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 costs, large tax certioraris or a decline in state aid. Maplewood School District has been seeing double-digit tax increases in the past years, and is now at a potential risk of losing instructional programs to keep tax rates down. North Colonie School District continues to be financially stable, but would benefit from an annexation because of the Incentive Aid that the district would get over the next 14 years, plus an increase in state building aid.

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

A. The Annexation Incentive Aid that North Colonie would get is approximately $30 million over the next 14 years, plus a sizeable increase (from the current level of 48% to an estimated 68%) in state 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 would be dissolved into the North Colonie School District. A merger is the blending of two school districts into one brand new district.

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 the consultants for the Maplewood annexation feasibility study. They have 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 Maplewood Annexation Feasibility Committee study sessions held since mid-November at both the North Colonie and Maplewood schools. Each feasibility study session was open to the public, so that questions and concerns could be addressed. When the feasibility study concluded, the consultants began writing their report, and presented it to both boards and to the public in mid-to-late March. Click here to download the full feasibility report (PDF document).

Q. How will an annexation impact taxes?

A. An annexation will NOT have a direct impact on taxes, but it will help alleviate future tax rate increases.

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

A. At this time, we are not anticipating any major changes for North Colonie students due to this annexation.

Q. What would 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 would remain at nine duly elected board members.

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

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

Q. How would seniority be affected?

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

Q. Would 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 would remain open for at least 7-10 years. Beyond that, the future of Maplewood would be determined by the Board of Education Long Range Planning Committee.

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.

Q. What happens if the annexation proposition is passed?

A.  If the annexation is approved by both districts in the October referendum, and by the State Education Department, then the effective date of the annexation would be on July 1, 2008.