we grow older and depend on Social Security, and with the flight of young people from New York and the ever increasing abandonment of properties, Tax Revenues are really shrinking. As are student enrollments. Merger seems to be the smart move.

Dec 29, 2014, 11:52am Permalink
Fred GUNDELL

I have been in favor of a Genesee County School District. One Superintendent, One budget. Each District Principle responsible for submitting a budget to the superintendent. One school bus terminal one garage. Some creative scheduling and changing of school days and hours, have some buses cover more than one district. Many of the Office Jobs combined, School board made up of one rep from each district.(not 8 in each district like now), and OMG the combination and centralization of all BOCES activities.. Keep everything else basically the same. Keep the sports activities, and the rivalries as they are. This will standardize all teachers salaries, and a Teacher in Elba won't necessarily make more than a Teacher in Bergen. Just an example. Don't get mad. Sounds crazy, but is do able. Little or no added expense.
And Huge Savings

Dec 29, 2014, 12:04pm Permalink
Kyle Slocum

If we do it really, really good, we can have a school system like the tremendously successful districts in the cities of Rochester and Buffalo!

There is a reason for the flight from NYS generally and its cities in particular: Human endeavors do not scale well.

Dec 29, 2014, 8:52pm Permalink

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