The Perry School Board will start working on bringing back students 100% on-site for the second semester.

The Board approved a resolution to open the planning process. The Board and administration’s goal is to bring back all students on-site except those who can’t because of medical concerns. The Board hopes to have a plan ironed out in the next month. The Board also approved taking the next step to apply to be a part of the Heart of Iowa Conference for all activities. Now the school can officially apply to join the seven-team conference. Once the application is received, the member schools will have to vote to let Perry in. 

Superintendent Clark Wicks says that if everything goes smoothly, Perry is still a year or two from leaving the Raccoon River Conference, “If we get approved by the Heart of Iowa Conference, then we’ll come back to the Board for that final approval. Then all the work begins if all that happens. Because an immense amount of scheduling changes need to take place, so we may be looking at two years down the road. The chances of it being next year are pretty slim.”

The Board then approved a resolution officially declaring teachers as essential employees that allows them to return following contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier than non-essential staff. Other items approved by the Board include early graduation requests, audit proposals, and the District’s tax exemption certificate. You can hear more about the meeting during Wednesday’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Superintendent Wicks.