Group seeks revival of Bradford annexation
BY BOB RECOTTA The Leader

CAMPBELL - A petition last spring put a halt, at least temporarily, to the annexation of the Bradford school district by neighboring Campbell-Savona school district.

Now, some Campbell- Savona residents are hoping another petition will put the annexation back on track.

Members of Kids First are collecting signatures requesting state Education Commissioner Richard Mills reverse his decision to place a temporary stay on the annexation.

The plan to join the two rural school districts was approved by voters last November. It was halted after it was discovered Campbell- Savona was in financial trouble.

The group formed months ago to support the passage of the district's 2006-07 school budget.

"We did it in grassroots fashion," said Steve Smith, the spokesperson for Kids First. "We sent some of the members of Kids First out with petitions."

Smith said members of Kids First circulated petitions in Campbell, Savona and Bradford. He said most residents were eager to sign.

"A few people signed it before I got two sentences out," Smith said. "The sentiment in these towns is so strong. Nobody I asked told me no. They were more than delighted to sign."

Not surprisingly, the Kids First members received a warmer reception in Campbell and Savona than they did in Bradford. Still, Smith said there are still Bradford residents who support the annexation despite the financial difficulties Campbell-Savona is experiencing.

"I talked to one guy who said some of the people in Bradford don't get it," Smith said. "He said 'My son was one of the students who transferred from Bradford to Campbell- Savona. He took advantage of the advanced placement courses and went to college with 25 credits for college. He saved me a year's tuition and graduated college early.'"

Smith and the other Kids First members were armed with talking points on why the annexation still benefited both districts. He said the purpose was to be able to answer any questions residents still had.

"There are different sentiments out there," Smith said. "We know people made up minds and there are hard feelings. We're not trying to stir that up and make more hard feelings. I believe the majority of people in all areas want this to go through. People who sent the original petition to Mills make up a vocal minority. What they have to say is important. In a democracy, they should have their say, but the majority was heard in the election."

The petitions were gathered at 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 17 at the Campbell-Savona junior/ senior high school. Smith said either he or G S T B O C E S Superintendent Tony Micha will deliver the petitions to Albany.

Mills made his decision to temporarily stop the annexation in April after Bradford resident Patricia Wolverton sent a petition to Mills requesting the results of the Nov. 17, 2006 vote be nullified.

It was discovered after a majority of voters in both districts approved the annexation the Campbell- Savona school district was more than $1 million in debt because of the 2004-05 budget developed by former Campbell-Savona Superintendent Scott Layton.

Since that time, an audit has revealed Campbell- Savona is more than $3 million in debt. Annexing the schools would have given the newly created district a large infusion of cash, estimated at $25 million over 14 years.

State Education spokesman Jonathan Burman said Monday Mills had not made a decision on the annexation. There is no timetable for a decision.