As the final weeks approach before voters go to the polls April 7 to decide the fate of a multi-million-dollar school bond issue, members of the Perry County School District 32 Board of Education received an update on ongoing storm recovery and construction planning during their March 11 meeting at the Career Center.
The update was presented by Steve Telscher of Sapp Design Architects of St. Louis, along with additional commentary from Superintendent Dr. Fara Jones, outlining progress on multiple projects tied to the district’s long-term facilities plan.
District officials reported that coordination with FEMA is ongoing as recovery efforts continue following last year’s storm damage. Several projects are advancing through the design phase, including work on a new high school facility and improvements to existing buildings.
Plans are moving forward on a pre-engineered building shell, with officials indicating it could be ready soon to begin initial work. Additional design documents for other facility improvements are expected to be completed in April, with projects to be bid shortly afterward.
A phased construction approach is planned, with early demolition work targeted for mid-April but scheduled to begin after the school year ends to minimize disruption to students and staff. Full construction documents are expected to be finalized by mid-June before transitioning into broader construction phases.
Board members later took action on a key component of that process, approving Brockmiller Construction as the district’s construction manager at risk (CMAR) for upcoming projects.
District officials said both firms considered were qualified, but Brockmiller’s proposal offered a more favorable cost structure, including lower fees and reduced general conditions expenses.
The meeting, led by Board President Dominic Blythe and Jones, also included recognition of student achievements across the district.
Among those honored were Perryville High School students who qualified for the State Music Festival after earning exemplary ratings at the district level. Students recognized included individual performers and multiple ensembles representing a variety of musical disciplines.
The PHS Student Council was also recognized for earning designation as a Special Olympics Missouri Unified Champion School, reflecting efforts to promote inclusion through unified sports and leadership opportunities.
In athletics, Lady Pirates basketball player Abigail Amberger was honored for surpassing 1,000 career points, joining an elite group of players in program history to reach the milestone.
March being School Board Recognition Month, board members were also recognized for their service and leadership.
Following recognitions, the board approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from recent meetings, policy updates and February financial warrants.
In other business, the board approved an amendment to the 2026-27 school calendar. Due to state regulations requiring districts to begin no earlier than 14 days prior to Labor Day, the first day of school was adjusted, with the school year now set to end May 26.
The board also approved a partnership with Ranken Technical College to serve as an internship site for students in its HVAC program. The initiative will provide hands-on experience for students while helping the district address ongoing maintenance staffing needs.
During the superintendent’s report, Jones provided updates on staffing, attendance and district finances. Several coaching and support positions remain open, while recent illness has impacted attendance in recent weeks. However, overall attendance rates remain within acceptable levels for the year.
Financial reports presented to the board included revenue and expenditure summaries across local, state and federal sources, along with comparisons to previous years.
During closed session, the board approved several personnel items, including multiple resignations, retirements and hires.
Resignations included Peggy Anders, high school assistant cheerleading coach; Justin Dreyer, middle school girls basketball coach; Tyson Brown, high school assistant cross country coach; Samuel Camarillo, middle school football coach; Abigale Harris, high school head cheerleading coach; Lacey Amschler, middle school volleyball coach; and Kacie Daigger, teacher for the 2026-27 school year.
The board also approved the retirement of Melissa Thieret, paraprofessional teacher aide, effective June 30.
New hires approved included Paige Schaefer, Allie Rinderer and Andrea Tanner as teachers for the 2026-27 school year, along with Danielle Weekley as food services staff and Nickie Barnicle as evening custodian for the 2025-26 school year.
Special Note: The Perry County School District 32 Board of Education meeting for April has been moved to Wednesday, April 15. The April meeting was originally scheduled for April 8, but the date has been moved to allow time to reset the board after the April 7 election results have been certified. Newly-elected board members will be sworn in during the April 15 meeting.
The April meeting and subsequent board meetings will be held in District 32’s new temporary Central Office location on the lower level of the Perryville Primary Center. Public access to the Central Office is at the rear of the building between the playgrounds. Parking is available next to Pirate Stadium or on the extended gravel lot next to the Career Center.
