The Chenango Forks and Chenango Valley school districts took another step toward a merged district by holding a public information session. The districts hired a consultant who spent six months examining the prospect of a combined program, and the results were released last month to both school boards. The study found that the potential benefits of a merger outweighed projected drawbacks for the districts. A similar study was conducted in the mid-80’s, but the idea of merging districts was dropped after a negative response from the community. If both school boards approve a resolution, the public would have two chances to vote on the issue. Based on the study, Chenango Valley property owners would likely see savings in taxes, while Chenango Forks residents could face increases in taxes. A merged district would be eligible to receive close to $45 million in additional aid from the state over a 14-year span. The additional funding would likely delay further cuts to education programs and staffing at the schools.
