Anyone read the Fredonia/Brocton Merger Study?

[Wondering about_]

I was wondering if anyone else read the merger feasibility study for the centralization of Fredonia and Brocton schools? It is available on the Fredonia School website. I read it (although very, very long) and in the end, I'm still confused!! The new combined district will receive roughly $30,000,000 in grant money over 14 years... but, I didn't see anything in there about what will happen after that time is up (regarding taxes and expenditures). I am not sure if I read this part correctly and will repost after I reread, but, it seems that the total taxpayer savings will be roughly $400/yr (I'm estimating because I don't want to sift through to find the exact number right now) depending on the merge option adopted. They listed 5 options for a possible merge:
Option 1: K-5 Brocton students at Brocton, K-5 Fredonia students at Fredonia (with Wheelock open), grades 6-8 at Brocton, 9-12 at Fredonia.
Option 2: K-5 Brocton students at Brocton, K-5 Fredonia students at Fredonia (with Wheelock closed), grades 6-8 at Brocton, grades 9-12 at Fredonia
Option 3: K-5 Brocton students at Brocton, K-5 Fredonia students at Fredonia with Wheelock open, grades 6-12 at Fredonia
Option 4: K-5 Brocton students at Brocton, K-5 Fredonia students at Fredonia with Wheelock closed, grades 6-12 at Fredonia
Option 5: All students at Fredonia (keeping Wheelock open for K-2)
It also lists the exact savings for each option and a pros/cons list.
Also there are 110 academic classes available at Fredonia and 68 at Brocton. Fredonia offers 29 extra-curricular clubs (not including athletics), Brocton offers 19 (not including athletics). Due to the small number of students at Brocton there are multiple athletic sports (8 to be exact) not available to them that are available at Fredonia. Yet, Brocton does offer 1 sport that Fredonia does not.
Overall, it was an interesting study to read and I recommend it to anyone who may have questions (although,they may not be answered).

[FredoniaGirl]

I read it and it seems that most of the benefit is to Brocton, not Fredonia. I'm not so sure I want my kids bussed all the way to Brocton at any point in their schooling. I also fear that a merger in the programs will leave some children struggling because of the differences in programs (elementary level Math specifically) I also am afraid for the AIS programs that are started at a very early level in Fredonia (if needed) being tossed aside. I guess I'm just not a person who likes change.

[John]

This merger will benefit everybody. Brocton is a fantastic school. People in Fredonia need to realize they are not as special as they think they are.(and I'm from Fredonia) Change is a good thing, lesser taxes is a better thing. FredoniaGirl mentioned she doesn't want her children bussed all the way to Brocton..are you kidding me? It takes about 7 minutes to drive to Brocton if you obey all the laws. Don't be so narrow minded. Brocton has better athletic fields all the way around, I'm looking forward to a much improved school system when this merger takes place. Go Hill Dogs.

[on yx]

Wondering about_ wrote:

I was wondering if anyone else read the merger feasibility study for the centralization of Fredonia and Brocton schools? It is available on the Fredonia School website. I read it (although very, very long) and in the end, I'm still confused!! The new combined district will receive roughly $30,000,000 in grant money over 14 years... but, I didn't see anything in there about what will happen after that time is up (regarding taxes and expenditures). I am not sure if I read this part correctly and will repost after I reread, but, it seems that the total taxpayer savings will be roughly $400/yr (I'm estimating because I don't want to sift through to find the exact number right now) depending on the merge option adopted. They listed 5 options for a possible merge:
Option 1: K-5 Brocton students at Brocton, K-5 Fredonia students at Fredonia (with Wheelock open), grades 6-8 at Brocton, 9-12 at Fredonia.
Option 2: K-5 Brocton students at Brocton, K-5 Fredonia students at Fredonia (with Wheelock closed), grades 6-8 at Brocton, grades 9-12 at Fredonia
Option 3: K-5 Brocton students at Brocton, K-5 Fredonia students at Fredonia with Wheelock open, grades 6-12 at Fredonia
Option 4: K-5 Brocton students at Brocton, K-5 Fredonia students at Fredonia with Wheelock closed, grades 6-12 at Fredonia
Option 5: All students at Fredonia (keeping Wheelock open for K-2)
It also lists the exact savings for each option and a pros/cons list.
Also there are 110 academic classes available at Fredonia and 68 at Brocton. Fredonia offers 29 extra-curricular clubs (not including athletics), Brocton offers 19 (not including athletics). Due to the small number of students at Brocton there are multiple athletic sports (8 to be exact) not available to them that are available at Fredonia. Yet, Brocton does offer 1 sport that Fredonia does not.
Overall, it was an interesting study to read and I recommend it to anyone who may have questions (although,they may not be answered).

I hope the voters will have the final determination. Hopefully we are not being sold a bill of goods like VISION 2000 We are still paying for that, and yes there are empty school rooms STILL and the enrollment is going DOWN

[a-z-a]

What do counties elsewhere do with the same number of students and approximately the same land area? Does everyone have 20+ or however many school districts?

[Joe P]

Doesn't this $30,000,000 "carrot" have conditions attached to it? I assume that NYS is mandating a reduction and/or permanent elimination of teachers and administrative positions as a condition, yet why haven't these numbers been disclosed?

This "$30,000,000 bribe" from the state equates to slightly over $2.1 million per/yr.(paid over 14 yrs.) IMO, this an insignificant amt. considering the combined total budget for both school districts. What's the point of merging if options #1,#3 or #5 are chosen, since they include keeping the Wheelock school open? From what I see, Wheelock would close down only IF either options #2 or #4 are chosen.

Keep in mind that ALL options involve bussing FHS students to BCS, and vice versa. Therefore, regardless of which option is chosen (if any), ALL options would require bus drivers from both districts to pass each other on the same roads while bussing students to the same district from which those buses they passed just came from??? This seems absolutely ludicrous to me! Add in the extra costs associated with fuel, bus maint., drivers, etc., and where are the real savings?

What about the inconvenience to ALL parents and students from both districts, who's kids now walk to their respective schools (or are dropped off by their parents)? Kids who never needed to ride a school bus (because they live within their school's neighborhood)) would now have to wake up that much earlier to get ready to catch a bus, only because they're now "classified" in a grade that requires them to attend a school that is several miles away??? Futhermore, if a student misses his/her bus, the parent normally drives him/her to school, but under ANY of these proposals, if a child or parent is running late, you can bet that most will NOT drive that student to the opposite district, thus, absenteeism would increase significantly.

It appears ALL options clearly favor BCS (if we disregard the ridiculous bussing proposal). I also don't believe it's the responsibility of Fredonia taxpayers to "share" BCS's burden, or vice versa. Furthermore, I really don't believe the opposition to this FHS/BCS merger is based solely on preserving their "school's identity." Proponents, however, simply don't understand the valid concerns that parents have, they simply have their eyes focused on the "golden fleece." If the merger committee would disclose "hard numbers" to support their position, if they came up with an alternative proposal that doesn't involve an expensive duplication of bus services, and finally, if "real" savings can be achieved, then maybe those in favor of this merger will get the support they seek.

[Truth seeker]

What if the $30,000,000 is pulled by the state in this time line? When the money is depleted in 5 yrs or so,then what happens. Do they intend to close a school? Does the school board plan on transporting kids from brocton to fredonia and fredonia to brocton at an hour one way? Does this make sense? Do they intend to release teachers? A major cost to the system is staff & admin. If , you are not going to reduce staff....where's the savings? just my thoughts....

[Sam]

John wrote:

This merger will benefit everybody. Brocton is a fantastic school. People in Fredonia need to realize they are not as special as they think they are.(and I'm from Fredonia) Change is a good thing, lesser taxes is a better thing. FredoniaGirl mentioned she doesn't want her children bussed all the way to Brocton..are you kidding me? It takes about 7 minutes to drive to Brocton if you obey all the laws. Don't be so narrow minded. Brocton has better athletic fields all the way around, I'm looking forward to a much improved school system when this merger takes place. Go Hill Dogs.

I have been to Broctons athletic fields, they suck, esp. the Football Field, the stands are small and all on one side, the field its self is not great, I have a nephew who plays for another school, he said that Broctons football field is horrable. Nothing beats friday night football downtown under the lights and there are stands on both sides with more seating, Fredonia wants to update the orange bowl as it is, and the east main St, complex is huge with all the athletic fields and a track there, in the school there are 3 Gymnasiums all in the same area and the High school gym is huge and seats about 1,000 people, I dont think broctons does.I like option 3 the best, Brocton is a small facility, while Fredonias is huge with plenty of room.

[just wondering]

It seemed to me upon reading the study that Brocton students will definitely benefit more than the Fredonia students. At the cost of $400-$500/yr in taxes ($35/month)... I'm willing to pay for the districts to remain as they are. Also, in the study it clearly states that Brocton's food service (cafeteria) is not self-supporting and receives $20,000/yr from the BOE. Also, in the financial breakdown it shows that Brocton is also in much worse financial disarray than Fredonia (and the Brocton residents have a much higher tax rate than Fredonia). So, now let's consider this-- let's say that Brocton's superintendent has seniority over Fredonia's-- he/she gets the position by default based upon seniority. He/She has a school that is not financially responsible and NOW what, the new district will be in ruin?? Personally, I think the economy is going to turn around and both districts will be fine.

Truth seeker- it states that the $30,000,000 will be contracted to the district- yet, you are right... it is possible that in 5 yrs or so the money could be unavailable. Simply put, if it isn't there- it isn't there... Contract or no contract!

Joe P- I read in the study that there is an 8 mile span between the two campus'(I certainly thought it was more). Anyway, I guess they aren't considering the families who live in Sheridan, Forestville, or the outskirts of Brocton.

[Joe P]

WHY must we merge...just for the sake of merging? In other words, if neither school had declining enrollments, we wouldn't even be having this discussion, yet cost saving measures regarding duplication of administrative duties would STILL remain...AT GREAT EXPENSE TO THE TAXPAYERS.

Why can't we just merge in name only (i:e; Ken-Ton), yet merge administrative duties to apply to both "sub-districts?" We could keep the cost of maintaining our own buldings and teachers salaries seperate (i:e; itemize costs), and still eliminate all the expensive administrative dead weight?

I wonder if both FHS & BCS superintendents and all the other unnecessary adminstrators within these two districts would be just as supportive for merging if "Option #6" were proposed?

I highly doubt it.

[lll]

Too many administrators, too many principals, too many teachers, too many empty classrooms and soon too many empty wallets. This is a cluster waiting to happen. Why not wait until something absolutely HAS to be done? Like in the animal kingdom the strong will survive.

[Hillbilly]

I read it thoroughly - It seems that the popular option is to move the Fredonia Middle School to Brocton. Fredonia will bus all of its Middle School students to Brocton and then have them bussed back for high school. THIS IS NUTS. There is no value to Fredonia at all - I hope Fredonia votes it down

[Cobra Clutch]

in th elong run we will be spending mo0re money sending kids back and forth . Leave Fredonia the way it is and let Brocton go merge with Westfield

[Johnny Swinger]

This merger is nothing but a waste of money if u think about it . You have to bus kids from Fredonia to Brocton then Brocton kids to Fredonia so what are u gaining in the end. Another stupid idea , i wonder if they been listening to Sullivan

[Pete]

It only makes sense to close the Brocton School and sell it. Then there would be a savings. Ortherwise there is no advantage for Fredonia to merge

[Concerned]

John wrote:

This merger will benefit everybody. Brocton is a fantastic school. People in Fredonia need to realize they are not as special as they think they are.(and I'm from Fredonia) Change is a good thing, lesser taxes is a better thing. FredoniaGirl mentioned she doesn't want her children bussed all the way to Brocton..are you kidding me? It takes about 7 minutes to drive to Brocton if you obey all the laws. Don't be so narrow minded. Brocton has better athletic fields all the way around, I'm looking forward to a much improved school system when this merger takes place. Go Hill Dogs.

It may take 7 minutes to drive to Brocton, but how long would it take on a bus that has more than usual stops or a longer route? For example, If the middle school is in Brocton and the high school ends up being in Fredonia, how long would it take to bus my middle schooler (who lives in Arkwright) to Brocton? The bus isn't going to just pick my child up, it will pick others up along the way. I don't consider myself "special" because I live in Fredonia, but I used to live in Brocton and moved to Fredonia because that is where I wanted my children to go to school. No offense, but there is a better athletic program, and Fredonia has helped my children academically in ways that Brocton never did. The only thing that Brocton did was give me a headache when my fourth grade son's teacher was rude and gave him a bloody nose! Thank goodness for the rest of the students that the teacher is now retired.

[Doc]

I vote for Option #6...no bussing and CUT SOME HEADS!!! This can all be done on paper, without any disruption to the current systems.

Granted, there's no financial incentive ($30 million carrot), other than doing what should've been done a loooong time ago.

[just wondering]

I wonder what the fiscal savings would be if Fredonia closed Wheelock (there is plenty of room at the main campus for the upk-2nd grade children), and continued to rent the building to Buffalo Hearing. Possibly the village could utilize the space for a boys and girls club, community center, summer camps, etc... There are so many options for the space. With Brocton's total amount of students being low it is easier for them to rezone and divide their students between Westfield, Cassadaga and Fredonia (if it were something they absolutely NEEDED to do). Both schools are nice schools. They both have good kids, faculty and staff. This issue definitely runs deeper than Brocton vs. Fredonia.

[Hillbilly]

According to the report the savings would be appx. $500,000 a year by closing Wheelock - that doesn't include the savings in less bussing. Just wondering is right they could then rent out Wheelock.

[Pam]

I don't mind the merger but one of the buildings has to close to see any savings in money and per the report the Fredonia schools can hold all the grades with out a problem. I live in Brocton but our school is going nowgere but down with smaller classes and rising costs, from what I have seen and read, Fredonia has excellent sports and academics, they have two teams now going for state champs, brocton has never come close as far as I know. I'm sure you can rent out the Brocton biilding and make some money. Something needs to be done and done soon.