Tag: merger
Merger Information and Resources
Overview
In September 2025, the Canajoharie and Fort Plain Boards of Education agreed to continue exploring a possible merger between the two districts, based on a recommendation from the CFP Development Panel.
Because both districts have remained actively involved in the process—through committees, focus groups, and community outreach—the New York State Department of Education has approved the continued use of the 2024 feasibility study and has authorized a revote on the merger proposal in June 2026.
Focus Teams: Community Members at Work
Focus Teams met on Jan. 7, 2026 to begin in-depth discussions about a possible merger or additional shared services between Fort Plain and Canajoharie Schools.
Currently, about 35 community members are serving on these teams. They will continue meeting over the next few months to gather information and shape recommendations for the future of our schools.
Upcoming Meetings
Community residents are welcome to attend an upcoming meeting:
● Educational Programming—student opportunities and curriculum – Feb. 24 – 6 p.m., Canajoharie Middle School
● Staff-Centered Transition—supporting our staff through a merger – March 2 – 3:15 p.m., East Hill Elementary
● Operational Planning—facilities, transportation, and finances – March 5– 5 p.m.
● Student-Centered Transition—supporting our students through a merger – March 11 – 3:30 p.m., Canajoharie High School
● Cultural Integration—honoring both district communities – March 25 – 5:30 p.m., Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School Library
Mark your calendar: Straw Poll and Binding Vote
Straw Vote (Advisory Referendum): Wednesday, June 4, 2026 This non-binding vote will assess the community’s support for the merger proposal before proceeding to the final vote.
Binding Referendum (Final Vote): Wednesday, July 29, 2026 If the binding merger vote passes, the merged district would officially begin operation for the 2027-2028 school year.
History
The Canajoharie and Fort Plain central school districts conducted a merger study in 2024. Community forums, online surveys, targeted conversations with stakeholders, data collection and more informed the study’s creation and the recommendations made.
The study began in June of 2024 and culminated in January 2025 with a presentation of the findings to the communities. The study was the first required step.
View the final Feasibility Study Report – released Jan. 8, 2025.
Advisory committee meetings were held between August and December 2024. This committee was made up of members of both boards and the general public.
In January 2025, the boards of education jointly decided the process should move forward after reviewing the study.
The measure was rejected with a vote of 318 to 286 in Canajoharie and 206 to 191 in Fort Plain.
The CFP Development Panel was established in June 2024 to consider the study’s recommendations with an eye toward whether the districts should consider pursuing the process. Looming fiscal constraints from the state and federal governments, continued loss of programming and challenges in attracting qualified applicants for employment, coupled with the close vote in both districts in March 2025, guided the decision to reconsider the potential merger.
Feasibility Study update and Advisory Committee application
Greetings FPCSD School Community,
During this past spring, both the Canajoharie and Fort Plain Boards of Education voted to engage in a Feasibility Study to explore a potential merger. We thank Assemblyman Smullen for providing aid to cover part of the cost of the study. In addition, we have applied for a grant to cover the rest of the cost.
The study will begin in June of 2024 and culminate in January of 2025, ending with a presentation of the findings for the communities. The consultant firm conducting the study will be onsite to assess and analyze operations in both districts and to facilitate several stakeholder meetings during the upcoming months for the purpose of gathering information. In addition, community engagement opportunities will be offered through Thought Exchange, a web-based communication system where stakeholders can freely share comments.
A secondary website will be created soon to allow the public to access all of the study related materials. Please look for this link to appear on the top of both school districts’ homepages.
If you wish to be considered to serve on the Feasibility Advisory Committee, please complete the application at the link posted below. Applicants must commit to attend all of the meetings. Meetings will be held on August 21, September 12, October 17, November 14 and December 12 from 3:30-5:30 at either Canajoharie CSD or Fort Plain CSD.
Feasibility Advisory Committee application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfIVgpL3R8asx-e-FzMK5G87xW7RUAozgfHnwmoOAb7qtM6Mg/viewform?usp=sf_link
Once the findings are published, the communities will have to vote on whether or not to move forward with the merger. The first vote will most likely occur near the end of January. If the vote in January shows support, then there will be a second, final referendum vote tentatively scheduled to be held in March of 2025.
During February and March, additional stakeholder meetings will be scheduled to foster more discussions about the advantages and concerns related to merging. If the final vote is approved in March of 2025, the merger action will occur in July of 2026.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions and feel free to share this information with all members of our community.
Community engagement will be highly valued throughout this process.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Take good care,
Mrs. Crisman
Feasibility Study Timeline
Feasibility Study for the Purpose of Centralization.
Proposal for Canajoharie Central School District and Fort Plain Central School District.
Requested Revised Timeline for Standard Tier:
May 2024—Approval of Contract & Coordination of Logistics.
June 2024—Initial Document Review Request & In-take Process; Commence Advisory Committee Recruitment; Deploy Community Engagement Exchange 1.
July 2024—Continue Document Review & Logistical Planning
Advisory Committee Appointed.
August 2024—Initial Site Visit to both Districts – 2 days of tours, meetings, & interviews; Stakeholder Focus Groups; Kick-Off Presentation of Joint Meeting of the Boards of Education; Advisory Committee Meeting 1 – Overview & Kick-Off.
September 2024—Advisory Committee Meeting 2 – Educational Experiences (virtual).
October 2024—Deploy Community Engagement Exchange 2; Advisory Committee Meeting 3 – Organizational Capacity (virtual)
November 2024—Advisory Committee Meeting 4 – Financial Sustainability (virtual).
December 2024—Advisory Committee Meeting 5 – Draft Report; Submit Draft Report to NYSED for Review.
January 2025—Final Report Presentation to Joint Meeting of Boards of Education; Deploy Community Engagement Exchange 3; Advisory Referendum
March 2025—Final Referendum.
July 1, 2026—Anticipated New School District Begins Operation Pending NYSED Confirmation.
*Discussions to-date indicate that with a March 2025 Referendum, a case may be made by the District Superintendent to recommend that the new district begin operation on July 1, 2026.