Perry students return to school on Friday. Here's what's new for the 2024-25 school year:

Students in Perry are heading back to school on Friday.

Here's what's new in the Perry Community School District as the 2024-25 school year gets underway, according to Superintendent Clark Wicks.

When is the first day of school in Perry?

Students in grades 1-12 will kick off the school year on Friday. Half of the kindergarten/transitional kindergarten classes will start on Monday with the other half on Tuesday. The first day for all K/TK classes will be Wednesday.

Are there any new building projects at Perry Schools this year?

Those walking into Perry Elementary School will notice new landscaping and new graphics on the front entrance doors.

The high school building features updates to the basketball court for the new Dan Marburger Court . Wicks said a dedication ceremony for the new court will be held later. The restrooms have also been updated and new lunch tables will be added toward the beginning of September.

At the middle school building, the concession stand will be updated.

Who are the new principal or other administrative hires?

The Perry school district will have several administrators in new roles, including:

Laura Skeel, Elementary Principal — Skeel previously served as director of learning supports for nine years within the Perry district. She also served as special education director in the Marshall Community Unit School District in Marshall, Illinois.

Brad Snowgren, High School Principal — Snowgren previously served as the associate principal of Perry High School for over six years. He began his career in education as a high school physical education and health teacher in the Fairfield CSD.

Andrew McCormick, High School Associate Principal — McCormick has spent 20 years in education and this will be his first year as an associate principal.

Tina Lutterman, Activities Director — Lutterman previously coached the Perry High School softball team since 2010 and held multiple positions within the Perry district, including most recently in the family and consumer science department.

Are there any new security updates or initiatives in Perry this year?

This school year will be a recovery year, Wicks said, following the Jan. 4 shooting at Perry High School.

The Perry district will have two School Resource Officers this year. One SRO will be at Perry Elementary while the other will be in the Perry Middle/High School building.

The door hardware has been updated in the buildings and a protective film has been placed in the middle and high school windows.

Jena Blize has been hired as the Perry district’s mental health coordinator as part of the district’s recovery plan. Blize served Perry Schools through her previous role at Heartland Area Education Agency. The district will also see additional school-based mental health providers hired this year. The mental health coordinator and additional mental health provider roles are funded by a federal recovery grant.

The district will also have two therapy dogs, trained by Perry staff members Angie Beaudet and Codi Allen.

“We’re looking at serving staff and students, just trying to make a great effort to make sure that people are getting the support that they need,” Wicks said. “Ultimately, it’s all about student success, that’s what our focus is.”

What are administrators looking forward to about the new school year?

"I'm excited for everybody to come back," said Perry Elementary Principal Laura Skeel. "We have new landscaping out front and those kinds of things just brighten it up a little bit, have everyone come back and have a fresh outlook on things."

"The exciting part of the new school year is obviously welcoming back staff and students, getting a new batch of sixth graders in and kicking off their middle school years on a positive note," said Perry Middle School Principal Ned Menke.

"Getting the students and staff back into the building. It is always so refreshing to hear the hallways full of laughs and fellowship and see the learning going on in the classrooms," said Perry High School Principal Brad Snowgren.

"Like every year, I'm excited to have a new school year. I'm excited to see that we have so many things in place for support of our students and staff," said Superintendent Clark Wicks.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Perry students return to school on Friday. Here's what's new for the 2024-25 school year: