Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, in the Livingston Manor and Roscoe Central School Districts gymnasiums for voters to decide if the two districts will merge via centralization.
A series of meetings will be held where voters can learn more about the merger proposal, which aims to increase academic and extracurricular opportunities for students at all levels as well as provide financial stability for the community.
The public is welcome to attend the following meetings:
Dec. 3: Roscoe PTA meeting held at the Roscoe Diner at 7 p.m.
Dec. 11: Roscoe Free Library at 3 p.m.
Dec. 12: Livingston Manor Free Library at 6 p.m.
Dec. 16: at the LMCS Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m.
Dec. 17: at the RCS Board of Education meeting at 4:30 p.m.
Earlier this year, New York state changed how merger aid would be calculated, which would result in about $30.7 million aid over 14 years, an increase of about $23.5 million from the old formula. A majority of people at both districts who filled out an exit survey at the May budget votes, when provided this information, said the districts should revisit the merger.
A merger study addendum was completed and appropriately filed with the State Education Department, where it was approved in September. In October, both boards unanimously voted to move forward in the merger process to gather petition signatures in support of a merger. The required number of signatures in both districts were collected and on Nov. 7 the boards approved the signatures and unanimously voted to move forward with the reorganization process. The resolutions were forwarded to the BOCES district superintendent to initiate the formal reorganization process with the State Education Department, which formally approved the vote date of Dec. 19 on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
The SED commissioner also approved a Board of Canvass, which will inspect the voting machines and poll books before voting begins, supervise and conduct the polling, count ballots and certify the election. Named to the board are Laurie Allen-Kuehn, Edward Park, Lillian Constant, Janice Phillips, Judith Emory, Carole Edwards, Judith Tuleweit and Jan Carlson.
To vote on the merger, residents must be 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a district resident for at least 30 days and be registered to vote at their county board of elections, which will automatically register them to vote at their district. If not registered with the county, residents must register before Dec. 13 at their district’s main office between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. while school is in session.
More information about the merger can be found on the merger page of the district’s website. Questions or concerns may also be directed to Superintendent John Evans at john.evans@lmcs.us, jevans@roscoe.k12.ny.us, 607-498-4126, ext. 6105, or 845-439-4400, ext. 1201, or contact a member of either district’s school board.