The Plainedge School District will survey residents on voting day, May 20, to determine if the district should apply for a grant to pursue the subject of a merger with one or more other school districts. The survey is not a proposition on the ballot. It is simply a non-binding paper poll.

The subject arose at a recent meeting on economic issues facing the Bethpage/Plainedge communities, hosted by County Executive Thomas Suozzi. Plainedge's lack of commercial property, continued state aid reductions, and shifts in base proportions, impact more and more on residential homeowners. Suozzi suggested that since Plainedge lacks the ability to increase commercial property, then perhaps the district should explore consolidation.

"What County Executive Suozzi recommended was that we sell the Plainedge school buildings and use that money to help offset the cost of our students going to other districts," explained Deputy Superintendent Jeffrey Burns. "Whoever purchases the property could then use it for industry, manufacturing or housing, putting the properties back on the tax rolls for the county, thereby improving economy of the county."

The actual investigation of merger/consolidation is a very long and complicated process. Before any action could be taken, consolidation would require voter approval by both Plainedge school district residents, and residents of any districts with whom the district would merge. Currently, the Plainedge district has not engaged in any discussions with any neighboring districts regarding the merger, according to Burns.

Plainedge residents are urged to complete the paper survey form when they come to the polls May 20. Voting will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Plainedge High School gymnasium.

If the survey results indicate residents are overwhelmingly opposed to any exploration of consolidation, then the issue will be put to rest. If, however, the survey indicates residents are in favor of consolidation, then the district would apply to the State Education department for funding for a consolidation study.

"Consolidation might benefit some of our taxpayers by reducing some taxes, but we would still have to educate our children," Burns said. "Wherever they went, I'm sure the district would have to hire more teachers, etc., so I'm not sure how much of a tax break it would end up being. The drawbacks of the merger would be that there would no longer be a Plainedge School District."