Canajoharie, Fort Plain school districts conducting a merger study

FORT PLAIN, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Canajoharie and Fort Plain Central School Districts are starting to explore a possible merger. They are currently looking into the feasibility of the banding together through a study. The two districts appointed members from the community to an advisory committee that had its first meeting on Wednesday.

Both boards of education voted earlier this year to form an advisory committee, that will look into a potential merger. Wednesday's meeting served as a chance for members from both districts to get to know each other and discuss their initial thoughts about merging. District leaders like the superintendent of Fort Plain, Lauren Crisman, say they have a lot of information and input to gather before any decisions are made.

"This is a decision that lies within the community," Crisman said. "My job as school leader is to always present the opportunities for us, as well as things that will be challenging for us in the future. I in no way can represent as an independent stakeholder what I think should happen, it really needs to be a wide, community based decision."

Matt Cole, project facilitator for leadership solution advisors, spoke at Wednesday's meeting and explained how the process will work.

"Especially in rural schools, we are the hub of our communities, so the thought of change brings up a lot of emotions, questions, and thoughts," Cole said.

Cole also notes that its important to know the schools are in the earlier phase of the potential merger and no decision will be made for some time.

"Our job is just to see feasibility and provide the boards of education considerations that are developed from tours we did for two days in both districts, we just took the advisory board through a tour of Fort Plain in the building we're standing in," Cole said. "So that they can think through and know what It could be like if they wanted to move forward."

Cole also mentioned the idea stems from wants to improve educational programs as well as the fact that the two districts share several programs in addition to being only five minutes away from one another.

"They are already without any mergers; share their sports, they share their musical. So they are already doing good partnership things," Cole said.

The advisory board will hold another meeting on September 12, which will be virtual. The district leaders hope to finish the study by the end of the year.