Candor And Spencer-Van Etten School Merger Hearing

The public was able to listen to consultants present their final report on a possible merger between Candor and Spencer-Van Etten schools on Tuesday. Castallo & Silky of Syracuse, which ran the study of the merger from September 2012 to May of this year, delivered their final report last night in the Spencer-Van Etten High School auditorium. The report showed changes from the State Education Department, which approved continuing the consolidation process this summer. The schools have been pressured to merge in the wake of financial issues, which have led to S-VE cutting staff and programs while Candor dips into its reserve funds. The state has designated Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga BOCES to serve both districts in the event of a merger. Currently, S-VE is served by the Greater Southern Tier BOCES in Horseheads, but the district would need to use just one BOCES if it merged. Each school board has to vote publicly on the issue, and in the event that they approve it, a public vote will be held in each district. If both votes were to pass, a public referendum would be held in each district. The merger plans will be off if the public or school board in either district votes against it at any point.