×

Mixed feelings remain as school merger advisory vote draws near

Elizabethtown-Lewis, Westport residents pack forum to air views

Following a forum on the proposed merger of Elizabethtown-Lewis and Westport Central schools earlier this week, personal feelings are put aside as conversation turns to other topics. Chatting are panel members (from left) Robert Bradley and Jeff Allott, WCS Interim Superintendent Josh Meyer, and panel members Heather Reynolds, Nicky Westover-Sudduth and Ryan Hathaway. (Photo — Alvin Reiner, Press-Republican)

WESTPORT — Another of numerous public informational sessions concerning the possible merger of Elizabethtown-Lewis and Westport central schools nearly filled the 110-seat Depot Theater.

In early September, both the ELCS and Westport school boards gave a unanimous approval for the merger process to continue.

On Oct. 9, property owners in each district will participate in a non-binding advisory vote on whether to continue the process of studying and advancing the viability of the two schools merging.

This week’s event, sponsored by Sun Publications, featured five panelists who responded to questions posed by Sun Publisher Daniel Alexander and Editor Peter DeMola.

The panelists were:

¯ Jeff Allott, an engineer with connections to both communities as resident and business owner

¯ Ryan Hathaway of Lewis, an electrical contractor and member of the Merger Study Committee

¯ Heather Reynolds of Westport, mother of two children at WCS, employed at Elizabethtown Community Hospital and active in the Westport Youth Commission

¯ Nicky Westover-Sudduth, a fourth-generation WCS graduate employed by Behavioral Health Services North

¯ Robert Bradley, a retired school superintendent in the Utica area, with grandchildren attending WCS.

Economic impact

Here are the questions and a portion of responses:

What do you perceive as the role of a school in a community?

Allott: The education provided and economics are important to community viability and bringing young families to the district.

Reynolds: A more robust school would attract families, and that would be more possible with a merged district.

Hathaway: Citizens should look at the current data; a hamlet/village does not necessarily have to have the physical school within its confines to grow.

Westover-Sudduth: Westport would suffer a major economic impact if it loses its school.

Bradley: Schools educate with all the resources they can muster, he said. A school becomes a center for providing opportunities and is a major employer in a community.

Bradley posed questions of his own: “What kind of school do you want? What vision do you have?”

Program cuts

Question 2 dealt with possible staffing and programming cuts: With what programming would you be satisfied? Are you comfortable with the status quo?

Reynolds: The recent cuts have made it harder for the teachers and students.

“We [at WCS] are looking at an additional 2.5 position cuts. I want better for the district and my kids. I’m not willing to let that happen.”

Hathaway: “I am not looking at what we had, but to retain students.”

He advocated for programs to put students into positions at local industries such as International Paper in Ticonderoga and Nova Bus in Plattsburgh by offering more STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programming.

Westover-Sudduth: “I am not comfortable with the status quo. My kids were fortunate to make it through before the cuts were made. I am hoping [the districts] will bring [the lost classes] back.”

Bradley: His concerns were for the loss of academic intervention services as well as classes.

“Basic support services need to be in place, as well as opportunities in the secondary level.”

Allott: Courses such as pre-engineering should be added to the curriculum. He spoke of the difficulties of students, among them his daughter, who was salutatorian at ELCS, getting accepted at a college, as she lacked Advanced Placement courses.

“The process is disheartening. Now, with many cuts, it looks like we are heading in the wrong direction.”

Sustainability

“In spite of many merger meetings, some feel they are being rushed. What information would you like?”

Hathaway: People may have trouble stepping into the unknown. Looking at merged districts, every one of them has seen 20 to 50 percent increases in programming with advanced placement and electives, he said.

Westover-Sudduth: “One thing we need to look at is sustainability. I don’t know where we can get this information. I blame two things: state government and ourselves, because we did not become involved. I wish there was a magic ball that we could look 15 years into the future.”

Bradley: “There’s plenty of information in the study. [But] it is not possible to determine the decisions of a new board. We should expect a reasonable board.”

Allott: “This has been going on for a long time. The perceived benefits are fantastic, but I am not sure how we can ensure this.”

He also mentioned a “scary side,” the possible loss of community.

Reynolds: “It is a leap of faith. You have to trust people to do the right thing. It’s up to all of us to be involved.”

“How many tax increases are you willing to absorb?”

Westover-Sudduth: “I am not sure if merging and building a new school will stabilize taxes. We might be in big trouble in the long term if we build a new school.”

Bradley: Long-term sustainability is possible with the incentive aid and good planning, which could allow for resources and capital improvements.

Allott: “Right now, we are putting up with the status quo. We need to re-invest in our kids.”

Reynolds: “I’m OK with paying more if my kids get what they need.”

Hathaway: One thing that stuck out with the consultant’s report was that districts that merged either stabilized or lowered their tax rates.

“You can’t go back”

Each of the panel members offered a summary after the questions were all posed.

“I’m leaning toward a merger due to the facts,” Allot said. “My major concern is a sense of community. The benefits are way too compelling to ignore.

“We are on a downward trend, which is absolutely the wrong direction. There is no change without trauma. This is a wake-up call to the community and parents.”

Reynolds pointed out the success of the Griffins (the merged sports teams that had been the Westport Eagles and ELCS Lions), saying that made a huge point as she considered merger of the districts.

“We all need to stay engaged,” she added.

Hathaway addressed the current assessment that the schools need over $5 million in repairs and that if a new school were to be built, the local cost would be equivalent to that.

He also suggested that assisted living centers for lower-income individuals might be a possible use for the old buildings.

“We should not do this to save money,” Westover-Sudduth said. “You can’t go back if the merger is not working.”

“Children are more adaptable than adults,” Bradley said. “There are many emotional attachments, but looking at the long range of sustainability, we can build something special.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.75/week.

Subscribe Today