BROCTON - The consolidation study is moving ahead between Brocton and Westfield schools. Superintendent John Hertlein gave a brief update at the board of education meeting Thursday.
"I met yesterday with the district superintendent, the Westfield Superintendent and the consultant team. What we did at that point, we went over the legality of what you have to do for a consolidation study," Hertlein said.
Hertlein noted the consolidation firm, Western New York Service Council still needs a list of items from the school district in order to start the study. He also spoke of the timeline for the study. Once completed, a specific period of time is required in order for the public to view the results.
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OBSERVER Photo by Samantha McDonnell
The Brocton Board of Education discussed the consolidation study timeline. Pictured are Superintendent John Hertlein and Board President Tom DeJoe
"Once the study is done, it requires two months. You can't rush it," Hertlein said. "The school district has to do a good job to get that information out there."
Another time limit discussed was the amount of time between the straw and regular vote. A straw vote, an unofficial vote, will be taken to gage interest on the topic. The state education commissioner will then vote on whether or not to proceed with a formal vote at that time. Two months need to pass between the two votes. The suggested time frame will take the study into early 2013, according to Hertlein.
Hertlein also asked for interest among board members for a 10 member district team that will be involved in the study. A joint meeting between the boards of education from Brocton and Westfield will meet in the coming weeks prior to a regular scheduled board meeting for Brocton. The consolidation firm will also be present at this meeting.
"They (the consultant group) will go over the district team in great depth, along with the focus groups they talked about in the interview," Hertlein said.
The meeting will be held at Brocton on Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. prior to the regular meeting scheduled at 7 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.
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