The Dallas County Area Retired School Personnel Association welcomed Mary Hillman, director of the PACES program for Perry Schools, to their May meeting.
She related that the program began with a state grant of $1.7 million to create before-school and after-school programs at the elementary, junior high and high school levels.
The program has since been reduced to just include the elementary and middle school.
The PACES goal is to sustain a learning-center atmosphere where the students do homework, read, practice math skills and investigate science every weeknight.
A snack is also provided with fitness and enrichment activities, ending with free time each day.
The PACES program currently serves some 140 enrolled students from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each school day.
The summer session will run this year from June 6 to Aug. 8. There will be 151 enrolled in the program which also includes a Friday field trip.
The initial grant has long since been used up, and funding for the program now comes from the families involved, based on a sliding fee, as well as from the numerous grant applications that Hillman writes.
Currently, PACES costs $140,000 a year to operate this vital program for the students in Perry.
Following the business meeting, new DCARSPA officers for 2023-2025 were sworn in, with Sue Kimpston to serve as president, Jo Ann Harmelink and Kathy Miner as co-vice presidents, Sue Leslie as secretary and Cindy Jafvert as treasurer.
