Progress made on Clymer, Sherman, Panama merger petitions
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CLYMER -- The petition process is underway for the potential merger between Clymer, Sherman and Panama Central Schools, and at Clymer's most recent Board of Education meeting it was reported that strong progress is being made in getting signatures in all three districts.
The three schools began the petition process on August 18 in order to gauge community support to continue the merger process, with each district required to get a specific amount of signatures; 161 in Clymer, 301 in Sherman, and 154 in Panama. Each district is responsible for their own amount of signatures, and will continue to collect them until October 1. If all three get their required amount, a statutory vote will follow in December.
At the September meeting of the Clymer Board of Education, Superintendent Beth Olson, reported that strong progress is being made in all three districts.
"Our next meeting is September 16 at Panama," Olson said. "A building tour is at 6 p.m. and the presentation will start at 7 p.m. We'll be back here in Clymer on the 24th."
Both upcoming meetings are town halls for the public to come and hear more about the process and ask any questions they may have. Another mailer with information regarding the merger will be sent home with the youngest family members of Clymer's school district. Each district will be sending home the next mailer in a similar process, with the students.
With the beginning of the new school year, student board member Kara Collins reported that a lot of conversation has been going on over the first few days regarding the merger as well, from both students and teachers.
"I feel like not all of them have all of the information so they're making some assumptions that are not necessarily right," Collins said.
Collins said students have a lot of questions as well, such as what might happen if one of the schools does not get enough petition signatures. An assembly or meeting to discuss the process with students and help respond to some of this confusion was discussed, specifically for students, while also encouraging them and their parents to come out to the next two town hall meetings.
Olson noted that Clymer's activity period that is at the end of the day for students will not be implemented for the next week or so, and there could potentially be a time that district officials could come into those classes and talk with students. Building Principal Brianne Fadale has been taking that time for short meetings with students about things such as the code of conduct, and said she could take the time to bring the merger up during those times as well.
A concern was also expressed about the time period between October 1 when the petition ends and the statutory vote date in December, and keeping people excited about the potential merger. Tentatively more meetings will be on the schedule after the petition closes on October 1.
The potential to have an assembly for students and giving them the ability to submit questions and help them visualize what the merger might look like and how it might affect them was also discussed.
Olson added she has given an update to the teachers about where the process is and the next steps, and that they should look to get the kids up to speed and get everyone on the same page. This, she added, may also tease out some other concerns that they are hearing or not hearing.
More information on the CSP merger process, petition, and upcoming meetings can all be found at CSPhub.org.