Tag: feasibility study
Seasonal events and feasibility study update: a message from Superintendent Lauren Crisman
Dear Fort Plain Community,
As the holiday season approaches, we are filled with excitement and gratitude for the joy this time of year brings!
Seasonal activities and events
- Winter athletic competitions are well underway. View the schedule of events at the Athletics page of our website)
- The PTA will host a Donuts & Drawing event on Friday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. at Harry Hoag Elementary School.
- The annual Grade 5-12 Winter Concert is scheduled for Dec. 11 at 6 pm in the Jr./Sr. High School Auditorium.
Rumor has it, a special guest from the North Pole will visit the Morning Program to say hello to our littlest learners sometime this month, too.
We hope you can join us for these wonderful seasonal events!
Feasibility Study update
As many of you already know, the district chose to engage in a Feasibility Study to explore a potential merger with Canajoharie CSD. Over the course of the next two months, the study will conclude and the Boards of Education will make a determination regarding next steps.
Upcoming opportunities to learn more about the Feasibility Study
- Dec. 12, 2024 – Final Advisory Committee meeting, 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Canajoharie CSD. Committee members will be touring the facilities prior to the meeting.
- Jan. 16, 2025 – Joint Board of Education meeting, 6 p.m. at Canajoharie CSD. The Feasibility Study consultants are scheduled to present a final report to both boards at this meeting and discuss their findings.
- Jan. 22, 2025 – Joint Board of Education meeting, 6 p.m. at Fort Plain CSD. At this meeting, the Boards will take part in an open discussion of the study recommendations and determine the next steps.
Community members, students, staff and parents are encouraged to attend these meetings.
View resources related to the Canajoharie and Fort Plain CSD Merger Feasibility Study.
In closing, should you have any comments or questions about the Feasibility Study, the future actions of the Board or school organization, please feel free to contact me directly at lauren.crisman@fortplain.org or 518-993-4000, ext. 1000
Wishing each of you a wonderful season of merriment!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Crisman
Superintendent of Schools
Share your thoughts: feasiblity study ThoughtExchange now open
Dear Fort Plain CSD Community,
We’re about midway through our feasibility study exploring the possibility of joining the Canajoharie and Fort Plain school districts into a new, unified district. At this point, we’re reaching out again to invite your thoughts, questions and ideas through a new ThoughtExchange process.
Your input is crucial as we consider the impact and potential of this initiative.
This study aims to understand the potential benefits, challenges and effects of centralizing our districts. It is focused on three main areas:
- Educational experiences: Will this benefit students and improve the quality of education?
- Organizational capacity: Can we improve resource sharing and overall efficiency?
- Financial sustainability: Would centralizing help with long-term financial stability and wise use of resources?
We’re looking at factors like the quality of education, efficient use of resources and fiscal responsibility to see if joining the two districts could lead to stronger, more sustainable schools.
The study will help us decide if this change can improve educational outcomes and support a vibrant, well-rounded school community.
View documents related to the study’s progress, to-date.
Share your thoughts on this process through ThoughtExchange
This next ThoughtExchange will allow you to:
- Share any questions or thoughts you have about the study’s progress so far.
- Review and rate the ideas of others to help us see what’s most important to everyone.
Follow this link to participate with this ThoughtExchange: https://tejoin.com/scroll/432834459
Thank you for helping us make informed decisions for our schools. Your voice is a valuable part of this conversation about our future.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Lauren Crisman, Superintendent
Feasibility Study update: A message from Superintendent Crisman
A letter to the Fort Plain CSD community from Superintendent Lauren Crisman:
Dear Community Members,
It’s great to see so many students smiling and to have our learning spaces full of life again. My sincere gratitude to all of our school employees who helped to successfully launch us into the 2024-2025 school year!
This letter is meant to provide you with a progress report regarding the Feasibility Study. The district has created a webpage that will contain all of the related information ranging from notices of meeting dates/times/locations to different reports that have been prepared by the consultant firm. I encourage you to visit the site to learn more about the study process and the related findings. Learn more and view the resources related to the Feasibility Study.
The Advisory Committee has already met twice. At its Sept. 12 meeting, the committee reviewed data and norms associated with the educational experiences that exist in both districts. The next phase of the study will focus on the organizational capacity of both districts.
Upcoming Feasibility Advisory Committee meetings
Oct. 17 and Nov. 14, 2024 – 3:30 – 5:30 pm (meetings will be held virtually – get the link at the Feasibility Study resources page)
Dec. 12, 2024- 3:30 – 5:30 pm (meeting will be held at the Canajoharie CSD)
All of these meetings are open to the public.
Feasibilty Study Focus Groups – Oct. 30
In addition, the focus group discussions related to the Feasibility Study have been rescheduled for Oct. 30. Register to participate with the Feasibility Study Focus Groups on Oct. 30.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Lauren Crisman, Superintendent of Schools
Merger Feasibility Study
The Canajoharie and Fort Plain central school districts are conducting a merger feasibility study in 2024. The districts have received state aid to help cover the cost of the study. Additionally, both have applied for grant funding to cover the remainder of the costs.
This study, approved by each district’s Board of Education, is a required first step any time two or more districts are considering a merger. The study began in June of 2024 and will culminate in January 2025 with a presentation of the findings to the communities.
If the boards decide the process should move forward after reviewing the study, a series of votes of the communities would then be required.
View the resources related to the Canajoharie and Fort Plain Merger Feasibility Study.
Feasibility Study advisory committee appointed, focus group signup
Dear Community Members,
On July 30, 2024, both the Canajoharie and Fort Plain Boards of Education appointed select applicants to the Advisory Committee for the Feasibility Study.
The following people were appointed:
- Donald Bramer
- Lauri Broady
- Jed Brown
- Jamie Bunker
- Tracey Conover
- Jessica Hecht
- Lindsey Hodge
- Todd Jones
- Sara McDuffee
- Michele Nare
- Laura Pamkowski
- Nadine Paul
- Karlene Peck
- Kyra Powylan
- Patricia Prime
- Samantha Sherwood
- Lori Shults
- Dale Smith
- Neal VanSlyke
- Edward Watt
The charge for all committee members is to:
- fully commit to, and actively support, the study process.
- remain open to learning throughout the process.
- share relevant perspectives and experiences.
- clarify and probe data, information and insights shared by consultants.
- communicate openly, factually, and continuously with the public.
The committee will meet on the following dates (meetings are open to the public):
Aug. 21, 2024 – 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Meeting at Fort Plain CSD, Harry Hoag Elementary School Library Media Center.
Sept. 12, 2024 – 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Virtual (onsite connection for participants at both the Canajoharie and Fort Plain districts.)
Oct. 17, 2024 – 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Virtual (onsite connection for participants at both the Canajoharie and Fort Plain districts.)
Nov. 14, 2024 – 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Virtual (onsite connection for participants at both the Canajoharie and Fort Plain districts.)
Dec. 12, 2024 – 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Meeting at Canajoharie CSD.
Focus group discussions to be held this October
In addition, the focus group discussions related to the Feasibility Study have been rescheduled for October 30, 2024. Focus groups scheduled for this summer were not held due to a low applicant response.
Please apply with the following link if you would like to be considered for participation with a focus group. If you applied previously, please apply again and select a new time and location.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJSh2M2lPK-R3jJiPhlrsh3dUU5N5p2HhzX0w-VEemo64UZw/viewform
Thank you in advance to the volunteers listed above for their willingness to represent the community’s perspectives, ideas and questions.
As always, please reach out with any questions.
Sincerely,
Lauren H. Crisman, Superintendent
Feasibility Study update and Advisory Committee application
Greetings FPCSD School Community,
During this past spring, both the Canajoharie and Fort Plain Boards of Education voted to engage in a Feasibility Study to explore a potential merger. We thank Assemblyman Smullen for providing aid to cover part of the cost of the study. In addition, we have applied for a grant to cover the rest of the cost.
The study will begin in June of 2024 and culminate in January of 2025, ending with a presentation of the findings for the communities. The consultant firm conducting the study will be onsite to assess and analyze operations in both districts and to facilitate several stakeholder meetings during the upcoming months for the purpose of gathering information. In addition, community engagement opportunities will be offered through Thought Exchange, a web-based communication system where stakeholders can freely share comments.
A secondary website will be created soon to allow the public to access all of the study related materials. Please look for this link to appear on the top of both school districts’ homepages.
If you wish to be considered to serve on the Feasibility Advisory Committee, please complete the application at the link posted below. Applicants must commit to attend all of the meetings. Meetings will be held on August 21, September 12, October 17, November 14 and December 12 from 3:30-5:30 at either Canajoharie CSD or Fort Plain CSD.
Feasibility Advisory Committee application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfIVgpL3R8asx-e-FzMK5G87xW7RUAozgfHnwmoOAb7qtM6Mg/viewform?usp=sf_link
Once the findings are published, the communities will have to vote on whether or not to move forward with the merger. The first vote will most likely occur near the end of January. If the vote in January shows support, then there will be a second, final referendum vote tentatively scheduled to be held in March of 2025.
During February and March, additional stakeholder meetings will be scheduled to foster more discussions about the advantages and concerns related to merging. If the final vote is approved in March of 2025, the merger action will occur in July of 2026.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions and feel free to share this information with all members of our community.
Community engagement will be highly valued throughout this process.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Take good care,
Mrs. Crisman
Feasibility Study Timeline
Feasibility Study for the Purpose of Centralization.
Proposal for Canajoharie Central School District and Fort Plain Central School District.
Requested Revised Timeline for Standard Tier:
May 2024—Approval of Contract & Coordination of Logistics.
June 2024—Initial Document Review Request & In-take Process; Commence Advisory Committee Recruitment; Deploy Community Engagement Exchange 1.
July 2024—Continue Document Review & Logistical Planning
Advisory Committee Appointed.
August 2024—Initial Site Visit to both Districts – 2 days of tours, meetings, & interviews; Stakeholder Focus Groups; Kick-Off Presentation of Joint Meeting of the Boards of Education; Advisory Committee Meeting 1 – Overview & Kick-Off.
September 2024—Advisory Committee Meeting 2 – Educational Experiences (virtual).
October 2024—Deploy Community Engagement Exchange 2; Advisory Committee Meeting 3 – Organizational Capacity (virtual)
November 2024—Advisory Committee Meeting 4 – Financial Sustainability (virtual).
December 2024—Advisory Committee Meeting 5 – Draft Report; Submit Draft Report to NYSED for Review.
January 2025—Final Report Presentation to Joint Meeting of Boards of Education; Deploy Community Engagement Exchange 3; Advisory Referendum
March 2025—Final Referendum.
July 1, 2026—Anticipated New School District Begins Operation Pending NYSED Confirmation.
*Discussions to-date indicate that with a March 2025 Referendum, a case may be made by the District Superintendent to recommend that the new district begin operation on July 1, 2026.