The Bradford and Campbell-Savona school districts are taking the next step in exploring a potential merger.
In a joint letter to district residents, the Boards of Education for both districts announced they have selected Schmitt Leadership Group, LLC to conduct a comprehensive Reorganization Feasibility Study.
School officials emphasized that the study does not represent a decision to merge. Instead, they described it as a structured, data-driven process designed to help the communities understand what a potential reorganization could mean for students, staff, families and taxpayers.
According to the districts, the study will examine instructional programs, extracurricular and co-curricular offerings, enrollment trends, facilities and transportation, staffing and contracts, finances and tax implications, and the overall reorganization process.
Officials said community engagement will be a central part of the study. Families, staff, students and community members will have opportunities to provide feedback through public forums, focus groups, surveys and ongoing communications.
As part of the process, a joint Board of Education kickoff meeting will be held June 15 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Campbell-Savona Junior/Senior High School in the Large Group Instruction room.
The districts also released a tentative timeline for the study:
- May through June 2026: District, BOCES and New York State Education Department meetings begin and background information is collected.
- May and August 2026: Data collection, documentation reviews, interviews with board members and district leadership, and public forums will be conducted.
- September through October 2026: Additional public forums and student-led building tours are planned.
- December 2026: A draft report will be reviewed by GST BOCES and the State Education Department. NYSED will then review the recommendations and release the study to both communities.
- January 2027: The completed study will be presented to both Boards of Education in a joint session. The boards will then determine next steps, which could include a petition process or a non-binding community straw vote.
District leaders stressed that no decision has been made regarding a merger and that any future action would follow a lengthy, deliberate process intended to provide residents with information needed to make informed decisions.
Officials said both districts remain committed to maintaining strong academic programs, meaningful extracurricular opportunities and supportive school environments while evaluating whether reorganization could benefit students and taxpayers.
