Voters in Spencer-Van Etten and Candor school districts voted down the merger in a straw vote.
In Candor, residents voted 574-No to 240-Yes. In Spencer the votes were closer, with 547-No and 307-Yes. The recent study shows a possible $300,000 in savings per year, plus an added $30 million in state incentive aid for a blended school district.
Meanwhile Chenango Valley and Chenango Forks School Districts will not merge. Chenango Forks had their results shortly after 9pm Tuesday. They overwhelmingly denied the merger.
More then 2,300 voters came out to voice their opinion in Forks, 2015 against the merge, 355 for it. Board of Education President, Don Edwards, said Chenango Forks made a statement by voting down the merger, and told everyone that Chenango Forks isn’t going anywhere. It was much closer for Chenango Valley, in fact less than 100 votes separated their decision. But, Chenango Valley voted 981 to merge and 902 not to merge. Chenango Valley School Board President Gerald Abbey said he would vote against the merger, saying the districts needed more time. The next step for both districts is to start work on the 2014-15 budget. Edwards said even though there isn’t a merge, Chenango Forks residents should still expect a tax increase.
