A vote is pending on a merger of the Peru school system and SAD 21.
PERU – “It’s the same deal, different year. That’s all,” said Superintendent John Turner of the 2003-04 school year that begins next week for Peru Elementary School.
When students return to the aging facility Tuesday, Aug. 26, they will find a new fire alarm system installed, he said.
Other changes include a couple of new staff members and revised parent/student and staff handbooks and a new intercom system that won’t be fully functional until after school is under way.
Students will be starting school in less than ideal conditions because of a leaking roof. Attempts were made over the summer to stop the leaks, but they failed, Turner said.
Because of the leaks some classrooms contain buckets to catch the water.
“We’ve been fixing leaks in our roof for quite some time by getting tar and putting it on the roof. But now there are bubbles all through the roofing tar.
At Tuesday night’s School Committee meeting, directors authorized Turner to spend up to $11,000 to either replace the roof or get the blister bubbles scraped off and new decking, roofing material and flashing installed.
Turner noted Peru’s cheerleaders attended a summer cheering camp and won the daily spirit award and another specialized jump honor.
“They also raised $2,050 on their own in fund-raising activities and Wal-Mart donated $600 in matching funds from the car wash,” he added.
The students raised the money with a car wash, bottle drives and sales of cookie dough.
One continuing situation for the school department is the proposal to merge with neighboring SAD 21. Both school systems are awaiting a response from the state education commissioner before sending the proposal to a referendum. Pending a yes vote from a majority of Peru residents and the same vote from SAD 21 residents of Canton, Carthage and Dixfield, the merger would take place in the 2004-05 school year.
“The deadline for major capital improvement projects has been extended until June 2004. This is good for us if the merger should take place,” Turner added.
tkarkos@sunjournal.com
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