Monday’s meeting of the Perry School Board consisted largely of the directors receiving the latest news on several projects, along with the setting of PACES summer wages and the spending of an additional $22,000 on the Capturing Kids Hearts II program.[wpedon id=”82220″ align=”center”]
The board had approved spending $45,000 on implementing Capturing Kids Hearts II at their May meeting. The program is designed to educate teachers and staff on how to make students feel more comfortable in an academic environment, with the goal of increasing their ability to learn and also fostering pride and a sense of ownership in their school and class.
The first part of the new outreach will consist of two-day in-service training in August for both high school and middle school faculty. Follow-ups with smaller groups, visits to each campus and meetings with all administrators affected will form the second part of the program.
It was these additional actions that were approved Monday, at a cost of $11,000 each for Perry High and Middle Schools. Financing will come from the Teacher Quality Categorical Funding.
Mike Murphy of Larson Engineering updated the board on the current state of the Dewey Field Renovation Project. The concession/rest room/storage building is currently being constructed, with the pouring of cement for the plaza and the installation of new north side bleachers and press box construction soon to follow.
Murphy assured the directors the project was “well within our schedule.” Phase one is to be completed in time for the Aug. 24 home football opener, which will pit Perry against Greene County in the 87th playing of the Cowbell Game.
Superintendent Clark Wicks told the board that donations, including a recent gift of $25,000 from Tyson Fresh Meats, increased the total raised to $213,000 of a stated goal of $250,000, although the optimal goal remains $300,000.
Wicks noted the annual Perry School Board Retreat would be held in the Brady Library June 26 from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. He said he would be sharing an article, “Selling Realtors on Your School,” and the issue would be discussed during the retreat.
Recent advances with the Success Room were also noted. Wicks said teachers Brie Hayes and Jake Enderton were being trained for duties there and that an associate position would also likely be assigned.
Partitions were being installed and many other smaller details addressed, Wicks said. He noted it was still to be determined how to handle lunches at the Success Room, and “lots of little things” still need to be worked out.
Director of Teaching and Learning Kevin Vidergar made a presentation of the findings of the Iowa Assessment Report, which rates the effectiveness of schools.
He noted Perry’s steady rate of improvement in the different areas measuring student progress as they advance through the system.
The board approved renewing a $7,000 annual contract with 21st Century Rehab for Sports Medicine Services for the upcoming school year, with several directors praising Dr. Clint Lutterman and 21st Century for their professionalism and devotion to Perry schools.
A transfer of $9,687.18 from the general fund to the student activity fund was also approved. The money will be used to purchase protective and safety equipment for students, the chief expense being football helmets. Other examples would be catching gear for baseball and softball, batting helmets and similar safety items.
Summer wages for PACES staff were set, and a student teaching agreement with Drake University was approved, as was the district’s consent to participate in the School Administrators of Iowa mentoring and induction program even though Perry does not currently have an administrator in need of those services.
A second reading of a new policy on animals on district property was also approved after brief remarks from Wicks and Board Vice President Linda Andorf, who urged the policy, if approved, be strongly enforced.
“It just doesn’t make any sense to put in a policy like this if we are not going to enforce it,” Andorf said.
The new directive would limit animals on school property to those needed for educational purposes and those who might be service or therapy animals, in which case a licensed trainer or handler would need to be present.
A 28E agreement between the district and St. Patrick’s School and the Perry Area Child Development Center for preschools was approved for the upcoming school year.
Several minor changes to board policies and personnel matters were also addressed.
The Perry Community School Board meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Brady Library at Perry High School. The public is welcome to attend.
