ROCKLAND — After nearly three years of studies, meetings, votes and petitions, the communities of the Livingston Manor and Roscoe Central school districts elected to merge via centralization on Thursday, December 19.

The vote was first presented in 2022 and failed in both communities, but a significant increase to incentive aid brought the potential merger back to the forefront of voters’ minds in September of this year.

This time around, the boards elected to gather signatures for a petition in both communities to gauge interest in a merger vote, with both petitions reaching the number needed to present a vote to the taxpayers.

In Livingston Manor, the vote passed with 351 in favor and 227 opposed, while the numbers were 283 yes and 106 no in Roscoe. Despite centralizing the two districts, the new one will still be the smallest in Sullivan County.

John Evans, who serves as Superintendent of both the Livingston Manor and Roscoe Central School Districts,  said, “I appreciate our residents’ support of the measure, which will benefit our students and the communities.”

Evans was one of the many shared services prior to the potential merger was first studied in 2021. “I want to thank all of the people who contributed to making this happen.”

Alongside the vote to merge, there were additional questions on the ballot regarding the new school board. Voters decided on a seven-member school board with staggered three-year terms.

An optional exit survey was also passed out to voters along with their ballot to gauge interest on the important issues for voters, which included a priority list for the incentive aid.

The election of the new Board of Education is expected to take place in February, and those interested must gather enough signatures. More details on the petition process will be available at a later date, as well as a finalized date for the board election.

A new operating budget for the 2025-26 school year will be presented to voters on May 20.

According to the news release, the new district will begin operation on July 1, 2025. Building reconfiguration will not happen immediately, but the extra funding through incentive aid will begin at that time.

There will also be a restructuring committee comprised of board members, administrators, faculty, staff parents and students formed to recommend the best grade configurations and building makeup for the new district, with implementation gradually taking place over the 2025-26 school year and beyond.