Local News
SCHOOLS: Barker, Lyndonville districts get funds to study merger
BARKER — The Barker and Lyndonville central school districts are exploring the possibility of a merger, Barker Superintendent Roger Klatt said Tuesday.
The districts were the recipients of a state grant designed to look at consolidating efforts. Last week Barker and Lyndonville received $36,000 from New York’s state department to perform a study to look at a possible consolidation of the school districts.
Klatt said the study does not mean a merger would occur, just that the districts are gathering information. The state is encouraging merger studies for districts with under 1,000 students, which both have — Barker with just slightly under 1,000 and Lyndonville at about 700 students.
“We have an obligation to improve student performance, when possible, at a reduced cost,” Klatt said. “It’s an opportunity to explore a potential cost savings.”
All of Barker’s schools — Pratt Elementary, the middle and high schools — are located together on Quaker Road. Lyndonville has two buildings, a pre-kindergarten through sixth grade elementary school and a middle/high school. A letter explaining the study has been sent to district residents. According to the letter, the residents will be kept informed during the process.
Last week New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez announced the recipients of five Local Government Efficiency awards, all of which totaled $220,500. The grants will fund various feasibility studies across the state, from public schooling to waste management to emergency services. The studies represent the first step in a municipality’s, county’s or region’s effort to share certain public services, the department said.
To date, the department of state’s government efficiency program has funded 270 projects, with a projected savings of more than $418 million for taxpayers from a $45 million state investment.
“Gov. Paterson and I are committed to helping local governments deliver high-quality, cost-effective services to New Yorkers,” Cortes-Vazquez said in a statement. “These diverse projects illustrate the many ways that local officials are working together to reduce the costs while providing valuable services. These grants will help municipalities and counties gain the information needed to make informed decisions regarding cost savings.”
The 2009-10 state budget authorized up to $11.5 million for grants for shared services and consolidation. The remaining submission deadlines for grants are 4 p.m. Feb. 17, Feb. 24 and March 17. The state said local officials should feel free to contact a program administrator with any questions at 518-474-4752 or sharedservices@dos.state.ny.us.
The district’s study was one of five government efficiency awards given out across the state. Albany County was awarded $49,500 for a study that would look at municipalities combining solid waste disposal services. Fairview Fire District in Dutchess County was awarded $45,000 for a merger or cooperative agreement with one or more of its adjacent fire districts. The city of Schenectady Police Department was awarded $45,000 and Steuben County was awarded $45,000 to investigate the potential merger or sharing of 911 services.
Barker will start looking for an independent firm to perform the study, Klatt said. The district is planning to send out a request for proposal in the near future.
Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.
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