Merger Study Committee Weighs Gains and Costs
By SARA HERRMANN
POSTED: July 17, 2008
The Ripley Central School and Westfield Academy Merger Study Committee continued its examination of the potential impacts of a merger of the two school districts last week with a discussion of personnel.
According to study consultants, estimated economies of scale resulting from merging the two district’s teaching staff would produce savings of approximately $400,000 while administrative and management restructuring would produce about $205,000 in estimated savings.
The estimated staff reductions at the middle and high school levels are, according to consultant Daniel Porter, “very conservative in nature”. At the middle and high school levels, Porter identified for elimination one full time equivalent (FTE) position in English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Music, Physical Education and Special Education. Half-time (.5 FTE) positions in the areas of Science, Foreign Language and Technology were also identified. Together with a potential savings of $25,000 in board consultants (legal, auditing services, etc.), the elimination of the seven FTE positions would save approximately $400,000.
Restructuring of administrative and management positions was also discussed. Significant savings in the range of $125,000 would be realized with the elimination of one superintendent position. Because superintendent positions are not tenured positions in New York State, if a merger takes place the newly-formed board of education can, but would not be required to, offer the position to either former district’s superintendent. In this case, John Hogan serves as an interim superintendent in Ripley and Mark Sissel is the regular superintendent in Westfield.
While superintendents are not tenured, their contracts’ are considered a property right and the remainder of any contract would become a contractual obligation for the newly-formed district. This is one of the “hidden costs” Porter discussed at the meeting.
Another significant hidden cost is what Porter refers to as “leveling up”. Leveling up is the process that would bring the two separate salary schedules and benefit packages in line with one another.
Professional teaching staff in Ripley is compensated at a higher rate than similarly experienced teachers in the Westfield district. “At almost every step along the way
In accordance with state education law, when two districts merge all professional employment contracts are null and void but the provisions of the contract continue in full force until a successor contract is negotiated. In negotiating a new contract, it is expected that the district with lower compensation and/or fewer benefits would level up to the higher salary schedule of benefit package.
According to Porter, such leveling up for teacher salaries could reach $250,000. He suggested that, if that is the case, the newly-formed district fund the leveling up with reorganization operating incentive aid which, as previously reported, would total $20,222,425 over the fifteen-year incentive aid cycle.
Am additional amount, in the range of $90,000, would be required to level-up salaries for support staff, where Westfield’s tiered compensation system generally offers higher hourly wages to support staff than Ripley’s set salary schedule.
“We’re not here to tell you whether or not you should merge,” said Porter. “What we’re looking for is really the trap doors, trip wires and booby traps that could trip you up if you do decide to merge.”
Porter also discussed the merger process and timelines, should a merger become reality. He explained that, at the last meeting of the joint merger study committee, the committee will be charged with determining whether or not there is enough information to have the boards of education for the two districts call a straw vote. If it is determined that there is sufficient information, a joint meeting of the two boards of education will be held and the report (prepared by the consultants and reviewed by the state education department) will be accepted. A straw vote of the district’s voters (separately by district) will then be scheduled. It is expected that the joint board meeting will be held just before Thanksgiving and the straw votes scheduled sometime in January.
If both districts vote to form a merged district during the straw vote, a final binding vote will occur within six weeks of the straw vote. If one district votes to merge and the other votes against a merger in the final binding vote, the district that voted against the merger could re-vote, but would be required to wait one year and one day from the date of the final vote to do so. If the district voted against the merger a second time, the merger would not happen and, if a merger was considered in the future, another report would need to be prepared.
“It is possible,” said Porter, “that by next July 1st, you could be a combined district.” He noted that, if that was the case, the two districts would likely function separately, but on parallel paths, for the first merged year while planning takes place and contracts are renegotiated.
The next meeting of the Ripley Westfield Merger Study Committee will take place on Wednesday, August 20th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Westfield Academy LGI. The topic will be instruction and facilities.
