Not too long ago, Perry’s Academic, Cultural, and Enrichment Services (PACES) program wrapped up its summer schedule, and now Director Mary Hillman is ready to get students registered for the school year.

To that end, parents can get their kids signed up for the after school program at tonight’s Back to School Night at Perry Elementary from 5-6:30 p.m. PACES has filled up quickly over the years, so Hillman advises people to get there early before all the spots are taken. “I want to emphasize, to be fair to everyone, we come in first-come, first served. We do give priority to families that have been with us, and we try our best to work everyone in. But we do have state requirements and licensing, so once we reach that maximum — not only total of 140, but each room is licensed based on the size of the room — of what we can have. And most of the rooms are 23 students that we can have, so that really limits our grade levels.”

Hillman adds, the cost for PACES has increased by $10 this year. That means for families on the free and reduced lunch program it will cost $50 and $60 per week, respectively, for one child, and for everyone else it’s $70 a week. There’s an additional charge for families sending multiple kids, but it’s not double the price. Hillman emphasizes, in spite of the price increase the program is still a good value for people, plus it will help PACES stay afloat. To learn more, listen to today’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program on air and at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.