LIVINGSTON MANOR AND ROSCOE, NY — Polls will be open from 12 noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, December 19, in the Livingston Manor (LMCS) and Roscoe Central School (RSC) Districts’ gymnasiums for voters to decide if the two districts will merge via centralization.

A series of meetings will be held so voters can learn more about the merger proposal, which aims to increase academic and extracurricular opportunities for students at all levels as well as provide financial stability for the community.

The public is welcome to attend the following meetings:

• Tuesday, December 3: Roscoe PTA meeting held at the Roscoe Diner at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 11: Roscoe Free Library at 3 p.m.
• Thursday, December 12: Livingston Manor Free Library at 6 p.m.
• Monday, December 16: LMCS Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, December 17: RCS Board of Education meeting at 4:30 p.m.

Earlier this year, New York State changed how merger aid would be calculated, which would result in about $30.7 million in aid over 14 years, an increase of about $23.5 million from the old formula. A majority of people in both districts who filled out an exit survey at the May budget votes, when provided with this information, said the districts should revisit the merger.

A merger study addendum was completed and appropriately filed with the State Education Department, and it was approved in September. In October, both boards unanimously voted to move forward in the merger process, gathering petition signatures in support of a merger.

The required number of signatures in both districts were collected and on November 7, the boards approved the signatures and unanimously voted to move forward with the reorganization process.

The resolutions were forwarded to the BOCES district superintendent to initiate the formal reorganization process with the State Education Department, which on November 26 formally approved the vote date of Thursday, December 19.

To vote on the merger, residents must be 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a district resident for at least 30 days and be registered to vote at their county board of elections, which will automatically register them to vote in their district. If not registered with the county, residents must register before Friday, December 13 at their district’s main office between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. while school is in session.

More information about the merger can be found on the merger page of each district’s website. Questions or concerns may also be directed to Superintendent John Evans at  john.evans@lmcs.us, jevans@roscoe.k12.ny.us, 607/498-4126, ext. 6105, or 845/439-4400, ext. 1201, or contact a member of either district’s school board.