The Peru Gazette

Submitted by A. Paul Scott, Superintendent of Schools, Peru CSD
Posted October 10, 2008

Peru Central’s Board of Education is set for the full range of monthly business at its regular meeting, Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 6 PM at the community room, adjacent to the high school’s main entrance. An executive session associated with the performance history of particular employees and a meeting of the school district’s audit committee with the external auditor, pertaining to its work with the external auditor, will take place immediately following the 6 PM start. The school board is slated to reconvene for public session business at approximately 7 PM. It’s anticipated the school board will:

Host the fourth annual reception for exchange students and for the student council;
Hear from the president of the senior class of 2009, associated with the monthly timetable and reporting template for 2008-2009 school year reports from high school student club presidents, regarding extra-curricular high school club activities, budgets, goals and accomplishments;
Receive the first monthly set of programs reports and operations reports from each grade span and each operations department, associated with continuous improvement and governing team oversight of programs and services.
Authorize the Superintendent to enter into agreement with SUNY Plattsburgh for Peru Central to host nurse student internships on campus this school year;
Complete second readings and adopt various policies recommended by the New York State School Boards Association as warranting updates;
Attend to the full range of monthly school district governance and finance matters.

A copy of next Tuesday’s monthly Superintendent’s Report follows. Thank you!

A. Paul Scott, Superintendent of Schools, Peru CSD
518-643-6002

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT OF OCT. 14, 2008

MISSION IS CLEAR AND CERTAIN
As Education Commissioner Richard Mills would say, the mission of Peru CSD is certain for this rural
school community and for this rural school community’s children:
“ Teach all students a continuously updated curriculum, using a variety of practical, proven research-
based methods to actively engage students and meet individual learning styles; and expect the school
community to provide a positive, safe, caring and child-centered environment where teaching and
learning are emphasized and rewarded, and where there is mutual respect. …”
UNCERTAIN NATIONAL & STATEWIDE ECONOMIES
In contrast, national and state economies are in a period of uncertainty. The New York Times reported
that October 8th was the busiest day in New York Stock Exchange history, when panicky investors
dumped stocks en masse: 1,754 stocks fell with just 87 stocks rising. In the course of six trading days, the
Dow plummeted 2,251 points [20.8%]. That’s similar is size to the October 19, 1987 drop of 22%.
The New York State Executive Office Division of the Budget October 3, 2008 economic outlook report
states the financial market terrain now looks very different from the way it did just a few months ago. The
prime brokerage industry has been permanently altered with the wholesale disappearance of two
investment banks, the purchase of two prime brokers by large banks, and the remaining two largest
brokers reorganizing as bank holding companies.
The Rockefeller Institute Fiscal Studies Program October 2008 state-by-state national report on
revenues pinpoints ‘three more shoes to drop’ regarding the economy:
1. States such as New York which rely especially heavily on the financial services industry will be hit
extremely hard, via the taxes they levy on the financial services sector, and through the spillover
effects on other parts of the state economy;
2. Investment income of taxpayers is likely to fall significantly, although it is difficult to predict
precisely how much and when;
3. Growing anticipation of a significant and prolonged recessionary period.
The Institute’s forecast calls for economies in states such as New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut to face extreme difficultly in the wake of the financial services industry meltdown, due to a
higher percent of their state revenues historically coming from the financial services sector. A challenging
period of adjustment for such states is forecasted.
NYSCOSS TESTIMONY CALLS FOR THOUGHTFUL ACTION & STREAMLINING
Testimony from the New York State Council of School Superintendents [NYSCOSS] to the New York
State Property Tax Relief Commission on October 2nd forecasted the turmoil on Wall Street and the
associated national and state economic downturns would make a tax cap on schools potentially
devastating, particularly among the less wealthy communities that depend on state aid for most of their
revenue.
NYSCOSS suggested to the Commission that planning and reporting administrative mandates should be
trimmed. With 130 state-mandated public school district plans and reports each year, and nearly 700
school districts statewide, the state receives 91,000 mandatory school district plans and reports annually,
After studying the matter for years, according to the NYSCOSS, the state has yet to repeal a single report.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT OF OCT. 14, 2008 PAGE 2 OF 2

BRIEFING TONIGHT ON SIX-MONTH UPDATE TO MULTI-YEAR FINANCE PLAN
Tonight’s agenda calls for a public session discussion of an update to the draft Peru CSD multi-year
finance plan. The purpose of such a draft multi-year plan is to afford the governing team a multi-year
vantage point from which to better set overall direction for financial planning. Such multi-year finance
planning is common among progressive school districts with focus on continuous improvement and fact-
based management. In recent years, Peru CSD has strengthened its financial foundation. That foundation
will help Peru CSD and the rural school community we serve respond to the fiscal storm that’s emerging.
FALL 2008 SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM AUDIT TEAMS ANNOUNCED
Fall 2008 curriculum audit teams associated with the social studies program will be comprised of the
individuals listed below. Details regarding timetables, communication channels and roles will be
provided to all members of the social studies department, starting this week. As was the case throughout
the piloting process last school year, the Superintendent of Schools will serve as convener for each and
every curriculum audit team. Faculty member Holley Christiansen, with experience last school year as a
curriculum audit team member, is designated as ‘senior auditor’ and we’ll put her experience to use.
The engagement of these faculty members in our curriculum audits is noted and valued!
Audit Scope Role Individual
Social Studies Grades 7 & 8 Auditor Bruce Beauharnois
Auditor Mark Hamilton
Auditor Peter McCormick

Global Studies 9 & 10 Senior Auditor Holley Christiansen
Auditor Deborah Daly
Auditor Kathy Lawliss
FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY INITIATIVES CONTINUE THIS SCHOOL YEAR
Fiscal accountability updating in recent years has included updating and/or establishing district policy
and protocols for cell phones, competitive bidding, conference/workshop reimbursement, inventory
control, mandatory board member training on fiscal oversight matters, meals & refreshments, Medicaid
reimbursement, multi-year financial planning and purchase orders.
The current set of fiscal accountability initiatives at Peru Central include payroll, cash disbursements,
cash receipts, extra-curricular activity accounting and information technology network controls. Various
aspects of these areas were identified last fall by the internal auditor and administration as ‘next steps’.
I anticipate similar findings and recommendations from the upcoming State Office of the Comptroller
comprehensive fiscal accountability audit of Peru CSD. That would be solid verification that internal
auditing areas of focus for continuous improvement are ‘on point’ and relevant.

Respectfully submitted by A. Paul Scott, Superintendent of Schools