Clymer’s Superintendent Beth Olson gave an update on the next steps in the merger feasibility study process during the December Board of Education meeting. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

CLYMER — The Clymer, Sherman, Panama merger feasibility study is moving forward with plans for another joint meeting and the search beginning for community members to join a steering committee.

Clymer Superintendent Beth Olson discussed the next steps for the merger study process with the Clymer Board of Education during its December meeting. At the November joint board meeting of the three school boards it was decided to approve BOCES to enter into an agreement with White and Partners to do the feasibility study.

“So they are in motion and collecting data from us,” Olson said. “They put out a list of items that they need right now and that we will share with them.”

There will be a public meeting to be held at BOCES’s Hewes Center, 2615 North Maple Avenue in Ashville, scheduled for January 8 at 5 p.m. A news release shared with The Post-Journal from Shelly O’Boyle, CSP Merger Study Project coordinator, said the meeting will be a Merger Feasibility Study Kick-Off Meeting and will be an informational meeting on the merger feasibility study process, with the presentation to be led by White and Partners. The meeting will also be recorded and placed on each district’s website.

There are several other next steps in the process, including the formation of a steering committee. The three school districts are looking for two members from each community to serve on the committee along with a student representative, faculty or teacher representative, support staff representative, administration representative, one or two parent representatives and then one or two community representatives from each district. The committee will convene monthly through online meetings with project consultants to provide strategic guidance for the study process. Committee members will not be involved in data analysis or report outcome recommendations. The committee will meet virtually on the last Wednesday of each month January through April.

The application deadline is Jan. 6, and interested individuals may apply on their district’s website or pick up a hard copy at the District Office or request an application by calling the District Office. For those not selected for the Steering Committee, further opportunities to provide input will be available through community focus groups.

The upcoming Jan. 8 meeting will also include White and Partners discussing the timeline and what the communities can expect over the next five months.

“Their goal is to have a report drafted and sent to State Ed in May, the middle part of May, so that we can have it back and they can present to the boards in June,” Olson said. “Things are really starting to move.”