Looking to get out of fiscal foxholes and improve educational programs, the Worcester and Schenevus school districts will be studying merger.
Both school boards approved a plan that will have them seek a state grant to hire a consultant for the study, a first step in the process.
The two districts examined merging several times in the past, but neither community liked the idea then.
Times are different now, however, as both Worcester and Schenevus have slashed staff and programs as state school aid has dwindled.
If the situation continues, there will be nothing left to cut when each budget session comes around, said Worcester Superintendent Bill Diamond.
"What's next, music, art, athletics?" he asked. "That's not viable. What do we eliminate? There's nothing left."
Schenevus Superintendent Tom Jennings agreed.
"We're looking at fiscal and educational insolvency if there's not a change in state funding," Mr. Jennings said.
"And we can't bank on a change in state funding."
Worcester is at the tipping point where cutting more programs would put graduates at a disadvantage going on to college, Mr. Diamond said.
"The opportunities aren't there, and our kids want those opportunities," he said.
Schenevus is in the same shape, Mr. Jenning said.
"Without significant changes, we're facing dramatic cuts in program," he said.
A merger would generate a large flush of additional state aid spread over 15 years. This would allow the new district to maintain and probably increase programs.
Finances drove administrators and school boards to look at merging. But although more aid to a joint district would bring fiscal health, the real goal is improving education, Mr. Diamond said.
"The bang for our buck would be tremendous," he said.
It's unclear how the communities feel about merger now. Assuming the consultant and a joint community committee developed a plan, there would be a straw vote first and binding vote later, Mr. Jennings said.
Communities have strong attachments to their schools' identities and independence, factors that led to merger defeats decades ago.
But Mr. Jennings pointed out that conditions are much different now, with both districts barely scraping along.
"Now we're clearly in crisis mode," he said. "Maybe people will look at it differently."
"No one wants to lose 'their' school," Mr. Diamond added. "But I think they understand the realities of what we're facing."
One factor that may influence voters is Worcester's new renovation and addition. The district completed the $32.6 million project last spring.
It's not paid for, however, and in a merger, Schenevus taxpayers would be assuming some of that debt.
"They'd be taking on the debt for a tremendous facility," Mr. Diamond said, adding that the project has already received several architectural awards and is in line for more.
"It would be a tremendous facility for whatever students come here."
Mr. Jennings noted that while Schenevus taxpayers would be picking up that debt, Worcester taxpayers would be doing the same for his district.
Schenevus is paying off a roof replacement, bus garage and new wing.
The extra merger aid would alleviate the debt burden for taxpayers in both districts, Mr. Diamond said.
The deadline for the grant application is March 13. The state Education Department looks fondly at mergers, so the districts will probably get the grant; they'd hear of the approval in the summer.
The study would take about a year, and if voters approve, the first merged year would be 2015-16, Mr. Diamond said.
But he wants to move the process along.
"We can't wait that long," Mr. Diamond said. "We have kids in school now who need this change."