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ROTTERDAM
School merge idea met with skepticism
Consolidation could cut cost to taxpayer, town officials say
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

    Merging the Schalmont and Mohonasen school districts isn’t something on the radar for administrators right now.
    But amid a contracting economy and an uncertain fiscal future in Rotterdam, it’s something that town residents should consider, a pair of Town Board members said. In comments made after the board passed a particularly contentious 2009 budget last week, Democrat John Silva urged the community to begin talking about consolidating Rotterdam’s two school districts as a method of reducing the residential tax burden.
    “This Town Board should be trying to initiate those conversations,” he said during the meeting Wednesday.
    Silva was joined in part by Republican board member Michael Della Villa, who also serves on Schalmont’s Board of Education. He agreed there should be a discussion about either merging the districts or at least certain resources.
    “I do think it would be a useful thing to do to take a look at it,” he said.
    However, administrators at both schools seemed doubtful. Mohonasen Superintendent Kathleen Spring was skeptical that such a merger would ever come to fruition — or benefit taxpayers if it did.
    “There is sometimes a perception by merely putting the two districts together there would be a huge savings,” she said Friday. “I’m not necessarily convinced that’s true.”
    Supervisor Steve Tommasone was also doubtful merger talks would gain steam. Though supportive of opening up the channels of discussion, he said the discussion about merging districts would likely need to originate from the state Department of Education.
    “The bottom line is the state has to be the one to redraw the districts,” he said. ..........dailygazette.com

How interesting, the administrators don't think it will work and aren't they the ones who will lose half the jobs if the school districts did merge.

Arguably, the salary savings would definitely have to be studied in such an instance.  When you begin to create such a large district, your administration sometimes grows exponentially...consider Shenendehowa.

While it would make sense to only have one superintendent in charge of a district, it's not to say that the overall quantity of administrators (and their salaries) would decrease with a merger...just a thought.

And while I'm on the subject, it is not at all the role of the Town Board or any town official to suggest such a measure.  As Mr. Tommasone stated, this type of discussion would need to take place at the state level, which careful consideration and collaboration from both districts.

Frankly, the very mention of a merger is an attempt to diffuse tension from a difficult budget year, and decisions which may be viewed as controversial.  The tax burden from the town budget, and the school budgets are completely separate issues, and should remain that way.

Siva (D) was the first to suggest not only a merger, but for the town board to take the lead to start discussion on the issue.I don't think the idea of the merger is a good one. Shen is too large. Kids don't even like it. Especially in sports. They get lost in the shuffle and only so many can be selected. Not Good!

Quoted from JosephSalamone

And while I'm on the subject, it is not at all the role of the Town Board or any town official to suggest such a measure.  As Mr. Tommasone stated, this type of discussion would need to take place at the state level, which careful consideration and collaboration from both districts.

Frankly, the very mention of a merger is an attempt to diffuse tension from a difficult budget year, and decisions which may be viewed as controversial.  The tax burden from the town budget, and the school budgets are completely separate issues, and should remain that way.

Just a dog and pony show and some smoke and mirrors......as for the merger....after talking to some folks in the Schalmont dist.
they pay ALOT more than the Mohon dist......?the transportation for rural area(their choice to live there, suck it up), as for the
contract negotiations---PICKET THEM!!!!!!

Actually, since the Mohonasen Board decided to not go for the Homestead Exemption, the taxes between the two districts have come much more in line with each other for residences.
This is not the first time that this type of suggestion has been made.  They looked at this back in the '80's, or at least it was floating around.  As a student at Schalmont, I remember people talking about the possibility...and the students said there was no way that it would work, considering the major rivalries between the two schools.  I understand the removal of layers of administration, but maybe we can find other ways to make cuts or they can work together as separate entities trying to save money, just as municipalities do for things that they can work together on.

Oh boy, just don't let them take lessons from the city, k??  Working together works ... except in Schenectady.

The school districts didn't seem to have any when they dissolved the Draper district and put it in the Mohon district.

Draper was a non-union house......no different than charter schools today.....

Quoted from Kevin March

Actually, since the Mohonasen Board decided to not go for the Homestead Exemption, the taxes between the two districts have come much more in line with each other for residences.

Kevin, I tried to research Schalmont's tax rates, but came up with nothing...if you have access to that info, could you please post it/get it to me somehow.  It would be interesting to compare how much more in line they have come.

Also, it's important to note that the Homestead option does not last forever, and eventually the two tax rates blend into one.  For the Mohonasen District, enacting Homestead would have created a miniscule savings for the residential property owner, while increasing taxes for business and commercial property owners, AND PROPERTY OWNERS WHO OWN MORE THAN WHAT THE STATE CONSIDERS "HOMESTEAD" PROPERTY SURROUNDING THEIR LAND.  That means that some property owners, who have set up their "homestead" on more land than the average homeowner could have to pay a DIFFERENT RATE for that portion or land.

Anybody have any insight to the above?

My insight????? Go back to the table for contract renegotiations and get new arbitors.........Or.....tell the government to get out of the teaching business....
too many beds slept in together.......JMHO........

Quoted from JosephSalamone

Anybody have any insight to the above?

Actually, i did research into some properties i was trying to buy.. on the town of rotterdam websight, it shows you how to figure out tax rates!!!!!

It is.. assessed value "land + house" divided by 1000
* 24.7 for mohon
or 27.4 for shalmont.. (well 27 . something, all properties i liked were in mohon)

That will give you your taxes before exemptions.. i did it to test on a few properties i was trying to buy, and they were accurate within 100 dollars..

http://www.rotterdamassessments.com/main.asp

School taxes are right up there!