POTSDAM -- Potsdam and Canton school board members will take the first step in what could be a series of votes to determine if the districts will pursue a merger.

Potsdam Central School's board of education will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, where they will discuss whether to put the merger study to a public vote.

Canton officials will host a similar meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Canton Superintendent Bill Gregory said a "no" vote by either board will stop the process, while a "yes" vote by both will mean the initiation of an “intense public information period culminating in a public advisory referendum in early November.”

A study, paid for with state grants, showed a merger would allow the districts to provide more academic options for students and delay and prevent insolvency for the districts in the near future.

The benefits, while varied, were largely due to a $35 million incentive provided by the state to help consolidate school districts.

At the Tuesday meeting in Potsdam the district will also hold a public hearing at 6:30 pm in the high school cafeteria for the project to renovate the former daycare building.

A vote on the $350,000 project will be held on Tuesday, July 22 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.