I was at open house at Canton Central School recently and saw the presentation on the school merger. I am not impressed. The community needs to look at the big picture. Yes they show a savings; but statistics can be manipulated. The presentation stated both communities will save on taxes. Canton would save about 40 cents per thousand while Potsdam saves over $3 per thousand. Where is the equality? Why does Potsdam get the high school? Canton businesses think about it…if a parent needs to get their child after school or a sports practice in Potsdam, where do you think they are going to grab dinner, groceries or get their kid services? Potsdam. What about people who drive their kids to school? Do you think it is economical to make them travel to Potsdam? What about the school board? They will not take a certain number from each community. We could have a new school board made up of just Potsdam citizens. This merger was supposed to bring two communities together but is spreading them further apart and at the same time sticking it to the Canton economy. Cuomo has $35 million to give to us if we merge. If that money is there, he can divide it between the two schools. What we need to do is get rid of the aid formula that gives more money to profiting schools and takes it away from struggling schools.