BROCTON - Two companies have stepped forward to lead a new round of consolidation talks between Westfield Academy and Central School and Brocton Central School.
A committee of board members from both districts and each district's superintendent met last month with David O'Rourke, Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES district superintendent to study the responses to a request for proposal for a group to study and report on the feasibility of a merger between the two districts. The study must be done before there is any attempt to consolidate the districts.
Brocton was represented by board members Michael Riforgiato, Susan Hardy and David Hazelton and its superintendent John Hertlein. Jeff Greabell, board president, board member Francine Brown and David Davison, district superintendent, represented Westfield.
O'Rourke said that there were two responses to the request for proposals - one by Western New York Educational Service Council and the other by Costallo & Silky, Educational Consultants. O'Rourke said the districts could re-bid the proposal, but the group decided to interview both bidders. Interviews were held Aug. 2 in the Westfield Academy and Central School library.
The group compared and discussed the proposals and also discussed what they would want from a consulting firm.
After listening to comments and questions, O'Rourke summarized that clarification of price in each proposal and the ability of the consultants to interact with the community were items to focus on in the interviews.
Hertlein and Davison had worked together to develop a set of key questions to use in the selection of a consulting firm. Copies of the two proposals will go to all board members of each district for study. Board members in each district may send additional concerns to their respective superintendents.