After hearing reports from several teachers on the recent conferences they had attended — and being updated from several of their own members on a recent event they had participated in — the Perry Community School District Board of Education turned to several seemingly routine, but important, matters.
Numerous board policies were revised, as were a series of Iowa Association of School Boards policy primer amendments.
The board also passed a resolution noting their support of the “Promise of Iowa” campaign. Initiated by the IASB, the goal of the “Promise” push is to draw additional attention to the future of public education in Iowa and to generate increased public support and leverage for investments in Iowa’s public schools.
Transportation Director Tony Griffith submitted specifications for a new school bus, which would be paid for by Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) funding. He noted the specifications presented were nearly identical to those he has issued for several years, and that he would appear at the January meeting of the board for approval of the purchase.
Director Andorf asked Griffith about seat belts in the current fleet of buses.
Griffith said seat belts are not required by the state of Iowa and that equipping buses with the safety restraints would cost approximately $5,000 per bus. He noted the new bus being sought would transport 77 students and would replace a bus currently seating 65.
Two of the buses in Perry’s current fleet are handicap accessible, two carry 71 or 72 riders and the remaining 10-12 buses can each carry 77. With a new purchase and the retiring of a 65-passenger bus just one bus in the fleet would remain with capacity of 65.
The board was informed of the need for a long-term substitute Special Education instructor at Perry Elementary. The district had acted just last spring to reduce the staff due to declining numbers, but will now realign staff next fall to address the issue.
Also approved was the merger of three scholarships into one, which will be awarded in May of 2017. The Jack Whiton Scholarship has $375.86 on account, the Clyde Kirkman Scholarship $29.20 and the Phyllis Biellfeldt Memorial Scholarship $20. All three accounts had been dormant for several years; the sum of $425.06 will be presented to a PHS senior this spring.
Early graduation requests were approved for Chandler Carrick, Rose DeLateur, Rodrigo Herrera, Travis James, Tony Le, Jose Ortiz, Bryan Quezada, Gina Rivera and Tyler Zuber.
Early retirements were approved for Kaye Adair (fifth grade teacher), Damon Adair (high school English/Social Studies teacher), David Loyd (elementary custodian), Lara Painter (payroll specialist), Catherine Petersen (media specialist), Jim Richmond (high school math) and Carolyn Sheehy (high school administrative specialist). Also accepted were the resignations of Kristine Finn and Linda Huntington as high school cheerleading sponsors (shared) for football and basketball.
The Perry School Board welcomes visitors to their monthly meetings. The board meets in the Brady Library at the Perry High School the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m.
