Mathews school board to discuss sharing services with Lakeview

The board has no plans for consolidation, but will explore sharing some services with Lakeview.

BY JORDAN COHEN

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

VIENNA — Roy Pratt III, vice president of Mathews Board of Education wants to make it clear that a proposal to discuss “shared services” with Lakeview School District later this month is not the first step on the road to consolidating the two districts.

“It’s not consolidation,” Pratt said in response to comments made by Sandra Webber, president of Mathews Education Association, the teachers union. “We want to see if shared services can lead to savings. We have to investigate every opportunity to save money.”

Pratt said he felt the board had made “a misstep by not communicating about our intent. Lee Seiple, school superintendent, confirmed “we did have phone calls” from residents worried that shared services could lead to a consolidation.

Webber voiced another concern about shared services. “We want to see where this board is heading,” she said, adding that her association questions whether Lakeview instructors may wind up teaching in the Mathews district.

“There is no intent to provide teaching services here or there,” Pratt replied.

The two boards of education have scheduled a public meeting Wednesday at Lakeview Media Center in Cortland.

“We want everyone to know what we’re doing,” Seiple said.

Also at Wednesday night’s board meeting, the board:

UVoted to cancel freshmen basketball and football for the 2009-2010 school year because of declining interest and enrollment. Both sports had been previously canceled for the current school year, and freshmen who want to play have been moved to junior varsity teams. Athletic Director Bob Rozycki reported that interest in sports participation has remained steady despite the reduced number of students. Seiple said the district’s enrollment is 900.

UVoted unanimously to reject a proposed agreement negotiated by Seiple with Interstate Gas Supply for natural gas services at $9.99 per MCF for 46 months. Seiple was instructed to contact the supplier and negotiate a lower rate for a lesser time period.