Canton-Potsdam

Merger Study

A Brief

Synopsis

Merger Study: The Essential Question

“Would educational opportunities be sustained or enhanced for all students at similar or reduced cost to taxpayers by combining the two districts?”

Study Consultants: “Yes…Our analysis indicates that educational opportunities would indeed be enhanced should a merger take place. And given the efficiencies inherent in merging these two school districts, such opportunities could be provided at less cost.”

Curriculum and Instruction

• Potsdam and Canton are two of the top three ranked schools in the North Country

• Both districts have experienced significant reductions in staff and programs

• Despite challenges, student achievement remains strong and class sizes are still relatively favorable

• Further cuts will impact core academic areas and increase class sizes

A merger would provide the opportunity to offer some 50

programs to all students now in only one school or the other.

• State aid reductions since 2009 have forced both schools to use fund balances to balance budgets and maintain programs.

• Both districts will exhaust their fund balances in the near term.

• Merger would bring additional Incentive Operating Aid of $35 million dollars to the combined district

• In a merged district, tax rates would decrease for both communities.

Fiscal Analysis

Staffing

• Over 100 faculty and staff lost since 2008-09

• Study recommends more teachers, less

administrative and operations personnel

• Study identifies nearly $1 million more in

personnel and operational savings over the $6

million dollars in previous budget reductions

A merged district could offer an academic program

equal to or better than the combined offerings of

the current programs at little or no additional cost.

Facilities

Recommended configuration of schools: Pre-Kindergarten through grade 5 elementary

schools in each community A 6-8 grade middle school located in Canton A 9-12 high school located in Potsdam

North Country District Size-Sq. Miles

Saranac Lake Central School District 639.6 sq. miles

Malone Central School District 357.5 sq. miles

Edwards-Knox Central School District 252.2 sq. miles

Colton-Pierrepont Central School District 239.8 sq. miles

Gouverneur Central School District 221.7 sq. miles

Merged Canton/Potsdam District 221.2 sq. miles

Parishville-Hopkinton Central School 217.55 sq. miles

Transportation

• A merged school district would span approximately 221 square miles.

• Smaller than the Saranac Lake Malone, Colton-Pierrepont, Edwards-Knox, and Gouverneur school districts

Transportation

Although there would be longer bus rides for some, transportation time would not change dramatically for most, as nearly 90 percent of students in a merged district would live within 15 miles of their school.

Athletics

Athletics

In a merged district there would be:

More athletic opportunities overall, but more

competition for positions in soccer, basketball,

and ice hockey

More fully subscribed and competitive teams

Improved coach-to-athlete instruction and

supervision

“What will happen if our schools don’t merge?”

•No one can say with 100% assurance

•Without merger, students will not be able to take advantage of an enhanced educational program at reduced taxpayer expense

•Without the $35 million in additional state aid, neither school can sustain current programming

• Painful choices may have to be made

•Non-Mandated programs at risk:

Athletics and extracurricular activities

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten

AP Programs and all electives

Arts

Next Steps

• Town Hall meetings with a detailed presentation of the merger study findings and Q & A segments

September 24 and October 21 in Potsdam

October 27 in Canton

• Advisory Referendum (“Straw Poll’) on October 30, 2014

• If the merger is approved by both communities during advisory referendum, the process will proceed to a final vote on December 16th 2014.

• If both votes are favorable, the new district would become operational on July 1st, 2015