The Peru Gazette

Forecasted Scope of 2012-2013 Cost Reductions May Be Roughly $1M

Peru CSD will create and discover ways to respond thoughtfully to the financial challenges ahead, as Peru Central enters its fourth extraordinarily challenging budget development season in a row, according to A. Paul Scott, Interim Superintendent of Schools. “These financial challenges are not of our own doing. However, those challenges are upon us,” he said. “In the 1930’s, American school districts faced similar challenges. American school districts rose to the challenge then, and our school districts will rise to the challenge now,” according to Scott.

In the January 31st edition of the Press-Republican, the newspaper’s editorial stated “The smart schools are already moving to involve district stakeholders – the name given to all the varying groups that have a vested interest in a school community.” The editorial went on to state “Peru Central School, for example, hosted one [community conversation] already and has another [community conversation] planned for Monday, February 13th.” In his editorial of January 14th, Editor Stephen Bartlett of the ‘Burgh and North Countryman wrote “When many school districts have already enacted painful cuts, and costs continue to rise, it will likely be the most difficult budget season yet.”


At this point, early in the budget development process, it appears Peru CSD may need to identify roughly $1M of cost reductions, to take effect July 1st forward. In some certification areas, entire positions will be subject to elimination, such as if Peru CSD requires fewer K-6 class sections next school year. In some other certification areas, the least senior colleague within a particular certification area may be subjected to reduced employment. A few part-time positions might no longer be required.

Some of these reductions are a function of declining enrollment, as much as being a function of cost reduction.

Peru Central continues to be the largest school district on the New York side of Lake Champlain, as measured by student enrollment. Beekmantown Central is the second largest school district, and Plattsburgh City Schools is the third largest school district. Student enrollment at Peru CSD is currently 2006 students, which is 11% smaller than Peru Central’s student enrollment during the 2004-2005 school year.

Prospective areas of consideration for cost reductions will likely include some or all of the following job classifications:

1. Administrative
2. Operations Supervision
3. Transportation
4. Clerical
5. Custodian
6. Various Pupil Personnel Services
7. K-6 Elementary Grades
8. Various K-12 and 7-12 Content Areas
   

Once the Board of Education examines and discusses a preliminary draft list of various possible reductions at its February 7th meeting, the Interim Superintendent will be in a position to begin scheduling employment-related meetings with the district employees who might be impacted by cost reductions July 1st forward. Some of the reduced employment may be via attrition, rather than unemployment.

The Peru School Board will meet February 7th at 6 PM in the community room for the first budget development workshop of this budget season.A packet of materials will be provided to each district resident attending the February 7th budget development workshop, Interim Superintendent Scott said.