After Decades of Debate, Will Livingston Manor and Roscoe Schools Finally Merge?

Voters in the Livingston Manor and Roscoe Central School Districts will go to the polls on Thursday, Dec. 19, to decide whether the two districts should merge. Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. at the gymnasiums of both schools.

Tim Bruno spoke to Superintendent John Evans about the proposed merger which aims to enhance academic and extracurricular opportunities for students while providing financial stability for the community.

A series of meetings have been scheduled to provide voters with more information about the proposal:

* Dec. 3: Roscoe PTA meeting 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: LMCS Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m.
* Dec. 17: RCS Board of Education meeting at 4:30 p.m.

The merger process was prompted by a change in the state’s merger aid calculation formula, which could result in approximately $30.7 million in aid over 14 years for the combined district. This represents a $23.5 million increase under the previous formula.

According to the districts, a majority of respondents at both districts’ May budget votes indicated support for revisiting the merger proposal in light of the new aid formula. A merger study addendum was completed and approved by the State Education Department in September. Following a unanimous vote by both boards in October to proceed with the merger process, the required number of signatures was collected in each district. The boards formally approved the signatures and voted to move forward with the reorganization process on Nov. 7. 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.

To be eligible to vote, residents must be 18 years old, U.S. citizens, and district residents for at least 30 days. Residents must also be registered to vote at their county board of elections. Unregistered residents can 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 is available on the merger page of each district’s website. Residents can direct questions or concerns to Superintendent John Evans at john.evans@lmcs.us or jevans@roscoe.k12.ny.us, by phone at 607-498-4126, ext. 6105, or 845-439-4400, ext. 1201, or by contacting a member of either district’s school board.

Image: Livingston Manor School