Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School District District Reorganization and Litigation Records

Arranged by type of record, then chronological.

The Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School District was established by order of the Commissioner of Education in 1993. Reorganization or combination of the predecessor central school districts, Richmondville and Cobleskill, had been discussed since the 1960s. During the 1980s and early 1990s several detailed studies were conducted by administrators and committees of the two districts, assisted by consultants and by staff of the State Education Department. The studies analyzed current and projected district finances, tax bases, enrollments, curricula, facilities, and staffing, each study recommending combination of the two districts.

The records in this series include correspondence, memorandums, reports, tables, district maps, newspaper clippings, and other documents, mostly relating to the studies and the process of reorganization. An advisory referendum on district reorganization held in spring 1993 produced a majority of votes favoring reorganization. Numerous residents of the Richmondville Central School District appealed the results of that referendum to the Commissioner of Education, pursuant to Education Law sect. 310. The petition to the Commissioner sought an order vacating the referendum, alleging voting and other irregularities. The Commissioner dismissed the appeal. The series includes copies of the petition, the Commissioner's decision, and related documents. Also in the series are documents relating to a lawsuit by district residents against the Cobleskill Central School District, alleging illegalities in its contract with a private school management firm. That lawsuit was brought in early 1993 at the height of the reorganization controversy.

Microfilm is available for onsite use at the New York State Archives.

Microfilm: 5 rolls; 16 mm. Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund Grant Project Microfilm.

Series B0474 School District Centralization and Reorganization Files contains records relating to the proposed reorganization of the Cobleskill and Richmondville school districts.

This microfilm was produced by a Local Government Records Management Improvement Fund grant awarded and administered the New York State Archives for the 2001 grant cycle.

A small quantity of documents in this series is exempt from disclosure, in whole or in part, under New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). Restricted materials include privileged attorney-client communications, attorney work product, material prepared for litigation, certain other inter- and intra-agency materials, and social security account numbers.