October 2, 2007 -- North Colonie Central School District residents are encouraged to attend a public forum on Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Junior High School Auditorium to ask questions and learn more about the upcoming annexation referendum directly from North Colonie Board of Education members and administration.

North Colonie and Maplewood residents will head to the polls on Thursday, Oct. 11 to consider the 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.

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.

If the referendum is approved, the districts would become one on July 1, 2008. The new district would also receive $30 million in Operating Incentive Aid over the next 14 years, and a major increase in state Building Aid.

To learn more about the annexation referendum, visit the Annexation section of the district Web site.