CLYMER — As the date draws near for the annual local school district budget votes across Chautauqua County, three schools have added an exit poll survey question at their respective voting sites seeking to gauge community interest in a potential merger between the three schools.

On May 20, voters in the Clymer, Sherman, and Panama school districts will not only cast their ballots on school budgets — they will also be asked to weigh in on an important question about the future of education in their communities. All three districts will include the same exit poll survey at their polling sites, giving residents a chance to share their thoughts on whether the districts should begin formally exploring the potential of consolidating into one unified school district.

“The exit poll question is being asked in response to ongoing challenges that many rural school districts are facing, including declining student enrollment, rising operational costs, and the need to broaden academic and extracurricular offerings for students,” Clymer Superintendent Beth Olson said. “The Boards of Education from each district are seeking community input on whether to move forward with a feasibility study — the critical first step in a lengthy and carefully regulated process toward potential consolidation.”

The feasibility study exit poll survey question reads; “Due to ongoing challenges such as declining student enrollment, rising operational costs, and the desire to expand extracurricular opportunities, would you support the Boards of Education of the Clymer, Panama, and Sherman School Districts to initiate a formal feasibility study to explore the potential benefits and impacts of combining?” Voters are given two options to answer: either “Yes, I support a feasibility study to explore combining school districts” or “No, I do not think a feasibility study should be considered at this time.”

“The boards emphasize that the exit poll is non-binding and intended solely to gauge interest and community readiness for starting a study,” Olson said. “A feasibility study would allow the districts to thoroughly evaluate the educational, financial, and operational implications of consolidation — including potential impacts on programming, staffing, facilities, transportation, and community identity.”

The timing of this question is also connected to recent updates made to New York State’s reorganization incentive formula, which now offers significantly increased financial support to districts that make the decision to consolidate. These incentives are designed to help ease the transition, enhance programming, and create long-term financial sustainability. Olson added that if the districts ultimately pursued and approved a merger, this increased state funding could be a game-changer for educational opportunities and fiscal planning in the region.

“It’s essential to understand that this is only the beginning of a much longer process,” Olson said. “A positive response to the exit poll would lead to a formal feasibility study conducted by outside experts, followed by community engagement, public hearings, and further board discussions. Any final decision about consolidation would require voter approval in each district.”

Following the results of the exit poll, the Boards of Education from Clymer, Sherman, and Panama will meet jointly to discuss next steps and determine whether there is sufficient interest and support to move forward with the feasibility study.

Besides the exit poll question, Clymer Central School’s budget vote will also ask voters to consider the adoption of the 2025-26 school budget totaling $12,333,908, which represents a 3.4% increase over the previous year. Clymer’s revenue outlook includes a 2% increase in state aid and a proposed tax levy increase of 2.99%, or $160,967 – below the maximum allowable increase of 3.16%.

Other items on the May 20 ballot include: establishing a Capital Reserve Fund for Transportation, the use of existing reserve funds to purchase one school bus, the election of one Board of Education member, with Justin White being the sole candidate, and the exit poll question on a possible merger feasibility study with Panama and Sherman central schools. A new addition for the 2025-2026 school year budget will be the introduction of two non-voting student board members, who will represent student voice on school issues with their participation in monthly meetings.

“The district continues to prioritize high-quality education, including access to electives in art, music, agriculture, and business, and over 70 college credits through Jamestown Community College offerings,” Olson said. “All residents are encouraged to vote and participate in shaping the future of the district.”

Clymer Central School District will hold its annual budget vote on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from noon to 8 p.m. in the SPC Lobby. Materials from the budget hearing held on May 7 are available at www.clymercsd.org.