A program associated with the Perry School District is in its 25th year of serving the community.

Perry’s Academic, Cultural, and Enrichment Services, otherwise known as P.A.C.E.S., is a before and after school program that offers a safe environment for students to work on educational assignments. Director Mary Hillman tells Raccoon Valley Radio that P.A.C.E.S. began in 2000 after Perry was given a 21st Century Community Learning Center Federal Grant project in the amount of $1.7 million. 

Hillman explains that she was working at Genesis Development alongside adults with severe disabilities, and was contacted by the Perry School District to create a program that would give students a safe space to go to complete schoolwork, while allowing parents/guardians to be at  their jobs outside of the school day. She illustrates that over the past 25 years, P.A.C.E.S. has served approximately 10,000 students in pre-school through fifth grade. Hillman comments that making connections with the kids and families is her most enjoyable part of the job.

“To me, I have been so blessed to have all these opportunities and a job who I never would’ve thought of, but just those hugs from people, those smiles from kids thanking us. It’s really awesome, it really is.”

Hillman believes that P.A.C.E.S. played a crucial role in 2024 following the school tragedy and the closure of the Tyson Foods Pork Plant in June. She adds that the program is beneficial to working families as it provides a great learning experience for students. Hillman is grateful for the opportunity to ignite P.A.C.E.S. and is looking forward to what the future holds for the program.