October 2, 2007 - North Colonie and Maplewood residents will head to the polls on Thursday, Oct. 11 to consider an official, binding referendum to annex the Maplewood-Colonie Common School District.

Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all area elementary schools and Goodrich School.

All voters must be U.S. citizens, age 18 or older and residents of North Colonie for at least 30 days prior to the vote. Qualified voters who will be out of town or unavailable on the vote date should call 518-785-8591, or stop by the District Office at Goodrich School from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to request applications for an absentee ballot. Applications for absentee ballots will be received until 9 a.m. on October 10. Absentee ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on October 11.

Straw vote gauges community support

The upcoming vote comes after an unofficial, non-binding vote was overwhelmingly supported by residents of both school districts in May. Seventy-one percent of North Colonie voters approved the straw vote while 88 percent of Maplewood voters gave their approval.

Reasons behind the annexation
The Maplewood School, housing students in grades K-8, has been experiencing double-digit tax increases over the past few years, and now finds itself at risk of losing instructional programs with no relief
on tax rates.

During the summer of 2006, district officials began contemplating the feasibility of annexing Maplewood into the North Colonie school system. A Feasibility Study Committee was formed shortly after to determine whether instructional opportunities would be enhanced for all students at a similar or reduced cost to taxpayers by combining the two districts.

Maplewood and North Colonie already share a close working relationship and high academic standards, as well as proximity in the Town of Colonie. Nearly all Maplewood graduates enroll in Shaker High School to complete their education. These students have been accepted and assimilated into our schools, contributing to the overall excellent reputation of the district. Former Maplewood students can be found among the school’s class officers, athletes, and performing artists.

If the referendum is approved, the new district will receive $30 million in Operating Incentive Aid over the next 14 years, and a major increase in state Building Aid. The additional funds are expected to stabilize future tax rates and enable the district to make needed updates and repairs to all of its facilities with little cost to taxpayers. Further, the funds will help maintain and expand instructional opportunities for all North Colonie Central School District students.

Please direct any questions to the North Colonie District Office at 518-785-8591.