The Peru Gazette

By Adele Douglas

The well-attended November 12, 2013 Board of Education meeting had a full agenda. These are the highlights of the evening.

Renaming the reorganized Peru Central School was decided. Grades K to 6 will be called Peru Elementary School and grades 7 to 12 will be called Peru Junior/Senior High School as selected via the survey the school conducted last year.

Genie Denton took the School Board Member Oath of Office. She replaces Jon Ruff, who recently moved out of the district and therefore had to resign. The Board selected Genie from several interested individuals. Her term ends May 21, 2014.

Jacquelin Hall was present as the Board recognized her husband David for his 30 years of public service as a school board member, 15 of those years on the Peru School Board. Hall passed away on October 18^th, 2013.

Board members observed student learning when costumed fourth grade students told the Board about their field trip to the 1812 Homestead in Willsboro and first grade students honored military veterans with a very moving presentation.

During the public comment period two issues were raised related to new policies the Board is considering. Michele LaPoint asked that the Zumba classes be allowed back into the school.  She spoke of the value of these classes to individuals and the community. After much discussion it was determined that since no new policy was yet in place the old policy that allowed the Zumba classes to use the Crackerbox gym was still in effect.  The Board will continue to discuss the new “Public Use of School Facilities” policy.

Michelle Bechard spoke about the proposed policy that would prohibit homemade treats from being sent in for special events, thus ending the tradition of sending in homemade cupcakes for birthday parties in the Elementary School.  While she understood that the State is concerned about food safety, she pointed out a number of reasons that this policy was a bad idea including the cost to parents of having to buy cupcakes. She asked the Board to reconsider the policy. Later in the meeting the Board discussed the issue and seemed to agree with Ms. Bechard’s concerns.

The Board also authorized the creation of three additional bus runs at an estimated cost of $10,500. The buses will be for those secondary students who stay for tenth period.  To date they’ve been riding home with the elementary students.  Separate buses will avoid a wide mix of ages on the buses as well as make sure the buses that bring older students back from CVTEC, CVPH and Seton Central don’t keep the elementary school buses waiting.

The Board authorized the Business Administrator to fund extra-curricular activities for the 2013-2014 school year. Overnight accommodations for clubs and activities will be funded at the discretion of the District.  Funded travel will continue to include sports at state level competitions and will be extended to include Model UN and high-level music and math competitions.