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RFH 2010, Cover Stories, 1 + 1 = 1: HCS, MECS Merger

HCS Sets Merger & Budget Meetings

Sun, Sep 04, 2011

HCS is rolling up its sleeves to face what it expects to be a demanding budget process while at the same time beginning discussions of a possible merger with Morrisville-Eaton Central Schools. To accommodate these two major issues, the district is changing when and how often the Board of Education meets and adjusting its meeting structure to encourage more public participation.

Superintendent Dr. Diana Bowers last week said the budget process will begin much earlier this year. In addition, the board plans to add meetings to just talk about the possible merger.

In her blog on the HCS website, Bowers wrote about the changes:

" ... our Board of Education Work Session, is a new type of meeting designed to offer our community additional opportunities for input. This will be held the morning of Friday, September 9th at 7:30, to accommodate work schedules. This will also be held in the HS Library. Child care will be available, in the cafeteria, for children that attend HCS.

"The second meeting is our September BOE meeting on Tuesday, September 20th in the Elementary Library. Please note that our BOE meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. this year. The earlier start time will allow more time for conversations.

"As you prepare for these meetings, please consider suggestions that you would like to make regarding the Consolidation Study, and any additional studies that we may include that will help us keep our Learning Community healthy and strong. We anticipate that we will be conducting multiple studies simultaneously.

"We predict our upcoming meetings will be filled with positive energy and good thinking. We are all looking for the best solution to a difficult problem. Our collective energies and wisdom can only make us stronger. We look forward to seeing you at one or more of these meetings."

The 2011-2012 budget process is expected to be more demanding because of the state's imposition of a 2 percent cap on property tax increases by schools and municipalities.

The new law allows school district and other taxing entities to seek more than a 2 percent increase, but it must be approved by a super-majority of 60 percent of voters. If that vote fails, the district/municipality cannot increase taxes at all in that budget.

The possible merger process is expected to take some 18 months to complete if it goes its full course of two votes by each school board and two more votes by each community. The first step in the process is for a committee of the two school boards and the two superintendents to review the proposals of the three consulting firms who have applied to perform the study.

In addition, the community is invited to meet with Bowers in the cafeteria for a "Superintendent's Coffee".  These "coffees" will be held on Oct. 19 at 9 a.m. and Oct. 20 at 7p.m.

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