The Peru Gazette

Northern New York – Applying the strength in numbers approach, four Cornell Cooperative Extension associations in Northern New York are soliciting interest in two new regional agriculture specialist positions. One position will work with dairy farmers, the other with crop growers in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and St. Lawrence counties. Read more »

The Free Press reports

The Free Press reports

The Post Star reports

LoHud.com reports

Brian Mann of NCPR comments

Brian Mann of NCPR comments

The adirondack almanac reports

The Press Republican reports

April 16, 2011 is the United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc Day of Caring. It is a day-long event in which over 300 community members have volunteered to undertake over 30 projects in the three County region. The regional event will occur in Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties, from Ticonderoga to Malone and Plattsburgh to Tupper Lake and all points in between. The projects range in cleaning senior’s houses, inside and out, to building homes for 2 Habitat for Humanity projects, helping the Plattsburgh Recreation Department with the ½ marathon, food drives, painting & cleaning inside The Strand and many more. “It’s a celebration of volunteerism, and our being able to advance the mission of the United Way” said John C. Bernardi, Executive Director of the United Way of the Adirondack Region. Read more »

The Press Republican reports

The Post Standard reports

WASHINGTON – Congressman Bill Owens announced today that he will hold a community forum on Wednesday, April 20th on the campus of Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh. Owens will deliver brief opening remarks about job creation and economic development and then answer direct questions from constituents in attendance. Read more »

The Peru Central School Board of Education will soon choose a new district leader to succeed Superintendent A. Paul Scott. The list of candidates has been narrowed to two men with the Board of Education expected to make a decision within the next few weeks. On Thursday, April 14^th the Board conducted an Open Forum during which district residents were given the opportunity to ask the candidates questions and rate the candidates based on criteria including: background, vision for the district, effectiveness as a public speaker, professional manner and appearance and likelihood of success.

Dr. Thomas Stapleford

Dr. Thomas Stapleford was the first candidate to present. Stapleford grew up in Clinton, New York. He is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Education at Temple University’s Harrisburg, Pa. campus.

Educational Preparation:

Penn State University, Philosophy B.A. 1985

University of St. Andrews, Scotland, Postgraduate Study Year (1985-86)

Brown University, Education/History (M.A.T. – 1987)

Columbia University, Educational Administration (Ed.D. – 1993)

Former Positions:

July 2003 – January 2007 – Superintendent of Schools in the Tuscarora, Pa. School District

2001 – 2003 – Deputy Director of the School Administrators Association of New York State

June 1999 – August 2001 – Superintendent of Schools in the Germantown, NY Central School District

Mr. Stephen Broadwell

Mr. Stephen Broadwell was the second speaker. He attended Peru Central School from kindergarten through twelfth grade. From 2005 to present, he has been the Superintendent of Schools in the Willsboro Central School District.

Educational Preparation:

SUNY Cortland Physical Education (B.S. – 1984)

SUNY Oneonta, Reading (M.S. – 1989)

Former Positions:

High School Principal, Peru CSD 1999-2005) (2000 – Acting Superintendent of Schools)

Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, Beekmantown CSD (1993-1999)

District Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, Susquehanna Valley CSD, NY (1990-1993)

Each candidate was asked to respond to the following statements and then to answer questions from the audience.

#1 Please review your education and experience and describe for the audience how these will contribute to your being an outstanding Superintendent in the Peru Central School District.

#2 Please review your preliminary vision for the Peru Central School District and outline steps you would take to accomplish this vision.

Dr. Thomas Stapleford’s response (approximately 52 minutes):

http://d1091839.domain.com/PeruTown/DM100019.mp3

Mr. Stephen Broadwell’s response (approximately 52 minutes):

http://d1091839.domain.com/PeruTown/DM100020.mp3

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

The Watertown Daily Times reports

From the office of A. Paul Scott, Superintendent of Schools


Peru Central School District’s Board of Education has established a $41,586,451 proposed expenditures plan for voter consideration noon until 9 PM, Tuesday, May 17, 2011 in the district’s high school gymnasium. The proposed budget calls for a decrease in spending of 1.81%. That translates into a reduction of $764,662, compared to the current year’s budget.

Based on the state budget plan enacted by the Governor and Legislature, the school board estimates a 2.9% increase of the school district’s total property tax levy for 2011-2012.

Based on a forecasted reduction in state aid July 1st forward, $1.15M in cost reductions were enacted during budget development. Cost reductions for July 1st forward are distributed across all support operations, instructional program and central office areas.

The scope of cost reductions for July 1st includes fifteen [15] full-time positions and four part-time positions. In addition, several full-time positions will be reduced to part-time positions.

Some of these job reductions will be through retirement of long-serving district employees.

The Post Standard reports

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reports

The Press Republican reports

As part of the process to recruit a successor Superintendent of Schools at Peru Central, the Board of Education is hosting ‘open forums’ on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 7 PM in the community room, near the high school main entrance. If additional space is required beyond the seating capacity of the community room, the auditorium will be used, instead. These ‘open forums’ are intended to provide opportunity for the school community to meet with and ask questions of two Superintendent candidates who have been invited by the Board to share their educational preparation, professional experience and preliminary vision for the Peru Central School District.  Peru CSD community members are welcome and encouraged to attend the forums, and, through a moderator, submit specific questions for candidates to answer that night.  The ‘open forums’ will also feature confidential feedback sheets, thereby providing an opportunity for those who attend to offer feedback to the Board of Education, regarding those candidates.  The evening schedule for April 14th features a 7 PM forum with the first of the two candidates, followed by an 8 PM forum with the second candidate.

Featured will be Mr. Stephen Broadwell, Superintendent of Schools at Willsboro CSD. He is certified as a NYS school district administrator & superintendent, reading teacher and physical education teacher. His past employment includes High School Principal at Peru CSD and Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics at Beekmantown CSD.

Also featured will be Dr. Thomas Stapleford, Clinical Assistant Professor  and Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Education at Temple University in Harrisburg, PA. He is certified as a school district administrator & superintendent in NYS and as a Superintendent in Pennsylvania. His past employment includes Superintendent of Schools at Tuscarora School District in Pennsylvania and Superintendent of Schools at Germantown CSD.

Peru Community Church’s Seder meal is open to all!

Thursday, April 21^st, 2011 – 5:30 pm Seder Meal

Fellowship Center on Elm St.

The Seder meal is a Jewish tradition that is a historical, vivid, and beautiful expression of God’s action for his people. It is one part of the present-day Jewish seven-day Passover celebration.

To recall the great deliverance of Israel at the time of Moses, the elements of the traditional Seder meal symbolize historically significant features of the Israelite experience. Both the event of God’s deliverance and the directions God gave Moses for later commemoration of the Passover history are represented in the Seder ritual and meal.

Christians are particularly interested in this ritual meal because it was during a Passover celebration that Jesus instituted Holy Communion.

There will be a Maundy Thursday Service in the Chapel following the Seder meal, or come for the church service only, beginning at 7:00 pm.

(Please call 643-8641 to reserve seats for the Seder Meal)

AGENDA, ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS, Wednesday, April 20th, 2011, 7:00 p.m. Peru Town Hall

1. CALL meeting to order.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

3. ROLL CALL.

4. APPROVAL of March Minutes.

5. OPEN floor to Public Hearing.

6. APPLICATION: ST.AUGUSTINE’S/ST.PATRICK’S CHURCH – Expansion/Change of Nonconforming Use

Patent Rd.

7. ANY FURTHER BUSINESS.

8. CODE OFFICE REPORT.

9. ADJOURNMENT.

Thera-Pets at Butternut Ridge Farm in Peru will be offering 2 free programs for grieving children. This
will be under the direction of The Rev. Dr. Ken Parker of Peru who has had extensive experience and education in this area. The program will meet divided by age. One group for ages 4 to 12 and the other from 12 to 18.

For further information and to sign up please contact Betty Corrow, program coordinator at 643-0524. Day of week still to be determined. Rev. Dr. Parker will be using the well known “Dougie Model” for this free event & will it meet 2 times a month thru June.