Perry School Board 4-9

The Perry School District will soon embark on a new venture aimed at helping students who may be having a hard time in normal classroom settings.

The administrators of each of Perry’s schools have been working together to come up with the idea of a “Success Room” for the District. Superintendent Clark Wicks says it would be an alternative learning environment for at risk students, in lieu of suspending the students from school. “The purpose is going to be just a little different look, a little pivot of attitude, providing opportunities for success for kids. Because everybody counts, and everybody needs success, everybody needs to have that confidence. And once a person has a purpose, has confidence, they’re able to do many, many things. And they’re going to be able to interact with others much better. So we want each kid to be successful, and this is an opportunity, a little different angle, to do that.”

The administrators outlined their plan for the “Success Room” for the School Board, including the costs associated with it. They said there will be a few one-time charges to get the facility started, and after that it will cost the District between $35,000 and $40,000 a year. However, they say those costs will be made up quickly through their savings in not having to regularly send students to Woodward Academy. The building they’ve earmarked as a possible location is a nearby facility that used to house Snap Fitness.

The School Board agreed to pursue the administrators’ proposal, and the “Success Room” should be implemented in the next school year.