The Peru Gazette

By Adele Douglas

At the Regular Board of Education meeting last week the big news was the projected balanced budget for 2014.  In his report on the budget School Business Administrator Randy Sapp was “cautiously optimistic” about the future and the ability of the District to handle the budget gaps in the coming years. He  was also encouraged that the State Government seems to want to increase funding to Education.  According to Sapp, after a balanced budget in 2014, expenses will exceed revenue for each of the coming three years but at a manageable level, and could be off-set by the use of the Fund Balance.

The model for future budgets assumes that State Aid will increase by 4% per year and that there will be a 1.6% tax cap for next year, rising to 2% after that.  Expenses are expected to increase by 4% per year.  This is based on stable staffing levels, an increase of 6% for benefits and 4% for all other expenses.

Actions by the Board included their approval of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the District and the CSEA, effective July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2016.  Board Chair Donna LaRocque thanked those involved.

The Board adopted the Policy Public Use of School Facilities, which would require that any revenue generated by outside groups using the school facilities be used for charitable purposes only.  The Board asked the Superintendent to work out a fee schedule and that offering Continuing Ed/Adult Ed classes be explored.

Under New Business the Board discussed NYS Assembly Bill #565 which would provide school tax exemptions to veterans. LaRocque explained that if adopted by the Board this would be a loss of revenue of over $400,000 to Peru CSD.

During the second comment period three parents spoke against aspects of the newly adopted Nutrition, Physical Activity and Wellness Policy.  The common theme was that parents should be allowed to make decisions on what foods to send into school to share (current policy limits this to packaged foods clearly labeled or single ingredient foods from home) and that they should have been involved in the development of the policy and would like to have input now.