Perrydale SD 21 highlights student activities, staffing and facilities needs

District staff and board members used the meeting to review several school programs, recent achievements and facilities needs.

A staff member said PACE will present a small check the following day as a "PACE spot award" for the district playground: "Tomorrow, we have PACE coming out to present a little check," the director said, and the board thanked the insurer for recognizing the district's work.

Staff also summarized student input gathered through SWID and said the suggestions were mostly modest and feasible — books, beanbag chairs and similar items — while noting larger capital projects (like court or class pad replacements) may be impractical this year.

The science club competed at the University of Portland and is expected to send about 24 students to events at Eastern Oregon University and Boise State in April, staff said. One board member highlighted a special-education field trip to the Washington School for the Blind in Vancouver, calling it an "amazing time" for students who practiced navigation and toured facilities.

On staffing, the director reviewed athletic staffing changes — promotions and new assistants for track, softball and middle-school programs — and said middle-school baseball faces roster challenges when numbers are low. The director also noted ongoing work on the field surface and installation of a new net.

Facilities discussion noted HVAC systems approaching 20 years in places; the director said larger units, particularly at the middle school and gym, may need replacement planning and that maintenance has been staged over the past five years.

A board member praised teachers for their work with students with significant needs: "They just take the lead as teachers should with all students, and they've just done an excellent job," the committee member said.

No formal decisions about capital replacements were made at the meeting; staff were asked to prioritize wish-list items and continue planning.