The devastation of Hurricane Irene may have an unlikely development:
The merger of the Middleburgh and Schoharie school districts.
Faced with the loss of tax base in both districts, board members at a joint meeting at SCS directed both superintendents to set up an informational session with the BOCES district superintendent about the process districts take to initiate a merger study.
Duanesburg will also be invited.
It may take years to accomplish and may not happen at all, but board members from both schools said merger should be looked at.
"Consolidation is an option we really need to look at for the recovery of our community," said Kim Smith, Middleburgh board president.
Going ahead with a study does not mean there has to be a merger, Ms. Smith said.
Board members spent the first portion of the meeting discussing ways to share equipment and other services to save costs, but Schoharie board member Terry Burton, also a Middleburgh teacher, said he was worried about the loss of tax base in Schoharie.
The loss of tax base could force the district to cut programs and increase class sizes, both of which he did not want to see.
Despite differences between Middleburgh and Schoharie which have prevented a merger in the past, the time may be right, he said.
"These are two communities that never wanted to merge but over the last month, all I've heard is, 'Let's merge.' "
The loss in tax base, Mr. Burton said, means that the remaining property owners would have to make up the remainder and that could cause much higher tax rates.
"That's when our second hurricane will come," he said.
Most of the merger concerns could be answered in a feasibility study. The study could be paid for through a competitive state grant.
After a feasibility study, straw votes would be taken in both districts to see if residents want to pursue a merger. If the results are positive, a study would be done, which would involve community input. A final vote in both districts would determine the fate of a new, combined district.
There are several questions about combining districts, Mr. Burton said, including fear of losing local identity, whether the communities are compatible, worry about increasing the tax levy, resistance to change in the communities and longer bus trips for students.
While there is still strong rivalry between the schools and a strong allegiance to school mascots and colors, those ties may not be as binding as in years past.
Players are often friends.
Shawn Gathen, who has coached an AAU team for three years, said the athletes from SCS and MCS get along very well, almost like they go to the same school.
"When I went to school here, whole different story," he said.
Board members briefly discussed concerns about a larger district.
MCS is the third largest district in the state in terms of area but MCS Superintendent Michele Weaver said the longest additional trip would be another seven miles.
"It's about seven minutes, not another hour," Mr. Burton said.
A study is needed to determine where both districts are, Ms. Weaver said.
"We certainly need to look at a feasibility study," she said.
"It would help each district see where they stand and that's critical at this time."
The study, she added, may not lead to a full-fledged merger but could show what areas of the districts could be merged and "what is out there that we can do."
She added, "You really need to find out about the district before you go forward."
Middleburgh currently has about 856 students while Schoharie has about 876.