The Peru Gazette

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the ANNUAL MEETING of the inhabitants of the Peru Central School District, Peru, New York, qualified to vote at school meetings in the district will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in the High School Community Room, from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m. for the transaction of such business as is authorized by Education Law.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that the ANNUAL BUDGET HEARING of the qualified voters of the Peru Central School District, Peru, New York, will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 7 p.m., in the High School Community Room.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that the ANNUAL MEETING shall include the following three (3) propositions:

Budget Proposition No. 1

Shall the Board of Education of Peru Central School District be authorized to expend a sum not to exceed (an amount to be determined) for the 2025‐2026 school year, and to levy the necessary tax therefor?

Bus Proposition No. 2

Shall the Board of Education of the Peru Central School District be authorized to purchase and, at the option of the Board, finance up to three (3) standard 65-passenger school buses, including related and ancillary equipment, for a total aggregate maximum cost of $626,738.68, and to raise the necessary funds therefor by a tax upon the taxable property of said District to be levied and collected in annual installments in the years and in the amounts as the Board of Education shall determine, with such tax to be partially offset by State aid available therefor and, in anticipation of such tax, by either the issuance of debt obligations of the said School District or by a lease/purchase financing for such school buses, in either case in an amount not to exceed such estimated aggregate cost?

Library Proposition No. 3

Shall the Board of Education of the Peru Central School District be authorized to levy taxes in the amount of $20,000.00, separate and apart from the annual school district budget, for the support and maintenance of the Peru Free Library, which said appropriation shall be the annual appropriation until changed by further vote of the District voters? The Library requests a tax levy limit which exceeds the Library’s statutory tax levy increase limit of 2% for this fiscal year, which has been approved by at least sixty percent (60%) of the Trustees of the Peru Free Library.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that a copy of the statement of expenditures which will be required in the ensuing year for school purposes, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any taxpayer in the District during the fourteen days immediately preceding the ANNUAL MEETING and on the day of this meeting, except Saturday, Sunday or a School Holiday, at any District schoolhouse, during the designated hours of 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education must be filed in the district clerk’s office no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 21^st day of April 2025.    There are currently two (2) vacant seats on the Board of Education, due to the expiration of the terms of Ms. Sarah Graves and Mr. Steven Peters.  The seats are at-large for a full three-year term from July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028.  The petition is available in the District Office at 17 School Street on Mondays through Fridays, except school holidays, or via the web at http://www.perucsd.org.  Each petition must be directed to the School District Clerk, signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District, and state the name, residence, and phone number of the candidate.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that applications for absentee and early mail ballots will be available from the District Clerk, except on Saturdays, Sundays, School Holidays, and April 28^th and May 2^nd (school closed), or via the web at www.perucsd.org.  Applications are obtainable from the District Clerk between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., except on April 22 – 25, 2025, when they will be available between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no later than 3:30 p.m. on May 13, 2025, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter.  Completed absentee and early mail ballots must be received in the office of the District Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.  A listing of all persons to whom absentee ballots or early mail ballots were issued will be available for inspection by any qualified voter of the District at the Office of the District Clerk during regular office hours (between 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.), from May 15, 2025 through May 19, 2025 (Saturday by appointment).  Such listing will also be posted at the polling place on the day of the vote.  Any qualified voter present in the polling place may object to voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds for making his/her challenge and the reason thereof known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that members of the military, who are qualified voters of the District, may apply for a military ballot by contacting the District Clerk via email at sprovost@perucsd.org; or by phone at (518) 643-6002 or in-person at 17 School Street, Peru, NY, between the hours of 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM, except on Saturdays, Sundays, School Holidays, and April 28^th and May 2^nd (school closed).  The phone and in-person contact hours for April 22 – 25, 2025 shall be between 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Military voters must return their completed military ballot application to the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025.  A military voter may designate a preference to receive a military ballot application and/or ballot by USPS mail, facsimile transmission, or electronic mail.  If a military voter does not designate a preference, the District shall transmit the military ballot application or military ballot by mail.  If a military voter designates a preference for facsimile transmission or electronic mail but does not provide the necessary facsimile number or e-mail address, the District shall transmit the military ballot application or military ballot by mail.  Irrespective of the preferred method of transmission designated by a military voter, a military voter’s original military ballot application and military ballot must be returned by mail or in person.  No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is received in the office of the District Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2025.  A listing of all persons to whom military ballots were issued will be available for inspection by any qualified voter of the District at the Office of the District Clerk during regular office hours (between 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.), from May 15, 2025 through May 19, 2025 (Saturday by appointment).  Such listing will also be posted at the polling place on the day of the vote.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that the qualified voters of the School District shall be entitled to vote at said annual budget vote and school board election.  A qualified voter is one who is (1) a citizen of the United States of America, (2) eighteen years of age or older, and (3) a resident within the School District for a period of thirty (30) days next preceding the annual vote and election.  The School District may require all persons offering to vote at the budget vote and election to provide one form of proof of residency pursuant to Education Law §2018-c.  Such forms must include a driver’s license, a non-driver identification card, a utility bill, or a voter registration card.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that voting on the budget and for two members of the Board of Education will take place on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., in the COMMUNITY ROOM of the HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING of the Peru Central School District.  Voting will be via machine.

By:  Peru CSD Board of Education

        Sherri Provost, District Clerk