March 14, 2025 is a day many of us will never forget. It is also a day that our community is still working to get past.
The city of Perryville continues our tornado recovery, and the community should soon see a replacement roof for the Park Center’s Pool. The demolition of one of our maintenance buildings and several ballfields are getting new lights to replace those that were damaged and the poles that are still leaning.
The last major recovery hurdle for the community to work through from that night’s tornado doesn’t involve the city or the county, but our most precious resource, the children of our community.
Dr. Jones and the school board have done the heavy lifting and presented a viable plan, one which will provide a brand new high school, replacing the one that is currently being torn down after it was condemned as unsafe.
Thanks to insurance coverage and federal funding through FEMA, the community will only have to pay for an estimated 60 percent of the total cost of the new school, but this “offer” is time stamped and includes a non-negotiable deadline of 48 months.
We admit there were many unknowns the community pointed out during April’s election, but the newly pledged funding has allowed the district to dial back the levy and try again on August 4,
A thriving community requires a thriving school and your vote on August 4 is about our community’s opportunity to raise the bar and do something special for our kids and teachers.
Larry Riney
Mayor of Perryville
Mike Sauer
Perry County Presiding Commissioner
