Newly formed group backs Fredonia-Brocton merger
The recently formed Brocton Fredonia Citizens for Centralization is endorsing the merger of the schools with public information efforts focused on what it sees as positive educational outcomes and tax benefits. The citizens group, whose members include residents from both districts, has come together to present facts about the consolidation and the benefits to both students and taxpayers of the districts.
The group's co-chairs, Brenda Hayes of Brocton and Richard Ketcham of Fredonia cite findings from a feasibility study conducted by the Western New York Educational Service Council (WNYESC) that a merger would result in increased opportunities for students in both districts. With declining enrollments, the group explains that costs for elective programs have become more expensive and threaten the economic ability of school districts to offer a wide range of course offerings.
According to the study, Fredonia has only half as many kindergarteners as there are seniors. In Brocton, numbers are also declining. The enrollment of the two districts over the past five years has shown a decline of 7.9 percent with projections of an 8.6 percent decrease over the next seven years.
When state funding shortfalls are factored in, schools begin to run out of options. The group maintains that consolidation alleviates the problem of dwindling enrollment and gives high school students in both districts access to advanced placement and JCC courses.
Complete story in Friday's OBSERVER.
Facebook
MySpace
Digg
Stumble
Mixx
Fark
del.icio.us
LiveSpaces
|
Julie8
|
|
|---|---|
|
11-12-09 9:56 AM
|
Brenda Hayes and her newly formed committee for centralization are soliciting money from business owners in Fredonia. If you are against the merger...be at the Nickel Plate Depot in Brocton on Sunday at 1 PM for an anti-merger meeting.
|
|
grapefarmer
|
|
|
11-05-09 6:01 PM
|
I don't know who your talking to portlandresident but if its me, you need to re-read my posting. I NEVER said she didn't graduate from Brocton, I said her kids never went to Brocton, you get it straight. I know she grad in 67 and is on the hall of fame. She has only been back in Brocton since 2006-07. She doesn't know Brocton. There are alot of better individuals in Brocton to act as a rep then her. The point I was making is she is considered an elite person and the pro-merger group thinks she could guide the yes vote. That will not work, its just another misleading tactic.
|
|
portlandresident
|
|
|
11-05-09 5:30 PM
|
Brenda Hayes graduated from Brocton. Get your facts straight!! I graduated from Fredonia but live in Portland and send my kids to Brocton school. It would be closed to send my kids to Westfield, not Fredonia. If anything is going to be done, county-wide redistricting needs to be discussed otherwise Fredonia & Brocton will be in the same mess that Chautauqua Lake is now in after merging several years ago. Here is a thought - how about Fredonia disbans and sends its kids to Forestville and Brocton. Or Dunkirk can always annex the district. Fredonia needs to stop thinking it can take Brocton over. That is not the answer. We are not the bandaid for your enrollment and monetary problems!!
|
|
grapefarmer
|
|
|
11-05-09 4:38 PM
|
Give us a break, Brenda Hayes? Hasn't she lived here for less then 3 years? Her kids never even went to Brocton School. She works in Fredonia and gets her business from there. Take a good look at the two people who were hand picked, Mr. Ketcham & Ms. Hayes, lets hear what their yearly income is? They don't represent the average Brocton family. The pro-merger folks are hand picking wealth individuals in hopes of yes "intimidating" the average Brocton resident. These two folks have no idea what busing your child 20 miles away and having to pick them up on some days is like. They could afford to take time off. What about sports and travel? Travel for teacher meetings? This is nothing but an old boys group made up to push a merger down the Brocton residents throats. Actions like this will backfire, we won't be bulldozed or let our kids be bulldozed by pro-merger folks with an agenda. Can folks against the merger join this group? You can see what type of people 30 million dol
|
|
homeboyx
|
|
|
11-05-09 2:46 PM
|
I'm watching the merger concerns from outside the area, but its interesting Ketcham and Hayes, two highly educated individuals were pulled in with the hopes of intimidating average people. You can see by other postings and stories in the paper those for the merger are trying to control the vote. Picking an elite person doesn't mean that individual knows anymore the the average person, in fact on the national and state levels we see the elite person knows little about the meat of the issue. If Hayes and Ketcham were so concerned about decreased enrollment where were their comments over the past 5 years. Declining enrollment isn't something that started this year. it will be interesting to find out who else supports this group and the history of both Ketcham and Hayes. I have also read that small schools like Sherman have limited resources but just as many options and expenses. Is the problem with Fredonia the leadership of the BOE and the Superintendent?
|