CANAJOHARIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Canajoharie Central School District and Fort Plain Central School District have released an update about their potential merge. In a joint statement released on Sunday, the two school districts announced that they are continuing to pursue the move.
Canajoharie and Fort Plain officials first started exploring the possibility of a merger in 2024, citing the districts’ close proximity to one another, existing partnerships and a desire for improved educational programs. In June 2024, an advisory committee formed by the districts’ boards of education launched a study into the feasibility of a potential merge.
In a straw vote in March 2025, parents and residents in both districts rejected the plan. Voters reported worries about increased class sizes, changed bus routes and other logistics.
Now, according to the joint statement, the Canajoharie and Fort Plain school districts are once again looking to merge after the New York State Education Department informed them that their recent merger study is still in effect. The districts also said that fiscal restraints, programming loss, employment challenges and last spring’s “close vote” also influenced the decision.
“We understand that this is a significant decision for our districts, and we are committed to ensuring that families, staff and community members are well-informed every step of the way,” the districts said in their joint statement.
As part of next steps, Canajoharie and Fort Plain plan to hold another straw poll vote in each community. Fort Plain Central School District told NEWS10 that they are currently working to set a date for the vote, with more information expected to be released in mid- to late-October.
“This non-binding vote will give residents the opportunity to express their opinion on whether the merger should proceed to a binding public referendum,” the school districts said.
The two districts encourage voters to ask questions and participate in upcoming meetings and conversations.
For more news on school districts, make sure to check out the Classroom Progress Report category under the NEWS tab on the NEWS10 website.
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