Mergers Under Microscope

Local legislators and school officials will discuss school district consolidation on Monday, at a public forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons.

Chris Dyer, superintendent of the Tuckahoe School District, will examine the impact of consolidation on academics and extracurricular activities, while Heather McCallion, Southampton’s school board president, will discuss the financial ramifications. Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. will talk about the state’s role, and Julie Lutz, chief operating officer of the Eastern Suffolk Board of Cooperative Educational Services, will explain the role BOCES would play in a merger.

Judi Roth, chairwoman of the league’s education committee, will moderate the panel. Members of the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions.

“This is an issue that has interest throughout the East End, and particularly on the South Fork,” Mr. Thiele said on Monday. “It’s good to have a public forum out there and get public input on the issue.”

“The bottom line ultimately is, can you improve the quality of education for the students on the South Fork? I would hope that we’re not just looking at money or tax issues, but also whether there are opportunities to improve the quality of education.”

“School Mergers: What You Need to Know” will begin at 7 p.m. at Rogers Memorial Library, 91 Coopers Farm Road in Southampton.