Q. Why are North Colonie and Maplewood School Districts considering an annexation?

A. Each year, school districts have to face financial challenges such as higher than expected staffing and operating costs. Residents in the Maplewood-Colonie Common School District have seen double-digit tax increases in past years and the district is now at risk of losing instructional programs to keep tax rates down with no tax relief. The North Colonie Central School District continues to be financially secure, making it the highest ranked district in the region as evidenced by our credit rating of AA by Standard & Poor's. North Colonie will benefit from an annexation because of the Incentive Aid that the district will get over the next 14 years, plus a major increase in state building aid.

Q. What will North Colonie specifically gain in an annexation?

A. North Colonie will receive approximately $30 million in state Operating Aid over the next 14 years, plus a sizeable increase (from the current level of 48% to an estimated 68%) in state Building Aid for approved building projects.

Q. What is the difference between an annexation and a merger?

A. An annexation is when one school district dissolves into another. In this case, Maplewood School District will be dissolved into the North Colonie School District. A merger is the blending of two school districts into one brand new district.

Q. Didn't we already vote on the annexation?

A. Both school districts held unofficial, non-binding votes in May during their Annual Elections and Budget Votes. Seventy-one percent of North Colonie voters approved the straw vote and 88 percent of Maplewood voters approved moving forward with the annexation process. Because voters in both school districts approved the non-binding vote the New York State Education Department scheduled an official, binding vote on Thursday, October 11.

Q. Who has been a part of the annexation study process?

A. The North Colonie Board of Education appointed Daniel Porter and Dr. Lee Peters of School Efficiency Services, Inc. to serve as consultants for the Maplewood annexation feasibility study. They worked closely with a feasibility committee, made up of 26 members, 13 from each of the North Colonie and Maplewood communities.

Q. What was the role of the feasibility study committee?

A. The role of the committee was to check the facts and assumptions of the consultants, provide local knowledge, problem-solve as a whole, review work of subcommittees, make recommendations to the Boards of Education, and serve as a source of information for the public.

Q. What occurred during the annexation study process?

A. There were a total of six Annexation Feasibility Committee study sessions held since November 2006 at both the North Colonie and Maplewood school districts. Each feasibility study session was open to the public and many questions and concerns were addressed. When the feasibility study concluded, the consultants wrote and presented a report to both boards and to the public in April 2007. Click here to download the full feasibility report (PDF document).

Q. How will an annexation impact taxes?

A. While an annexation will not have a direct impact on taxes, it will help alleviate future tax increases.

Q. Will North Colonie students be re-districted because of this annexation?

A. We are not anticipating any major changes for current North Colonie students due to this annexation.

Q. What will be the makeup of the new Board of Education in the annexed school district?

A. Since this is an annexation, and not a merger, the North Colonie School District’s Board of Education will remain at nine duly elected board members.

Q. How will instructional and non-instructional contract issues be handled?

A. All current Maplewood employees will be covered under the North Colonie contracts.

Q. How will seniority be affected?

A. Both North Colonie and Maplewood employees will retain their seniority.

Q. Will any staff be laid off?

A. NO. All staff members will keep their current jobs.

Q. What will happen to the Maplewood School if the annexation is passed?

A. The North Colonie School District has made assurances to the Maplewood community that the Maplewood School will remain open for at least the next 7-10 years, with the goal being to increase student population at the school to a greater extent. Beyond that, the future of Maplewood will be determined by the Board of Education.

Q. When will we vote on the annexation?

A. Both school districts held a non-binding straw vote on the same day as the budget vote on May 15, 2007, which both districts approved. A binding referendum will be held on October 11, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Polls will be open at all area elementary schools, as well as at Goodrich School.

Q. What happens if the annexation proposition is passed?

A.  If residents of both districts approve the annexation referendum on October 11, Maplewood will be annexed into North Colonie on July 1, 2008.