Proposition K.I.D.S., a ballot measure aimed at funding rebuilding and improvements following the March 2025 tornado, was defeated in the April 7 general election.
According to unofficial results, the measure received 2,098 “yes” votes (44.6 percent) and 2,599 “no” votes (55.4 percent), falling short of the threshold required for approval.
The proposal, formally titled Kids Investing in District Success, sought a tax increase to support reconstruction and upgrades at Perryville High School and other district facilities damaged or impacted by the tornado. District officials had emphasized that the measure was designed to address long-term facility needs while improving safety, efficiency and learning environments for students.
In the weeks leading up to the election, Perry County School District 32 conducted an extensive public information effort to explain the proposal and its intended impact. That effort included community forums, presentations, informational materials and outreach from district leaders outlining the scope of storm damage, ongoing challenges with temporary learning spaces and the proposed path forward. Superintendent Dr. Fara Jones and other administrators spoke publicly about the need for a permanent solution, citing both safety concerns and the limitations of current arrangements.
Following the election, Jones issued a statement addressing the outcome and outlining the district’s next steps.
“First and foremost, I want to thank every member of the Perryville community who went to the polls yesterday. We value the democratic process and appreciate the engagement of our residents as we navigate the future of our campus together.
"While we are disappointed that Proposition K.I.D.S. did not receive the necessary support to pass, our mission remains unchanged. The challenges facing Perryville High School following the March 2025 tornado are still present, and our priority remains the safety and education of our students. We have spent the last year showing our resilience in temporary learning spaces, and while we had hoped for a different outcome, our commitment to finding a permanent facility solution is as strong as ever.
"In the coming weeks, district leadership will reflect, listen, and start to envision a path forward that meets both our students’ needs and our taxpayers’ expectations. Our newly elected Board of Education will meet for the first time next Wednesday to begin discussing our next steps toward a permanent solution. I want to congratulate our newly elected board members, Dan Querry, Caleb Streiler, Nancy Voelker, and Terry Wichern. I look forward to their leadership as we work together to rebuild and strengthen District 32.”
District officials have indicated that conversations about future options will begin soon, as leaders evaluate next steps for addressing facility needs in the wake of the measure’s defeat.
