Deposit, Hancock School Boards Respond After Merger Study Ends

DEPOSIT, N.Y. — The proposed merger study involving the Deposit and Hancock central school districts has ended after the Hancock Board of Education declined to move forward with a community straw vote.

The Hancock board said in a statement that a motion made at its Aug. 11 meeting to reconsider its Aug. 6 decision regarding a straw vote resulted in a 2-2 tie and did not pass. Because the motion to reconsider failed, the board said the original motion was not reopened for discussion or another vote.

“As a result, Hancock will not move forward with a straw vote, and the merger study process will not advance at this time,” Hancock Superintendent Lori A. Asquith said in a statement to the school community.

The proposed straw vote would not have approved or rejected a merger. The Deposit Central School District Board of Education said it was intended to give residents of both districts an opportunity to weigh in on the potential merger before any final decisions were considered.

Deposit officials expressed disappointment that the communities will not have that opportunity.

“The purpose of the vote before both boards was not to approve or reject a merger,” the Deposit Board said. “Rather, it was to allow the residents of both school districts to participate in a non-binding straw vote to gauge community interest before any final decisions would be considered.”

The two districts began conversations about a possible merger in March 2025. The study examined potential educational and fiscal opportunities associated with consolidating the districts.

According to Asquith, the study provided information about enrollment, staffing, educational programming, transportation, finances and the long-term needs of the Hancock district.

The communities participated in meetings, surveys and reviews of information during the yearlong process. The final merger study report was presented June 9.

At an Aug. 6 joint meeting, the Deposit Board voted unanimously to move forward with setting a date for a straw vote. The Hancock board also considered a motion to proceed, but it failed to pass.

The Hancock board’s Aug. 11 vote was an attempt to reconsider that Aug. 6 decision, according to Asquith’s statement. The 2-2 tie meant the motion failed.

The Deposit board said taxpayers, parents, staff and residents of both districts deserved the opportunity to review the work completed during the feasibility study and have their voices heard through a community vote.

Deposit Superintendent Denise Cook said in a letter to her district’s community that, after reviewing the study, she believed a merger was feasible and had the potential to create new opportunities for students and the community while providing residents with greater security and stability regarding taxes.

“As the superintendent, I understand that the prospect of creating a new school district is a bit scary and involves a lot of work, risk, and uncertainty,” Deposit Superintendent Cook said.

The Deposit board said the district will now refocus on the challenges facing rural school districts, including declining student enrollment, increasing operating costs and financial pressures. It said it will consider existing shared-service arrangements, cooperative agreements, consolidation, shared services and other cost-saving partnerships with neighboring districts.

Hancock officials said the end of the merger process does not end the district’s work to address its future.

“While this particular process has come to an end, our work for students has not,” Asquith said.

She said the challenges and opportunities identified through the study remain important and that the information gathered will help Hancock plan for the future.

The district said it will continue looking for ways to expand opportunities for students, strengthen programs and work collaboratively with neighboring districts and regional partners.

“Most importantly, our students remain at the center of every decision we make,” Asquith said.

Both districts thanked the school board members, staff, families and community members who participated in the merger study.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated on August 13 with a statement from Hancock Superintendent Lori A. Asquith.

Image: Deposit Central School District Campus. (Deposit Central School District)