×

Firms Picked As Merger Study Takes Next Step

PANAMA — A joint meeting of the Panama and Clymer central school boards culminated in the invitation of two firms to make public presentations about a feasibility study to merge the two districts.

After an executive session Wednesday night, the boards announced they had chosen Learning Design Associates and the Western New York Educational Service Council to come back and present for the public at a board of education meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m.  The meeting will be held at Clymer Central School.

Once a firm is chosen, a study will be done in order to gather information on the possible merger between both schools.

The state Department of Education requires the study between the districts considering merging, which will later allow them to get the Commissioner of Education’s order to hold a vote on the question of merging, said David O’Rourke, Erie-2-Chautauqua-Cattauraugus BOCES superintendent.

“The second reason to do the study is to give the public information from an outside unbiased source that looks at both school districts and prospects of merging two districts and what can happen,” he said. “The merger study can serve as a source of information for the communities of both districts as they consider the decision that is ultimately put forward if the study determines that the merger is advisable.”

The purpose of the meeting was for both boards to review the bids that had been received. However, O’Rourke said the purpose was not to award the bid immediately, but he recommended choosing two firms to invite back to present at a public meeting.

He explained three bids for the study were received, including one from the Leadership for Educational Achievement Foundation; Learning Design Associates; and Western New York Educational Service Council. The bids were then brought forward to be opened in front of the public at the meeting. Previously, the firms had supplied the sealed cost bids as well as an unsealed narrative.

The sealed cost bids were opened by Bert Lictus, shared superintendent for Clymer and Panama schools. The bid from the Leadership for Educational Achievement Foundation has a maximum cost of $55,000 for the study; the maximum cost of the bid from the Western New York Educational Service Council is $40,000.

And the maximum cost of the bid from Learning Design Associates is $43,900.

However, O’Rourke said it is important the public understands choosing a firm isn’t based on cost alone.

“Unlike a bid where we are primarily working under lowest cost, the board needs to evaluate each of the proposals against the terms that were provided in the narrative of what these firms are planning to do,” he said.

The two boards then entered into executive session for the purpose of discussing the employment history of the companies that bid.

The board then came out of executive session and announced their choices. The presidents of both boards, Donald Butler and Mike Schenck, both of Panama, agreed that the two options we invited back because the two firms provide the best focus groups, the staffing background is involved in Western New York and the prices were lower.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today