The Perry School Board announced Thursday that it will meet in special session Friday, Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. on the second floor of the Towncraft building at 1122 Willis Ave.
Agenda items include a provisional schedule for resuming classes in the school district following the Jan. 4 gun rampage at the high school that killed three and injured six.
Under the proposed scheme, Perry Elementary School students will return to school next Wednesday, Jan. 24, and Perry Middle School students will return next Thursday, Jan. 25. Perry High School students will return one week later, on Wednesday, Jan. 31.
Elementary students will be dismissed at 2 p.m. daily and middle school and high school students at 1:45 p.m. daily until further notice.
Open houses for parents and students will precede the returns, with the Perry Elementary School open house on Tuesday, Jan. 23 from 4-6 p.m. at the school and the Perry Middle School open house on Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 4-6 p.m. at the school. Onsite counseling services will be available both nights.
The open house for parents and students of Perry High School will be held Tuesday, Jan. 30 from 4-6 p.m., pending approval of building for re-entry. Counseling services will be available.
According to the district’s announcement, the board “will share more information regarding our school reopening plans” after the meeting. The Thursday announcement also addressed parental questions:
“We recognize parents, staff and students have questions regarding safety and security measures for our return to school,” the announcement said. “We are mindful of the concerns and are taking them very seriously. Likewise, we are seeking out the expertise of law enforcement and the advice of other safety experts. The district is also awaiting DCI’s conclusion of its pending investigation. We appreciate your patience as we put in the time and thought necessary to carefully study this issue.”
At the Friday meeting, the board will also considering approving contracts for four temporary administrators who will assist the administrators at the district’s three school buildings. One contract will be for the part-time engagement of Tom Lipovac, for many years the activities director at PHS and now an academic advisor at the DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy.
The three full-time administrators proposed for the temporary tasks are all seasoned veterans in education:
- Dr. Mandy Ross, with more than 40 years of teaching and administrative experience
- Randy Martin, with more than 40 years of teaching and administrative experience
- Scott Grimes, with more than 30 years of teaching and administrative experience
The board will also enter a closed session in order to discuss confidential district records.
The school board last met Monday, Jan. 15 in the wake of the death of longtime Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger.
