The Peru Gazette

By John T. Ryan

A few days ago A. Paul Scott announced that he will retire as Peru Central School Superintendent in June. Peru School Board President Roderick Driscoll spoke about Scott in a Press Republican interview saying, “He’s done a fantastic job…Some superintendents are all vision, and some are all details, and he has both…He will be a tough act to follow.” This reporter conducted an interview covering a wide-range of topics with Mr. Scott including the challenges he’ll face in the next six months and some of the changes he’d like made in how New York State regulates its educational institutions.

Scott said the school board, administration and staff will be focusing on three major issues in the coming months: formulating a 2011-2012 budget; responding to new state regulations relating to the annual evaluation of teachers and principals; and preparing for an impending primary school construction project. Scott said Peru Central has always placed student achievement, student conduct and student safety as its top priorities. The economy and the state’s financial crisis have elevated multi-year planning, management of resources and simply maintaining existing programs and services to the #2 priority.

Fifty-one percent of this year’s Peru Central $43 million income is derived from New York State aid, thirty-four percent from local taxes, twelve percent from fund balances and three percent from fees and miscellaneous revenues. New York State’s financial crisis will undoubtedly impact local schools. Scott said that the school board has routinely built a margin into its budgets to cover unforeseen contingencies. He said, “I believe those margins will be narrowing. It’s going to be complex. We will strive to control costs and keep any increases at a minimum.” Budgeting may also be complicated by the fact that Peru’s teachers are currently working without a contract and negotiations are ongoing.

Implementation of the new state mandated teacher and principal evaluation requirements will consume Scott’s time. Scott, known for a collegial management style, said, “Many people on campus are going to be part of that conversation.” The $12.6 million dollar construction project at the primary school was approved by voter referendum in March 2008. The project includes infrastructure improvements to such things as floors and ceilings, window systems, doors, lighting systems and safety features. Scott will be working on project design and development details this winter and spring. Construction will take place over the next two summers.

Peru Central’s enrollment is holding relatively steady. There are 2,079 students enrolled this year compared to just over 2,100 last year. Scott calculates that enrollment will decline a little more next year before leveling off in 2012. He is hopeful that the proposed Laurentian Aerospace development on the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base will bring more families into the district. Peru Central School is the largest school district in Clinton County with almost almost 2,100 students, a staff of 200 teachers, 140 support personnel, plus administrators and part-time personnel.

Asked what would help him most in his job Scott immediately pointed to a reduction in New York State mandates. He said, “We need a rollback in some of the requirements that drive annual cost increases.” Even though the state has had a budget crisis for several years, the mandates keep coming and they usually don’t have state funding. Scott said, “Stop making more legislative mandates for school districts. Don’t do any more harm.”

Scott gave specific examples of state mandates that should be altered or eliminated:

• Unfunded Special Education mandates that are above and beyond federal mandates.
• New York State requires the Peru Central staff to collect data for over 150 annual reports. Scott said, “There could be a more efficient way to collect the data rather than collect it each year.”
• Some mandates begin with no prior warning mid-way in a school year. Scott said, “If a mandate must be enacted, start it in the next school year, not immediately.”
• Enable regional collective bargaining. Currently every local school district devotes a tremendous amount of time to collective bargaining.
• Reform the Wicks law which mandates that school districts must have at least four contractors for capital projects. Districts can’t hire one general contractor who then hires his or her own sub contractors. Scott says, “This law was originally intended for New York City and New York City is no longer subject to it. It adds considerably to costs.”
• Conduct audits detailing the cost of state mandates. The state audits public schools annually. The audits should include the cost of mandates.
• Give school districts the same reserve fund budget flexibility as that enjoyed by towns and municipalities. Scott believes that schools could be administered much more effectively if school boards were not so restricted on how they can allocate reserve fund monies.

While A. Paul Scott is retiring from the Peru Central School system he says his family has told him they don’t want to see him relax at home for too long. Undoubtedly his abilities and his accomplishments at Peru Central School will lead to more challenges and leadership positions for this experienced and respected leader.