NYS has encouraged districts of around 5000 students for years.  This seems
to provide a fairly good balance between small, local schools, where you know
the principal by name, and the ability to provide a quality education, with a
variety of staff.  The cash aid varies from time to time.  When Cobleskill &
Richmondville merged 5 years ago, the State also threw in 95% of any new
building costs.
Ed Hillenbrand

The Constitution gives every American the inalienable right to make a damn
fool of himself. John Ciardi