Courtesy of the Perry Iowa Community Page

As the one-year mark of the horrific events that occurred at Perry High School closes in, there are necessary adjustments being made for the community.

According to Superintendent Clark Wicks, the school district’s recovery committee is working on support mechanisms to help students and staff members with the healing process. He notes that Mandy Ross heads up the committee that consists of approximately 25 people within the school district, the City of Perry, Perry Police Department, and the ministerial association. Wicks comments on how well the students have been utilizing the current resources available to them.

“I think that they’re doing very well. They realize that there is support out there, number one. Number two, that it’s okay to get support, and through our schedule, they’re able to have better access to it and I think overall (that) people are doing their very best to recover at their pace. And I think the school realizes that, and I think that they’ve been doing a tremendous job of healing.”

Wicks says that students are taking advantage of the mental health therapists, counselors, and the support dogs. He assures the community that the school district is working closely with city officials to observe the one-year mark, while also being sensitive to it.