The Peru Gazette

By Adele Douglas

The Peru Central School Budget Workshop #7 was held Tuesday evening. It was clear that neither the Board of Education nor those in attendance were happy with budget cuts, but declining revenues made them necessary.  The Board unanimously passed a  motion to make the cost reductions.

Grade 6 will be going back to the Intermediate School where it was 10 years ago. This move from the Middle School is expected to save $200,000.  Three full time teachers in grades K-6 (one teacher each in grades 1, 3 and 6) and one full time teacher in grades 7-12 will lose their jobs.  In addition, ten teachers, K-12, will have their full time teaching positions reduced.  The loss and reductions of these instructional positions will save $473,738.  What was unclear at last night’s workshop was which teachers and subjects will be affected.  Even the principals believed that some affected teachers might not be expecting it.  There was much discussion about how to present the news at the least disruptive time for those affected.

The other two largest single cuts are for just under $100,000 each: two fewer bus drivers and runs and a reduction in overall special education program costs.

And in the coming years balancing the budget is not going to get any easier.  The projected gap between revenue and expenses increases over the next three years in the model presented by Business Manager Randy Sap.  Board President Rod Driscoll voiced concern that upcoming unfunded state mandates, some requiring expensive new textbooks for all students, have yet to be accounted for in the budget model.  Vice President Donna LaRoque said that in the 12 years that she’s been on the Board, the decisions have never been so difficult to make and the future has never been so bleak.

Teachers in attendance were visibly upset with the cuts to their grades and programs. They were frustrated that the Board had not discussed their comments and suggestions prior to voting to make the cuts.