The leader of a service that is apart of the Perry School District shows her appreciation for the organizations that have stood by over the last two decades.

Perry’s Academic, Cultural, and Enrichment Services, or P.A.C.E.S., is a before and after school program that is meant to provide a safe learning environment for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. According to P.A.C.E.S. Director Mary Hillman, the service is celebrating 25 years of being operational as she names some of organizations like the Perry Public Library, the Perry Parks and Recreation Department, the Dallas County Conservation Board, Perry Police Department, Perry Volunteer Fire Department, and the Dallas County Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for being great partnerships. Hillman believes that these organizations have a lasting impact on the kids.

“Our students have really benefited from all of those opportunities as well. It’s because of great staff, and families really being supportive, and the community being supportive. It just takes that whole village.”

Hillman reveals that early on when she began P.A.C.E.S. in 2000, she knew that the only way the service was going to thrive would be through great partnerships. She adds that thanks to a literacy grant project, P.A.C.E.S. is currently working with Iowa Public Television, who will help students with skills in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. The program is open Monday through Friday from 6am to 6pm at Perry Elementary School.