On Thursday, Dec. 19, voters in the Livingston Manor and Roscoe Central School districts approved a proposal to merge the districts via centralization.

Voters approved the merger by a vote of 351-227 in Livingston Manor and 283-106 in Roscoe.

Also on the ballot were two questions on the composition and terms of the new district’s board of education. Voters determined the board would be seven members with terms of three years. Terms will be staggered.

Nineteen people interested in serving on the new board gather enough signatures on a nominating petition, which were due Jan. 23, to be placed on the ballot for the new Board of Education, with the election of board members to take place in Feb. 20. The election was originally scheduled for Feb. 13 but was postponed because of inclement weather.

There were 759 ballots cast. Earning seats on the board were:

• James Buck, Ed Gorr and Tasse Niforatos who will serve through June 30, 2028

• Roy Rogers and Gary Dahlman who will serve through June 30, 2027, and

• Nicole Park and Chris Tuleweit who will serve through June 30, 2026

The organizational meeting of the new board was held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at Livingston Manor. Local tax exemptions that would have sunset with the dissolution of the districts, were approved by the board, including adding the Veterans Exemption for Roscoe residents. Those who wish to apply must contact their local assessor by March 1. Here are the minutes from the meeting.

The meeting was originally scheduled for Feb. 18 but was postponed because of the delayed BOE election.

On March 5, the BOE approved Roscoe as the elementary building and Livingston Manor as the middle and high school building.

On March 18, the BOE approved the official name as Rockland Central School District.

The new board will determine critical aspects of the new district, including name, school colors, mascot, contracts, staffing and more and will craft the district’s 2025-26 operating budget, which will go before voters on May 20.

The new district will begin operation July 1, 2025.

The board will meet the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the old gym at Livingston Manor and the cafeteria at Roscoe, as follows, unless otherwise noted:

• Feb. 25: Organizational meeting

• March 5 at 5:30 p.m.: (Livingston Manor) Regular Meeting and Budget Workshop

• March 18: (Roscoe) Regular Meeting and Budget Discussion

• March 27: Special meeting, 6 p.m., Livingston Manor old gym

• April 1: (Livingston Manor) Regular Meeting and Budget Discussion

• April 9 (Wednesday): (Roscoe) Budget discussion

• April 22: (Roscoe) Regular Meeting and Adoption of LMR Budget; SCBOCES Vote/Election

• May 6: (Roscoe) Public Hearing on Budget

• May 20: Budget Vote and (noon to 8 p.m.), Livingston Manor Central School gymnasium, 19 School St. and Roscoe Central School gymnasium, 6 Academy St., Roscoe.

• June 3: (Livingston Manor) Regular Meeting

• June 17: (Roscoe) Regular Meeting

• July 1: (Livingston Manor) Reorganization Meeting

The agendas and minutes from the meeting can be found on the Board of Education website.

• March 6: District Name/School Mascot/Colors Committee, 6:30 p.m., Livingston Manor auditorium.

• March 11: Policy committee, 4 p.m., Livingston Manor Conference room

• Voters approve merger of Livingston Manor and Roscoe Districts

• Town Hall meeting on school board to be held Jan. 9

• Town hall meeting to be livestreamed; questions welcomed

• Meeting offers information on new district board

• Recording of Jan. 9 meeting

• Ballot set for LM-R Central School District BOE election

• LM-R BOE candidate information nights planned

• Candidate bios

• Recording of Feb. 5 candidate night

• Recording of Feb. 6 candidate night

• Public hearing on local tax exemptions set

• Weather delays LM-R BOE election

• LM-R voters elect first Board of Education

• The LM-R Board of Education organizational meeting agenda (including details on the tax exemptions.

• LM-R BOE OKs local tax exemptions

• LM-R BOE organizes, takes first actions

• Feb. 25 organizational meeting minutes

• LM-R seeks input on future district identity

• Board sets Roscoe building as elementary school, LM as middle/high school

• Board approves Rockland Central School District as official name

• For information about the how the districts got to a merger, click here.