Chenango Valley/ Chenango Forks Merger Report Update

Continuing as separate school districts is not a viable option according to consultants who worked on a study into the possible consolidation of the Chenango Forks and Chenango Valley school districts.

The study results have been presented to both school boards and dozens attending a September 19th public meeting.

The report says Chenango Valley property owners would save about $200 on their school taxes while Forks residents would pay about $300 more under a merger.

The study suggested the combined high school should be located at the current Chenango Valley High School with the combined middle school located in Chenango Forks.  Port Dickinson Elementary School in the Chenango Valley district would close.

The study leaves out any suggestions on staff size under consolidation.

The report concedes that hundreds of students who may have participated in athletics in separate districts would not be able to find spots on combined teams.

The report is posted on both districts' websites.  The Chenango Forks website is www.cforks.org. The Chenango Valley website is www.cvcsd.stier.org.

There will be six weeks of comment before the boards will meet separately to decide if a merger resolution will be placed before voters.

If everything is approved each step of the way, a consolidated school district could be formed and in place by next July.