NORTH COLLINS, N.Y. — Nine school districts in Erie County have seen their enrollment drop by at least 11 percent in the past decade. Four schools have seen a decline of more than 20 percent. 

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz on Monday pointed to those examples as evidence that districts across the county need to consider consolidating as a way to pool resource and reduce waste. 

“I think they’re open here, because with the declining student enrollment population, the declining population in most of these municipalities, that the issue is going to have to be addressed sooner or later,” Poloncarz said.

He suggests that every district with less than 2,000 students should review consolidation on a regular basis.

He also is advocating for a change of the New York State Election Law to make it easier for consolidation to happen if a majority of residents in the districts support the change.

On top of money saved by multiple distracts sharing one superintendent and other administrative staff, Poloncarz pointed to financial incentives offered by the state, including a 40 percent increase in aid for the first five years of consolidation. Additional aid would decrease over the following 10 years. 

North Collins Board Member Shannon Locking says while she appreciates the proposal, she says it’s important to emphasize that many districts are already engaging in cost saving measures.

“We’ve already been working with Lakeshore, we work with Springville, we work with Eden, we work with neighboring communities to do those cost-saving measures,” Locking said.

Poloncarz will give the same presentation two more times:

Wednesday May 16: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM  

Newstead Public Library, 33 Main Street, Akron

Tuesday May 29: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM    

Julia Boyer Reinstein Library, 1030 Losson Road, Cheektowaga