The Perry County 32 School District’s board of education covered a full agenda during its regular monthly meeting held Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the Perryville Area Career and Technology Center — including the swearing in of a new board member, discussion of major facility plans, and several policy approvals.
The meeting opened with the induction of Terry Wichern, who was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former board member Melissa Carroll, who relocated outside the district.
Wichern, a 1975 graduate of Perryville High School, brings local roots and nearly five decades of professional experience in the John Deere dealership network, where he advanced from mechanic to manager and owner before retiring in 2023. He said serving on the board feels like “coming full circle,” given that his career began through the high school’s career and technical education program.
“Like anybody who puts themselves forward for something like this, you want to improve the district for the students,” Wichern said. “You want them to have a better life when they get out of school — to make it the best district it can be.”
Wichern will serve until the April 2026 election, when voters will choose a candidate to complete Carroll’s unexpired term, which ends in April 2027.
FACILITY PLANS
Steve Telscher of SAPP Design presented the board with a detailed proposal for finishing a lower-level space in the Perryville Primary Center to temporarily house the district’s central office staff, who were moved to a rented space by storm-related building damage.
The proposed renovation, estimated at $690,000, would convert existing storage space into administrative offices that could later be transformed into Early Childhood Center classrooms once permanent offices are relocated back to campus. The plan is designed to maximize FEMA and insurance funding, with roughly 70 to 80 percent of costs potentially reimbursed, depending on eligibility.
It was explained that the work would proceed with long-term flexibility in mind, using permanent systems like HVAC, plumbing, and sprinklers that will later serve the Early Childhood program.
Superintendent Dr. Fara Jones said the district’s goal is to complete the project within 12 to 13 weeks, ensuring a seamless move from the leased administrative site. “This is a smart, cost-efficient step that brings our leadership team back to campus while positioning us for future growth,” she said.
The SAPP Design team of Telscher and architect Justin Roth also updated the board on the developing high school renovation plan, known as Option B, which blends selective demolition with major interior remodeling to modernize Perryville High School’s learning spaces. The concept, estimated between $55 million and $60 million, envisions a performing arts center, renovated commons, and improved safety and accessibility. Funding discussions are ongoing as the district weighs possible bond or certificate of participation (COP) options for a potential 2026 ballot measure.
Board member Glendon Sattler asked several questions about cost estimates, FEMA reimbursement, and whether temporary facilities would qualify for funding. Dr. Jones noted that those details are still under review but assured the board that “every dollar spent now is being planned with long-term benefit in mind.”
POLICY, PROGRAM UPDATES
In other business, the board approved program evaluations for Early Childhood Programs and Parents as Teachers, both presented by Director of Special Services Stacey Seabaugh, who also received approval to continue the district’s Seal of Biliteracy program honoring students fluent in more than one language.
Chief Academic Officer Jane Narrow presented proposed artificial intelligence guidelines to help teachers and students use emerging tools responsibly. The framework categorizes AI use into “green,” “yellow,” and “red” zones — encouraging research-based uses, cautioning against overreliance, and prohibiting unethical or unsafe applications.
Narrow emphasized that the district’s approach is about guidance, not prohibition. “We want our students and staff to understand how to use these tools effectively and safely,” she said.
The board also approved reinstating weighted grade point averages for dual credit and dual enrollment courses at Perryville High School, a change recommended by Principal Shadrick Shafer. The adjustment, which costs the district nothing, aligns District 32 with neighboring schools and helps students compete for scholarships that consider GPA weighting.
“This brings us back in line with what most of our regional peers are doing,” Shafer said. “It’s a way to reward rigor and reflect the hard work our students put into college-level courses.”
At the conclusion of open session, Board President Dominic Blythe commended staff for navigating a year of continued recovery and adaptation following tornado damage and facility changes. “It’s been a year of problem-solving and persistence,” he said. “We’re proud of how our team keeps moving forward for our students.”
OTHER ACTIONS
Board members also approved the district’s local compliance plan, bus and emergency routes, and a new pay structure for bus drivers who take on a second regular route during the same day.
During closed session, the board accepted the retirements of Chief Academic Officer Jane Narrow and bus drivers Letticia Ranta and Nicholas Ackermann, as well as approved new hires including Sara Whittaker as a paraprofessional student aide and April Thompson as an administrative assistant.
