Here & There Column 1-24-11

Let Them Play Together

The school districts of Roscoe and Livingston Manor can't seem to see eye to eye with each other over a possible merger and now as a result of Roscoe community residents saying they are not interested in considering a merger or even a merger study the Livingston Manor Board of Education may pull the plug on the five-year plan to merge all athletic programs between the two districts.
The Livingston Manor board decided to unmerge with Roscoe for winter sports and parents of several Roscoe athletes this past week told us Roscoe would be fielding their own baseball team this coming spring.
What had apparently been working out very well this past year with both schools working together with merged football and baseball teams now is threatened by statements made in an email January 5 from Livingston Manor Central School (LMCS) Superintendent Deborah Fox which said, "it doesn't seem sensible for our district to continue with the athletic merger when the issues that are stumbling blocks seem to be insurmountable."
The email from Fox went on to say, "our board is not willing to continue paying for two coaches as this is not fiscally defensible in this economic climate when we have made substantial reductions in positions. Since you state the Roscoe Central School (RCS) board is not interested in a merger study (the next logical step to any long-term sharing), I believe our board may not be interested in continuing the athletic merger at this time."
Roscoe residents appearing at the January 9 meeting held in Roscoe to discuss a merger study indicated their opposition to the Fox email by indicating that Roscoe could do fine fielding their own sports teams and they didn't like the possibility that the LMCS administration would hold sports over their head as a means to accomplish the two school merger.
Superintendent Fox has indicated declining enrollment in the two districts and an uncertain economy make a merger study necessary. She has also pointed out that there is duplication of services and that a decision should be based on the best interest for the district and not particular individuals.
RCS Superintendent John Evans has given indications that he doesn't believe Roscoe would gain many educational opportunities by merging but that there may be financial incentives.
What very well could be coming down the road is that the Governor, who is a strong supporter of merging .... and the state may tell the two districts that they have to merge or face possible penalties.
Meanwhile the athletic students of these two school districts are the one's that will suffer the unmerging of any or all athletic programs between the districts.
The two schools should at least be able to set aside their differences and let the athletes play together.