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Potsdam, Canton school superintendents explain merger study, vote in live-stream broadcast at Canton Rotary meeting

Posted 9/24/14

By JIMMY LAWTON POTSDAM -- Superintendents from Canton and Potsdam schools shared results of a merger study with local Rotary Clubs today at the Best Western in Canton. Both superintendents are …

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Potsdam, Canton school superintendents explain merger study, vote in live-stream broadcast at Canton Rotary meeting

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

POTSDAM -- Superintendents from Canton and Potsdam schools shared results of a merger study with local Rotary Clubs today at the Best Western in Canton.

Both superintendents are working to inform voters prior to the Oct. 30 straw poll. Absentee ballots will be available, Superintendent Patrick Brady told the audience.

If that vote favors a merger, a binding referendum would finalize the merger in December.

The event was broadcast via a live stream.

Brady opened the presentation sharing results from the study, which showed a cost savings under a merged district.

He said it would also allow students a wider range of course offerings and allow the schools to operate without reducing the quality of programs and number of teachers. He said the merged scenario would actually add one-and-a-half teaching positions.

Approximately $1 million would be saved as the schools cut administrative positions including, but not limited to one superintendent, one buildings and grounds superintendent and one cafeteria manager.

Canton Superintendent William Gregory informed Rotary members that the merger was necessary in order to keep Canton school solvent. Using a graph, he showed that Canton would become insolvent as earlier as next year. Potsdam school, while in slightly better financial shape, would follow.

The graph showed that even the merged district would face financial woes in approximately seven years if changes were not made to the state aid formula.

Currently there is no legislation that would address rural school funding issues.

Gregory noted that districts have lost out on more than $20 million in aid over the past few years due to cuts in state aid.

Gregory also addressed transportation concerns. The study showed that the vast majority of students lived within 15 miles of the district.

He said bus ride would range from about 20 minutes to 60 students with the majority much closer to the former.

Brady pointed out that the new district would encompass 220 miles, which is smaller than some existing St. Lawrence County school districts like Saranac Lake at more than 600 miles and Gouverneur at 221.