MERGER: Long live independence?
Things really do not have to make sense in Chautauqua County. Rather than work together, we’ll maintain a divide if it’s north-south, municipal neighbor or even school district.
At least that’s the way it looks from the Clymer perspective. As seen in the merger vote Monday between Panama and Clymer, those in Clymer would still rather have its own school district.
What’s amazing — and fairly questionable — is the turnout for the Monday vote. In all, 840 residents of the town with a population of 1,698 voted.
But that’s why longtime traditions that make no sense in a 21st century world are so hard to overcome. We’d rather be stubbornly opposed when dealing with a district of 427 students than look to grow and increase educational opportunities, athletics, extracurricular activities and learning programs.
Through it all, Panama had an open mind. When an opening occurred in Clymer, it shared their superintendent with the district.
After the vote, Clymer wants to be on its own. If that’s the case, then maybe Panama needs to quit enabling sharing.
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