Almost everyone. The organizations and experts linked below all urge communities to proceed with caution when considering merging schools.

To anyone not well versed in educational research, the school districts’ Merger Feasibility Study or the more recent Merger Information Sheet, present the idea that a school merger is a reasonable and even obvious choice for Canajoharie and Fort Plain. This website exists to make sure there is adequate information available to counteract the disgracefully one-sided information being pushed by the school districts. The merger truth is that there are over one-hundred educational research reports that question the wisdom of merging schools. You will find a growing sampling of them listed here .

In addition to that research, and under the influence of its wisdom, many educational organizations similarly question the efficacy of merging schools. Just as in the posts on this website, these organizations present evidence that disproves the rosy claims featured in the school districts’ information. There is scant evidence to support claims that there are advantages to be gained in financial stability, student opportunities or student achievement. And there is near unanimity in finding that school mergers damage communities. Here is a short list of some of the organizations that urge caution when approaching a proposed school merger.

• The Rural Schools Association. “There is a fine line between sharing your strengths and receiving help with your needs-and diminishing the tremendous role our rural schools play in the life of their communities.” (2025 Legislative Priorities)
• The National Rural Educational Association. “The merger/consolidation research shows: There are no documented cases of financial savings from merger/consolidation.  Merger/consolidation has had a negative impact on student achievement.  The potential for adverse economic impact on smaller communities that lose facilities exists.” (How to Destroy Public Education…)
• The Connecticut School Finance Project, “There is evidence school consolidation can negatively impact student outcomes, as measured by standardized assessments, student attendance, graduation rates, and labor market outcomes.” (Review of the Research on District Consolidation)
• The New York State School Boards Association. “Studies show that decreasing the size of school districts has a positive effect on graduation rates and smaller schools/districts are more likely to produce better results for students from low-income families and narrow the achievement gap.” (School District Consolidation Issue Brief)
• The Fordham Institute. “Though proponents promise lower costs and stronger student performance, in practice neither seems to occur. Worse, over the long haul, consolidation sucks power away from parents, students, and local influence.” (Consolidation is a Bad Idea)
• The Ontario Ministry of Education. “There now appears to be clear recognition of the connection between the presence of a school and both student and community wellbeing.” (Exploring the Link Between Rural Schools, Community Vitality, and Wellbeing)
• The Vermont Legislative Research Service. “The case studies from Maine, Texas, New York, and Nebraska each provide data on the effects of (school) closures with different ranges of focus… These impacts include a decrease in property values, business activity, and civic participation.” (Legislative Brief on School Consolidation)
• Vermont Rural Schools Community Alliance. “In communities where schools are closed, research points to depopulation, declining home values, eroding social capital, and problems with attracting and retaining families with children.” (Legislative Testimony, April 8, 2025)
• Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 (Pennsylvania). “A review of the literature reveals: • Claims about financial benefits of consolidation are unsubstantiated by contemporary research about cost savings • Though larger schools may offer more courses and co-curricular activities, claims about academic benefits of consolidation are unsubstantiated by contemporary research on consolidation (i.e., research on actual consolidations finds little or no positive impact on student performance); on the contrary, related research on school and district size consistently finds that making schools or districts larger (as consolidation does) compounds challenges for economically disadvantaged students, students of color, and students with special learning needs.” (Considering Consequences of District Consolidation)
• South Dakota State University Extension. “It was just like they took the heart out of our town when they did that. People no longer have a regular place to go.” (Closing Schools, What’s Next?)
• AASA The School Superintendents Association. “Overall, the net impact of consolidation on education costs per pupil is not clear a priori. Some factors indicate consolidation is likely to tap into economies of size and thereby lower these costs, but other factors suggest consolidation might actually cause costs per pupil to rise.” (School District Consolidation Benefits and Costs)