P-J photo by Sara Holthouse The Clymer Board of Education discussed some of the next steps in the merger feasibility study process, such as the incoming community forums.

CLYMER — Over the next few weeks members of the Clymer, Sherman and Panama school district communities will have the chance to hear from the company that is currently working on the merger feasibility study, White and Partners, and to make their voices heard.

During the February meeting of the Clymer Central School Board of Education, Superintendent Beth Olson gave an update to the board on where some things that are a part of the study process stood, such as the recent community survey, and what is happening next, including the upcoming community forums.

The community survey closed on Feb. 13, and at the time of the board meeting there were 430 responses to it, which is not the final number, as that number came in from about a week before. The community forums are the next step in the merger process, with the first of the three forums happening at Clymer Central School in the Student Performance Center at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23.

“Our next step is on (Feb. 23) … will be our community forum here,” Olson said. “As it was discussed earlier, that will be at 7 o’clock and White and Partners will meet with the Board of Education at (5:30). But, earlier that day they are going to meet with our different stakeholder groups.”

Those different stakeholder groups include the teachers’ union, a teacher group, the non-instructional union, a non-instructional group, a group of students, and a group of administrators. Olson said a schedule has been created and will be shared with them for the day.

The other two community forum days are in Sherman on March 9 at 7 p.m. and Panama on March 11 at 7 p.m.

The next meeting of the Clymer BOE is also on March 11, and the board agreed to move their meeting to 5 p.m. that day so board members can attend the community forum there as well.

Community leader groups have also been identified within Clymer’s district and will include the Clymer Business Association, the Findley Lake Business Association, the town of Mina’s board, the town of Clymer’s board, and two individuals. The board will also be reaching out to the town of French Creek and the Amish community.

Communication in regards to the merger process has also been received by the school from a non-resident.

“We did receive a non-resident communication, a non-resident property owner communication that they were a little bothered that they didn’t receive any communication as they don’t have a post office box and don’t receive any mail here because it’s not their primary residence,” Olson said. “I explained to them that how we distributed the information, we tried to do it by mail, by social media, we had signs up by the post office. I also informed them that we can communicate with them but they are also not going to be a voting member on this vote if we were to get that far.”

Olson said it was expressed by this non-resident that specifically with the survey it was believed that they had missed a group of people that should have input, and there is an email that goes out through Tapestry, in the town of Mina, that Olson said she was not aware of. Olson said if there is future information to share she can send it to town supervisor Rebecca Brumagin, who can then choose to share it via Tapestry if she wants.

More information on the upcoming community forums or any aspect of the CSP Merger Feasibility Study can be found on each school districts’ website.