0015:30 p.m. and I would like to call the meeting of the April 6th public hearing regarding the potential closure of Perry Elementary School to order with the pledge to the American flag. >> [laughter] >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please. Mr. Dieselmeier. Here. Mr. Corrales. Here. Mr. Hemphill. Here. Mrs. Howe. Mr. Mueller. Here. Mr. Piggee. Here. And Mrs. Young. Here. >> [clears throat] >> Before we start the public hearing of the board, as a reminder, all board members are expected to follow our approved meeting norms and board protocol. At this time, we will have a brief presentation on possible closure of Perry Elementary School. Dr. Shug. All
002right. Um, I'm going to walk through a very brief uh presentation. Uh, this is not going to be a question and answer session tonight. This is really a public hearing, so it's meant for the board to hear from the public uh and to hear from all of you here this evening. So, this presentation is intended to be uh very short, but if you have questions, please know that there's a QR code posted throughout the room that will take you to our website uh where you can see previous presentations that were made. Uh, there's an FAQ list there as well. And if you have any additional questions, uh please do not hesitate uh to reach out to me uh or to the board and we will do what we can to >> [clears throat] >> get
003those questions answered or add them to the FAQ list uh for you as well as our hearings [snorts] uh move throughout the week. I will make the same presentation uh every night uh and again, out of respect for your time uh being here tonight, I'm going to try to make it very brief uh so that you have uh ample opportunity to make sure uh we have an opportunity to hear from all of you. Thank you, Shug. Yes. Yes, uh we do have translation services available. Thank you, uh Mr. Herrera. Is there anyone in the room requiring translation services? Okay. Okay. Uh, thank you very much and thank you for that reminder, Mr. Herrera. Okay. All right. Um, so I'm going to have us go ahead and move forward uh to the summary of basically our
004past, present, future, how we got to where we are today. Uh, back in 2022, uh the district was evaluating their uh aging facilities uh that are across our district. Uh, they were designed for different educational, safety, and accessibility standards uh and facility conditions varied across the district uh creating inequities in learning environments, safety features, and accessibility. Uh, the district recognized that and convened a process to really look at all of those facilities and began a long-range facilities planning process. Again, that's in 2022. Uh, this process was intended to better understand our building conditions and our system needs, our enrollment trends, our capacity, our educational program requirements, and uh to really evaluate the long-term financial responsibility of how we can make sure we're investing in maintenance across the district so that we don't wind up in
005a situation where our buildings are not being maintained. So, where we are today, uh we do have a community-driven facilities master plan that has been developed with input from staff, family, student, community members, uh board representatives, and uh through the use of third-party consultants. That was done uh with a group of approximately 50 stakeholders. Currently, we are actively implementing phase one, which was approved by the board in September of 2024. Uh, phase one includes safety and security improvements at all of our schools, uh critical building systems such as roofs, HVAC, and infrastructure, accessibility and code compliance. It also includes updates to Everest High School uh which includes moving the district wellness center to allow for the expansion of Everest and the remodel of Perry Elementary School. Phase one projects were prioritized based on need, impact,
006and equity across the district, and engaging the community using independent polling to inform future decisions was done as a part of evaluating all of those phase one projects uh that have not already been uh begun to be implemented. Phase one addresses urgent needs now while planning responsib- uh planning responsibly is what is next. Uh, so tonight, again, we are here about Perry. Uh, and Perry was built in 1897, had additions in 1954. It is a multi-story building with three main floors that we use for teaching. Uh, currently, the enrollment is approximately 175 students, and there's approximately 275 students in that Perry boundary area. Programming at this time does not include dual language uh nor is the building currently ADA accessible. Uh, to respond to all of those needs uh as part of the phase one
007scope, which is approximately $6.8 million, the board approved in September of 2024 uh to begin looking at a tier two status quo uh enhancement to Perry Elementary School. The items included in that are new secure entry sequence with the main office remodel, which is necessary to create that secure entrance. ADA compliance including elevators uh and remodeling the restrooms that are at Perry. It also includes a remodel with uh elevator, restroom, stairwell modifications uh to remodel the adjacent classrooms and spaces, access control update, and roof restoration. Perry in phase one's in the scope of Perry that is not included is a potential for an additional investment between 7 and 9 million. And you can see that project list here, which includes LED lighting, uh sprinkler system, fire alarm for code compliance, PA system, emergency generator, uh
008modernizing the HVAC system, uh and the other items that are listed here. So, Perry uh Elementary School, the approximate replacement value for the building is 17.5 to 18.5 million. The phase one investment looks like approximately 6.8 million dollars with a potential additional investment of 7 to 9 million dollars. There will still be some projects that will remain undone even after that investment. Some things that are just really difficult to address in that current building. That's an undersized gym, no kitchen. Overall, the site is undersized. Limited site circulation during student drop-off and pick-up. Playground being close to the road and insufficient parking. Again, all of those items are remaining building limitations but aren't included in any of the scope that we have right here. So, one of the questions that we consistently get is why have
009the conditions of Perry not been addressed sooner? And I think we can go back to sort of a history of deferred maintenance and concerns across the district about deferred maintenance. But specifically after the board approved that September tier two scope remodel, the work at Perry had always been scheduled to take place later in phase one. That is due to the complexity and the scope and the nature of that work. For example, to be strategic in the spending at Perry, it would not be cost-effective or efficient to replace the roof before the issues of secure entrances and ADA compliance were addressed. The design for for Perry is scheduled to take place in July of 2026, which is why the time right now is urgent to look at those next steps for Perry. As we have begun
010moving forward with those phase one projects and as we begin to look at what that looks like for Perry Elementary School, the board has decided to consider a potential closure. The reason that they're doing that, again, the board in September of 2024 approved keeping Perry open, but it is now time to begin the design for the remodel that is necessary at Perry School. That does incur additional costs. That means it's time to begin significant investment at Perry to keep it open for the foreseeable future. The board is considering the cost necessary to keep Perry open, the demographic study that indicates that we are not expecting significant growth, and that we do have capacity at our other elementary schools at this time to serve our Perry students, providing comparable spaces for all of our students, and
011stakeholder feedback. The board truly values our Perry students, our staff, our community, and the history and importance of neighborhood schools. The board also takes very seriously the responsibility of being good stewards of the taxpayer dollars, and that's really what brings us here tonight. Thank you for your attention to that. And I'm going to go ahead and turn it over at this time to Mr. Herrera to begin public input. Thank you, Dr. Shug. We will now have our hearing of visitors, members of the public, and employees of District 100 [clears throat] may make public comment. As a reminder, any person appearing before the board is expected to address the board only at the appropriate time and follow the directives of the board president and to maintain order and decorum, identify oneself, limit your comments to three
012minutes, and conduct oneself with respect and civility towards others and otherwise abide by board policy 8:30, visitors to and conduct on school property. At this time, would Mr. Matt Zickert please come up? Okay. Um I'm not surprised we're here today. Could have told you this two years ago that we'd be here today. But I don't think anybody paid attention as much as I thought they would. This all began when we did a facility study. Dr. Shug was talking about the facilities team. We did a facility study. It was a request request for quote that ended up costing 600,000. The board was um um given RFP back in November of that year, I believe it was, to do a facility study. And then all of a sudden in June we find out we owe [clears throat]
013somebody 600k or close to it. We asked questions, nobody really knew anything. We were told, "Well, you guys approved that when you did the RFP." And then by state statute, you guys don't necessarily even have to approve that in the first place. >> [clears throat] >> So, long story short, we were told we were out 330,000 no matter what. We went ahead with the study or didn't. So, if we decided to cancel the study that we someone was really wanting to do, we were going to be out 350,000 and get nothing. We were going to be able to collect nothing for that 350,000. Um Uh this all goes back to other things too when we talk about credibility, when we talk about the track and tennis courts that we did at North. It should have
014cost us about 100 grand, and it cost us a few million because we waited and waited. I've talked to people. Those were on the agenda to do. We just postponed them. Um Perry, the previous board went through the same process when I was on the board. We voted six to one to keep Perry open. Carlo May have been the only vote. The two other people sitting up here voted yes. Um We were asked um we asked over several months while we were still on the board when work was going to start. We were assured it was going to start. It was going to happen. I asked because I was worried about this, and we were told it would that it actually would happen. Um but it didn't. Um I So, I think people need to
015remember when you vote in elections for boards, they have consequences. Um I think you could make a logical case to close Perry, but I think the process does matter. It was started for a reason. It was started because I don't think they ever really wanted to fix it. I think they wanted to get to this point, and when the board elections happened six months later, I think they got what they wanted or they got it. Um I don't think we prioritize spending the way we should. I mean, we've added when we talk about the financial part, look at all the jobs we've added that don't affect kids. I get up and talk about this at board meetings all the time. Look at hiring of Nexus. We never did that before. We built building at North,
016which is a $60 million building 20 some years. We didn't need Nexus back then for staff. We didn't need it for when our man Lincoln We've done all this stuff. We're spending a pretty chunk of good chunk of change on that. I think going one last thing, during the board interview process, one of the questions Dr. Shug was asked if the board comes to you if we vote down something you want or we vote something that you don't want, how would you react to that? Well, I'd respect the decision of the board. We'd move forward with that. Well, I'm telling you, as a former board member, it didn't seem like that to me on this case. Thank you, Mr. Zickert. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> [applause] >> OKAY, AT THIS TIME, WOULD MR. ANDREWS Kitson
017please step forward? All right, you'll be hearing from me probably three nights this week. Um tonight might be the easiest one for you to hear. Perry's Perry's School has stood in this community since 1897. It's an old building, I get that. But let that sink in how long it's been here. For over 125 years, it's educated generations of children, children who grew up, stayed here, raised families here, gave back to this town, and are still in this town voting for you guys. Perry is not just a building, it's part of the foundation of Belvedere. And now, here we are again, debating whether it's worth continuing. Not because it's failing, not because the kids aren't learning, but because of what it doesn't have. I've heard [clears throat] the word inadequate used numerous times from the board,
018from citizens, from numerous people. Well, let me ask you something. It's been about a concern about stairs, about the lower level library, which is not in the basement, it's the lower level of a multi-level building. About space. When do stairs become more important than a child feeling safe? When did room location matter more than a student being known by name? Because that's what Perry does. The Perry kids are not They're not just numbers. They're not lost in the crowd. Every adult in that building knows those children. They know their struggles. They know their strengths, and they show up for them every single day. For some of those kids, that building is more than a school. It's the most stable thing they have. It's support. It's the one place they feel like they belong. And you're
019weighing that against a checklist. A bigger gym? That gym is perfectly fine for the amount of kids in that building, correct? A different layout? A newer facility? You cannot replace what Perry has with square footage and new construction. You just can't do it. I've seen what happens at that school. I've seen kids kids who struggle the most light up with confidence, joy, and pride. I've seen them succeed because they are in an environment that lifts them up instead of letting them disappear amongst the other kids. That's not something you close and move on. That's something you protect. Yes, Perry needs a roof. So will every other building in this district. That's called maintenance. Maintenance that should have been done years ago. Yep. That's not a reason to walk away over a century of impact. So,
020let's be honest about what this vote really is. It's not about a building. This is about whether you value what happens inside that building. Excuse me. >> [clears throat] >> This is about whether relationships matter, whether community matters, whether those kids in that building matter. We talk about what's inequitable to those kids. We have never talked to those kids to see if it's inequitable to them. The other kids are the ones missing out. Once you take this away, you don't get it back. You can't rebuild 125 years of trust. You don't recreate that sense of family somewhere else and hope it just works the same. It won't. So, when you sit down Thursday night and cast your vote, think about more than just reports and a checklist. Think about the kids who walk through those
021doors every morning. Think about the staff who pour everything they have into those kids. The generations who came before them and the ones who deserve that same chance. And ask yourself, what's your legacy going to be? Will you be the board that saw the value in Perry, just like the previous board did, and chose to invest in it and follow through with what's been done? Or will you be the board that falls prey to the machine and let some something irreplaceable disappear? Because once it's gone, it's gone. Thank you, MR. FITZSIMONS. >> [applause] >> OKAY. IS IS IT ELLA OR ELEA SPEAK? I want to let you know that this school matters. >> [snorts] >> It's not just something that you just get to discard. What I like about my school is the trust that
022it has within it. I love my friends and my teachers. I feel safe at the school and I have what I need to learn. >> [applause] >> I'd like to make a small comment that is my third grade daughter. She loves her school so very very much. She feels that she has everything she needs. >> [snorts] >> Thank you, Ella. Thank you for YOUR GREAT SPEECH. >> [applause] >> ALL RIGHT. MR. MICHAEL SPEAK. THAT'S HOW MR. Fitzsimons I'll do my best to behave myself. Board mem- members of the of the Belvidere Board, I ask again that you please keep Perry School open. There are two sides to every coin, right? Different ways to look at different ways to look at things. Maybe there's more to the picture than what you see. I have faith that
023my community is going to go in detail about certain things. So, today I'll be speaking in summary. A call a call and response, if you will. Um you can call you can call us clinging on to nostalgia. We prefer to think of ourselves as experienced. You can say that our building is too old. I think that's a recognized piece of Belvidere history. Yeah, it should you know, we should be very proud of our building. Yeah, it's a legacy of how long we have been educating educating children at at that building. And we've done good job of this. You think that the that the building is too costly to repair. >> [snorts] >> I don't think it would have been so bad if we had taken care of it in the first place. Enrollment is is
024lower than the rest of the district. We have tried to address bringing an English language English English language program or dual language program to our school. We have tried to get as exact answers as possible. Those were never addressed. We were simply told it just can't be done. Your school is too small. We don't have those numbers in front of us. The cost of paying our teachers might be a little on the high side, uh but they they might be maybe they'd be maybe they would be in other in other schools, but our wonderful teachers have stuck around so long because we have something magical. We get yeah, we give them a reason to be here. You can say that we're inaccessible. On that point, I think we're on the same page. I will fully
025admit that's that's I looked I looked over the options in terms of accessibility and I found it was it was such a small percentage. When I was shown a different viewpoints, I wiped the egg off my face and I agree, I would love for the school to be updated so we can show it to anyone and to everyone who wants to be part of our community. I still have quite a bit to say, but I'll skip to the end. You say that Perry isn't as equitable as other schools. Honestly, you can ask any any Perry student what they think is missing. I you can you can poll them. We know the value of polls. I bet you can get 400 votes from our neighborhood. Last thing I would like to say is these kids have
026the support of our neighborhood [cough] behind them. We will go above and beyond to show that they can have anything, do anything, be anything and do it right from Perry where they belong. Thank you, MR. FITZSIMONS. >> [applause] >> AT THIS TIME, WOULD MRS. MEGAN SPEAK, PLEASE come up? >> [clears throat] >> I do have a speech prepared, but I need to say something else first. And that's that exactly what makes Perry so great is that you had a name in front of you you couldn't pronounce. Her name's Elea. Um and while she was up here struggling because she was so afraid to talk to you, I don't know if you could hear everyone behind me whispering encouragement to her and calling her Elea because they know her. And they know exactly who she is
027and what she likes. That's right, Mom. Sorry. [clears throat] >> [snorts] >> All right. So, the speech I prepared. Deferred maintenance. That's a phrase that got thrown around a lot at the last board meeting. The deferred maintenance adds another layer of costliness to bring our school up to what it's supposed to be and what it always should have been. But I want you all to ask yourselves whose fault the deferred maintenance is. Because [snorts] it isn't ours. It isn't the kids. It's the board. And you can sit and look at us and tell us over and over that this is a new board, that most of you weren't here in those seats last time. But that doesn't change the fact that every time Perry was shoved aside for another project, it was the board's doing.
028The people who sat in those seats 2 years ago owned that and decided that our school is worth investing into, that it was time to finally [snorts] catch up on that deferred maintenance and add improvements, too. Money was budgeted, a plan was made, and 2 years later we haven't seen a single one of those repairs. >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> You took those chairs. You have a responsibility to uphold that decision and make good on those promises. We shouldn't be punished and broken and shut down just because the changes we were promised were deferred by a board yet again. And I don't blame any one of you individually. I don't believe any of you has some nefarious agenda to meet. But you're all only looking at the present, at what's immediately in front of you,
029which is a bunch of dollar signs. We did this already. I was talking to a group of friends of mine today at about this meeting tonight and they're friends that I wouldn't have if it weren't for Perry. And one of them said something that struck me. When it's time to roll up, we roll [laughter] up. >> [snorts] >> You might not see us at other meetings, but we're always watching. That's [clears throat] why we showed up in full force last time this happened and we filled the Perry gym to the brim to tell the board all the reasons they should keep our school open and we're here to do it again because we deserve more than a shutter, we deserve more than deferred maintenance, and we deserve to never have to fight THIS BOARD AGAIN.
030>> [applause] [applause] >> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAK. AT THIS TIME, WOULD MRS. Carol Stump please come up? Hi. [snorts] >> [snorts] >> Okay. Here we are again. Um came here tonight as a grandparent and somebody that has been fighting for Perry School from the beginning. I am a little frustrated and I'm confused that we're back here again. Back on the chopping block after the previous board had already approved the repairs that were never completed. How did Perry go from approved for improvements to recommended for closure yet again? I started to dig and then I started to have more questions. And as I started to dig into details and actually I could probably sit up here for 2 hours and ask question after question of things that I've discovered after I started digging and digging. But
031it's about the expenditures that are happening. The district is in the process of selling Kishwaukee School, which we've known about for a while. But at the same time, the district purchased the Polk building for $375,000. And I was able to dig and see that we're going to if I read it right in the information I pulled up for that lately, which was some bids. I paid to get those bids, by the way. Um we're investing about another $1.3 million into into the Polk building to create a wellness center. What? But we already have a wellness center. And that facility is operating out of Everts. So I ask this question, what was wrong with that building? Why did we need to go and renovate another building? 1.5 mil if I get my numbers right. When our
032existing school, Perry, has been waiting years for just some basic repairs. And then this is my biggest question. Why did we hire Nexus Solutions? Is our district not equipped with qualified staff and our purchasing facilities or administration to handle these responsibilities? Why are we outsourcing millions of dollars while our neighborhood schools are being school is being threatened with closure? We as a community deserve time and more transparency because now there's more questions than ever. We need to have the questions answered. Especially when all of these additional expenses were happening. I don't know, not being hit, I'm not saying that, but we we should have had better communication of what was going on to the families and the taxpayers who are directly impacted by these decisions. Thank you, Mrs. Stump. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> [applause]
033>> OKAY, WOULD MS. HARMONY Leitch >> Leitch. Leitch. Please come up. Okay, thank you. Hi, I'm Harmony. I have a third grader at Perry. I had a huge speech written, um but I know everybody else here is going to get into all that and you're going to hear repeated information. So I guess what I came here tonight to say, and I don't mean it rudely, but I just want you to know that I'm super disappointed in District 100 school board and I think I speak for everyone when I say that. >> Yep. Yep. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to be here 2 years later after you guys voted to keep it open and now we're back here fighting again. All the teachers are here wondering, "Hmm, am I going to have a job here?
034Do I need to start looking at other schools?" All the kids that were in Perry what, 2 years ago when this happened? So they'd be second graders. Would they be second graders now, right? So everybody from second grade to fifth grade, this is the second time they're going through this again. My kid's asking me every single day, "Are they going to close my school, Mom?" And I say, "I don't know. I'm going to try to help save it, buddy." That's all I can say to him. You know, it's not fair. It's not fair to the kids, especially, the teachers or the parents. It's just absolutely ridiculous. I don't know why there was a point on voting the first time if that vote doesn't even count now. What's the point of voting? What was the point
035of voting? How can you go back on a vote? If if that was if that's how we ran everything and you could just go back on a vote, how do we get anything done? I that just does not make sense to me. It does not make sense to me. And a few other things, too. Um you know, you want to talk about how our school like you make it seem like our kids are missing out because they have to have a gym and it's also the lunch room half the day or they have a smaller playground that's closer to the road or they have a library that's downstairs and it's smaller than the other schools. Our kids don't know the difference. This is what they're used to and this is what they like. They don't
036complain. I'm on PTO at Perry. I don't hear one kid ever complain about anything like that at Perry. Kids don't think about stuff like that. They don't. And so if this decision is truly about our kids, you would be asking our kids. Who Who's asked our kids how they feel? You know, obviously it's not up to a group of, you know, 7 and 8-year-olds if we get to spend this money on Perry, but who has asked our kids how they feel about Perry? Who's asked our kids, "How do you feel about Perry not having its own gym? How do you feel about Perry, you know, having a library that's a little bit smaller than other schools?" If you're truly concerned about our kids and what they're missing out on, why weren't they asked? Exactly. Why
037weren't they asked? They should be asked because this decision is for them, what's good for them, and none of them have been asked a thing. It's just I mean I get where you guys are coming from and you have to make a hard decision. I get it's about money, but in the end it, you know, it's more than money. Like everybody in here will tell you, you can't replace a small school, the the love the teachers have for them, the teachers know every kid by name, they know what they like, they know their parents. I'm there all the time. I see it. These kids are comfortable there and that's what they need and taking them away from that and shoving them into these schools that are overcrowded is not it. That's not the answer. >>
038Thank you, MRS. LEITCH. >> [applause] [cheering] >> OKAY, AT THIS TIME, WOULD MR. FORD ZACHARY PLEASE come forward? Good evening. My name is Ford Zachary and I'm the ESL teacher at Perry Elementary School. First, I want to publicly thank board member Hemkey for meeting with me over the holiday weekend. Um I sincerely appreciate it. Tonight I'm going to speak to you about neighborhood schools, tomorrow about Perry specifically, and Thursday will be my emotional plea. Schools are more than buildings. They are landmarks, meeting places, and the heart of a community. Few schools represent that truth more clearly than Perry. Closing Perry would mean losing far more than just a school. While newer, larger school buildings may look impressive, research and experience tell a different story when it comes to student success. Small neighborhood schools like Perry
039offer closer teacher-student relationships, more individualized attention, stronger family involvement, and a safer, more connected environment. According to data emphasized by ISBE, student growth and school climate are among the most important measures of success. These are exactly the areas where smaller schools shine. >> [clears throat] >> For generations, families in Belvidere have sent their children to Perry. Grandparents, parents, and children have all walked the same halls. That kind of continuity builds something you can't replicate. Pride, trust, and connection. When a neighborhood school closes, the loss is felt far beyond the classroom. It changes the identity of the entire community. Big consolidated schools may sound like progress, but they come with real trade-offs. Higher construction and long-term maintenance costs, increased transportation needs for students, and larger, less personal learning environments. Big schools can feel efficient, even cost-effective,
040>> [clears throat] >> but they often lack the sense of belonging that younger students need most. Instead of closing Perry, investing in it is the more responsible path forward. Upgrading the building to meet modern standards, including ADA compliance, offers clear advantages. Lower overall cost than building anew, opportunity for phased, manageable improvements, access to historic preservation funding, and reduced environmental impacts. Most importantly, it allows Perry to continue serving the community it has supported for over a century. Perry Elementary is not just a school, it's a shared experience. It's the walk to school on a fall morning. It's teachers who know entire families by name. It's a place where community traditions are passed down year after year. These are things no new building can replace. The future of Perry Elementary is about far more than facilities. It's
041about values. Do we prioritize size and convenience, or do we invest in connection, history, and proven success? Keeping Perry open means choosing community over convenience, relationships over scale, and history with a future. In a time when education can feel increasingly large and impersonal, Perry reminds us what truly works. Sometimes the best way forward is to preserve what already makes a difference. THANK YOU. >> [applause] >> THAT WAS REALLY WELL SAID. >> [applause] >> HE'S A Perry teacher. All right, at this time, uh, would Mrs. Amanda Hallauer Is that Did I pronounce that correct? Hallauer. Hallauer. Okay. Sorry if I got that mispronounced. >> unfortunately, I'm very used to that. So, my daughter is goes to Perry, and like my daughter, I, well, unfortunately, not from this area. Went to a small school. I'm actually the
042fourth generation of that school. Um, and actually, my family says, "Oh my, Perry is very similar to that school." They would actually consider Perry to be that fifth generation >> [snorts] >> in our line of schools. Um, so, this school probably can only see 250 students. Um, stairs, upstairs, downstairs. Oh, hey, look, library was in the basement, too. And was multi-level, just like Perry. Didn't think anything of library downstairs. Oh, no kitchen, no cafeteria. Our cafeteria was the gym. I will say, those are the best years of my life. Um, easily, I could probably say I could probably read off a whole list of teachers that I, uh, encountered at the school. Just like everyone else. Um, so, it's one of those things where a small school is actually better for a community than these
043larger schools. Um, so, with, um, these smaller schools, it's actually been proven that it is better for communities. It's better. These kids feel safe. Um, it builds, uh, stronger relationships between teachers, students, and the community that the school is set in. Um, so, very ironically, I started looking into my old school district. Um, very very odd. They, um, slightly larger school district, they have 11 elementary schools. Um, with maybe sitting 500 students per school. So, they're all small schools. Um, so, when I started doing math, I was kind of weird. So, their graduation rate for this school district is 95%. Ours sits at 89 or 88.9% graduation rate. The only difference I can see is all of the smaller schools, elementary schools that they used. They have two middle schools and two high schools. Um,
044like I said, it is a bigger area. Um, with everything breaking it down, um, through the whole school district from K to 12, there is 4,152 more students enrolled. Um, I get it that hey, we have, what, six elementary schools? Um, but once I actually broke everything down for just elementary, um, the average student for that other school district is about 450 students per school. Um, right now, we would be at 55 or 555 students per school with the average If we close Perry today, we would be averaging 666 students per each school. Thank you, AMANDA. YOU'RE WELCOME. >> [applause] >> OKAY, AT THIS TIME, WOULD MRS. MELISSA WILLIAMS, PLEASE come forward? Good evening, members of the board. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. I'm here to ask, clearly and respectfully, that you
045uphold the decision to keep Perry Elementary open and to invest in it. 23 months ago, this board made a commitment. After discussion and consideration, you recognized that Perry is more than a school. It is a place where children feel safe, known, and supported. That decision gave families stability. It gave students a sense of belonging. When the decision was made in May of 2024, my son was 7 years old. Today, he is in He is 9, and he's third grade. >> [clears throat] >> At 7 years old, children are learning they can trust. They're learning what it means for people and institutions to be dependable. A school should never be a place where trust is questioned. When you make a decision that affects children, those decisions become promises in their eyes. And promises, especially to children,
046should not be taken back. Reconsidering closure now does not just revisit a policy, it creates instability and confusion, and fear from families who were told they could rely on this school. Smaller neighborhood schools like Perry are not expendable. They create stronger relationships, deeper family engagement, and environments where children are seen and supported. Not This is not theoretical. That is real impact. And beyond the data, Perry is a community. It is where children are known by name, where families build trust, and where connections exist that simply cannot be relocated or replaced. >> [snorts] >> Closing Perry would simply would not simply move students. It would dismantle a support system that has taken years to build. So, I ask you directly, what does it say to our children >> [laughter] >> when a commitment made by adults
047that they are told to trust reverses it in less than 2 years? Stability matters, and trust matters, and your follow-through matters. This school board already made the right decision. Now is the time to stand by it. Do not step back from that commitment. See it through. Please don't teach our children that promises can be undone. Show them that leadership means standing by [clears throat] your word, even when it is difficult. THANK YOU. >> [applause] >> OKAY, AT THIS TIME, WOULD MRS. WENDY KITSON, please come forward? So, um, you're going to hear me say a lot of things that everybody else has already said, so, um, here we go. Please keep Perry School open. After teaching in this district for 23 years, I can tell you, Perry is unique. I've been in different elementary schools. Perry
048is unique in a great way. It is a family, um, where every child is seen, valued, loved, and known by every staff member in that building. Students come to Perry to for reassurance, guidance, and a safe place to belong. It has been said that Perry students are missing out on what other schools offer to their students. But I believe it is the other way around. Students at other schools are missing out on what Perry provides. Amen. Individual attention, a close-knit family feel, the pride of a community where every teacher knows the child's name, every child's name. From morning hugs, every morning, to grade level mingling activities where we mix up the kids, and even the Perry song. No other elementary school has a Perry has a song. We have a Perry song that means a
049lot. Um, this togetherness togetherness This togetherness cannot be recreated in a larger setting. It just can't. Beyond the emotional impact, the financial justifications are unclear. Less than 2 years ago, updates were estimated at 3.3 million. That figure has since jumped to 7 million. Why? Without knowing exactly what does and doesn't need to be done, how can we justify closing a school that serves as the heart of its neighborhood and city? Why is this decision being made in such a hurry? There are too many unknowns. Where will students go when students are when schools are already crowded? How can staff be placed before students are placed? What are the transportation costs and will there be enough bus drivers? How will this affect kids in other schools, not just the Perry kids, the other schools, too? Um,
050rushing these answers will create such a mess. It's going to be such a mess for the whole whole entire district. It isn't the size of the gym or the paint on the walls that mattered. It's the spirit inside. I urge you, the >> [clears throat] >> be the board remembered for finally investing in Perry after many years of neglect. But be the ones who pray be the ones that uh who pri- prioritize our families. Please do not let your legacy be the board that gave up on Perry. It's not just the families at other schools. Uh wait. Sorry. Um, don't give up on Perry or its neighborhood, its future, its family, and its achievements. I will be at every public hearing to stand with my Perry family and urge you to preserve this extraordinary school.
051It is too precious to lose. Thank you, MS. GRIFFIN. >> [applause] >> OKAY, AT THIS TIME WOULD UH MR. BRANDON FITCHY please step forward? >> [clears throat] >> Good evening, uh board members. I'm really bad at public speaking, but I'm doing this for my kids. My kids have been begging me and begging me to come to this meeting. I have a daughter that's in third grade currently. She's the one that I've been basically making sure she's not crying every day. She [clears throat] does not want to lose her friends, her teachers, even the principal. They love everybody in that school. But one of the things I keep hearing in the demographics is there's no outlook for expansions in Belvidere. Did anybody remember that the Belvidere Chrysler Assembly Plant is coming back in 2028? Or >>
052[clears throat] >> or the brand new Walmart distribution center? Even if Chrysler comes back, considering I am a former Chrysler member, at two shifts, you're talking 3,000 people. Even if you divide that by a third, and say every parent has one kid, that's 1,000 students possibly in the school. I did the math. With Perry currently open, there's 1,140 spots. Perry closes 940. If you bring in another thousand students, you don't have the space. Now you got to build a brand new school, which is going to cost on average about what, 80 million? So, that's my question to the board. Have you guys looked into Chrysler or the Walmart distribution center? And I currently work at a plant that just celebrated 125 years. And that's because they've kept the upkeep on it. So, that's [clears throat]
053the difference. Yeah, Perry's small, but the [snorts] family that's there is family. We're not students and everybody else. Everybody's family, even the parents. We're a close-knit group. So, the minute you break up the kids, now you're breaking up families. That's really ALL I GOT. >> [applause] >> OKAY, AT THIS TIME WOULD CATHERINE ENSLEY please step forward? >> [laughter] >> Future Perry students right there. Future Perry students. Um So, I would first like to say I don't envy one of your seats. This is again, after two years of doing it, I can't imagine what kind of questions or how you guys are feeling, either. Um, I don't know we can tell you a little bit about how we're feeling, [clears throat] but I I have no idea what it's like to be in your shoes. I
054never tried to run. I never wanted to be in charge of such decisions. So, I give you compassion. Again, most of you are new. So, uh when I heard, you know, we're talking about Perry again, we talked about, you know, just having some questions about why would we keep this school open? And so, I hope that you're getting the answers you're looking for to keep it open. Because that's all we're here for. We're not here for issues or to ask for more than we we need. We we have something that's so special. So, now we're all here to tell you that it's special and we would really like to keep it. And you are the people that get to decide if we get to keep it or not. And so, I don't know what kind
055of answers you're looking for. Um again, and I'm I'm not big on knowing all the facts. I'm not big on numbers, but I have a group of people that I can go to who do know the facts. I have a group of people that can tell you about the staffing. I I mean, I can tell you about my kid. I think most of us are parents. Um, which is why I'm again just talking because I would I would be sad if I didn't speak up for my kids. I have I'm going to have a lot, but >> [laughter] >> I got three that currently went. I got one that's coming in for kindergarten with Mrs. Hirschman. Yes, I'm really looking forward to it. I waited patiently five years. And I got two more, and I
056would just like the chance. And if there's something you guys need from us, I said it two years ago, we'll show up. You ask us, we'll do the best we can. You want us to fundraise? You want me to show up and I'll do whatever you need me to do for my kid to be able to stay where he is with the people he's with. And for my younger kids, my other kids to get to do the same thing that they did. And I'm not saying it has to be shiny. Again, I I I tried to listen and I just want compassion and transparency and honesty. And whatever you need from me, I'm here for it. And I'm I'm supporting you, too. And again, I don't know I'm really sorry that you have such a
057hard decision, but I really hope it's to keep us open because we we convinced six of you last time. And it was again the same issue. It's too much money. It's too much this. But we're worth it. The school is worth it. It's been open. Please, please, please keep us open. That's it. Thank you, MS. ENSLEY. >> [applause] >> WOULD MR. DAN SNOW PLEASE COME FORWARD? HELLO. UM, YOU'VE seen me before. I want to thank you for your service. I know it's a thankless job. Um, obviously I'm a supporter of keeping Perry open and the community school. We're you've heard that over and over. You can see a breadth of people that are encouraged to stay there. Um, as far as enrollment and size, my understanding is for the last number of years, it's been
058deliberately downsized in student population. Um, which is a crock, in my opinion. Um, I personally believe that no offense, Ms. Sherer, but Sherer, that that you as an administration and the rest of the staff had an agenda to close it and have steered it in that direction. You as members of the board, you guys get fed the agendas from um the staff. You don't go out there and solicit, "Oh, hey, I think I'll close Caledonia or I'll close Washington." No, they feed you that information and steer it that direction. Um, the other thing I'd like to bring up is in the survey that you guys did, did you bring up the fact that, "Hey, not only Perry we're thinking about closing, we're thinking about What do you think about closing Caledonia or Washington?" What would
059the replies have been then? You gave them one thing, and of course everybody's going to say, "Hey, closing something's better than everything." So, I strongly encourage you to you you guys had this in front of you as a board. You're not the same board. I get that. But again, the trust value, and it's an investment that this administration and previous administrations have failed to give the Perry school the maintenance money to keep it up and keep it viable. Thank you. Okay. Thank you, MR. SNOW. >> [applause] >> AT THIS TIME WOULD MRS. ABBY CAMERON PLEASE come forward? >> [clears throat] [laughter] >> Um, I do have a request. I'm speaking on behalf of my students, and I promised them that I would read it verbatim. Okay? So, I teach third grade. And then I would
060respectfully ask, if it's okay with you, I would like to speak. So, this is really fast, okay? I'm going to um redact the names just for privacy, but this it happened during today our discussion. All of the third graders are very much concerned about what's happening and what we're doing tonight. So, this is verbatim from them. First student, "Why did you break the promise?" Next student, "You can't just rock, paper, scissor this decision." >> [laughter] >> He was being so serious, and I promised that I would Um, Perry is such a cool school. Don't close it, please. And then, "I've been at Perry since kinder. This is my first year being in a class of 29 because you didn't allow another fourth grade. No teacher should have 30 kids in a classroom. What happens when
061we are all moved and have 30 or more in one room? That's a lot. Every school [clears throat] should be like Perry. So I promised throughout the week if kids wanted me to speak on their behalf that I'd be happy to stand up here and speak to you. So those were some of my kids. Would it Am I allowed to have my three minutes? >> you still have time. >> Okay. So Um I've been encouraged by my colleagues to speak this evening. And while I was trying to decide what I wanted to talk about, it dawned on me that no matter who stands up here, no matter what you say, at the [snorts] end of the day you will have a choice to make. Either way you will have a group of people who are
062either happy or upset. Either way you will still have a community that will be divided. You will have people who believe that money should be spent equally amongst the schools and to support all of our children. You will have people who believe that all of our children will be fine in other buildings where this money will be allocated towards. No matter what happens today, this is what I would like for us as a school district and as a community to focus on. We need to stop having divisive conversations around schools. We are a community. We are one. We are supposed to be united in the education of all of our children. That means that whether you are a panther or a box, that you are supported by all. We do not have a line drawn
063across this community that separates us. It is time for us to come together and it is time for us to support one another no matter where we live or what school we go to. To all of the other teachers that have reached out to me about how hurtful the comments regarding Perry students coming to their classrooms and they not being cared for. I want you to know from a Perry teacher that this is not the conversations happening in our classrooms or in our buildings. We know that you too are dedicated to your craft and the social, emotional, and academic well-being of all of your students. We know that you will open your arms to our students and take them in as one of yours and to help them during this time of transition. We also
064know that they will be okay. It might not be day one. It might not be year one. But eventually because of the skills and lessons that they have learned from all of us will show through during this time. It is time for this community to put beside or set aside their differences and to rally around one another to support. We should not let money dictate who deserves what. We need time to take an equitable look at whatever students needs are within the district. My belief is that not shining new My belief is that it's not shining new hallways and the latest tech. It means investing in students well-being mentally while having appropriate tools necessary necessary to support them during an age that we have never witnessed before. Um it looks like It also looks like
065investing in teachers, ensuring that our teachers don't have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. It's also investing in our structure. Every single building in this district should have a roof and a foundation that does not leak. We cannot build children up if our buildings are falling down. Does it matter if it's a building that was built in 1893 or a building that was built in 2005? It is time we focus our efforts to ensure that all of our children and all of our staff have what they need to come to work every day and feel safe, successful, and cared for. So I leave you with this last comment. What decision are you going to make that puts students first? That puts staff first. If it didn't have a dollar sign attached to it,
066what would that be? Thank you, MS. PERRY. >> [applause] >> AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS that would like to come forward and make public comment at this time? I didn't fill one out. I was too late. Sure. Sure. Come on. Can I go now? Yes. Well, if you're getting a fill out, no worries. Just Say your name for the record and then >> Okay. You'll have three minutes. I'm Veronica Jonas. And um I wrote something. I didn't finish it, but I figured I'd do today. Perfect. First of all, I want to thank the previous board for the last two years. I think that's We had the pleasure of walking our kids the three blocks to school. And this school I'm never going to do this again. You're doing great. You're doing great.
067This school is one of the last historical schools in our city and still being used. Where the principal knew every name of every student there. And the kindergarten teacher was so great. My first grader chooses his special treat he earns for being kind and working hard to spend his lunch with her. And his class time to take 15 minutes to visit her class. And our first grade teacher who took the time to do summer learning and yeah, learning with the kids who needed a little extra time like mine to catch up and also take a kid with special needs to meet his teacher before he had her so he would not be scared of the changes of a new grade. One One of those um one that's me know how he Oh, he lets me
068know how one who lets me know how he's doing. And um make sure that we are working together to get him um acceptable levels. You have also made it possible for my girl to get the same great teacher in kindergarten and follow the line. And something so special was to make sure this year all students were learning the same way and to bridge the gap between kindergarten and first grade. She sat in on the first grade learning how we were being taught and giving the kindergarteners the chance to learn it the same way for easier transitions. And my girl is already on her way to reading books to me on her own and I can see the chain of processes for learning that have been set in motion. >> [clears throat] >> These are things
069that happen in a small school settings. These are the miracles of Perry school. The kids The kids um coming coming here and they love helping out. They know all of the teachers and the staff. They enjoy them. It's such a positive place for students and parents. I can't think that they would get the same experience in the bigger schools at such a formative age. This school is not just a wonderful school, but one of the last of its kind in our city. And many older people remember when the school had two entrances, one for boys, one for girls. And they think something They think something with this history. There There are places There are places disappearing all across the country and they are beautiful buildings. Now two years have passed and once again we are
070here and we aim to close it down and demolish it or sell it or um and send the students other places. The concerns we have are the same as they were two years ago. And actually I found my notes from last year last time I convened that to you, too. Because they're the same. So I'll come back and finish tomorrow. Thank you, MRS. JONAS. >> [applause] [applause] >> AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD like to come forward? Good evening. My name is Kristen Rogers. I'm a parent to two going on three girls that will be attending Perry. I need you to understand what that means tonight because for me this isn't a discussion or a proposal. This is my children's lives. This is their school, their sense of safety, their routine, their
071friends, their teachers, their home away from home. And right now I'm overwhelmed because transparency has failed us. You are making decisions that will directly impact my children, their education, their stability, their sense of security. But you won't carry that the way we do. You won't see the confusion on their faces. You won't feel the anxiety in our homes. You won't be the ones trying to explain to a child why the place they feel safe might suddenly be taken away. We will. And instead of being met with honesty and clarity, we've been met with uncertainty and surveys. Surveys that that ask anonymous people in the community what should happen to our school. People who don't live this every day. People who don't tuck our kids in at night. Who don't see how much this school means
072to them. That is not transparency. That is not leadership. That is avoiding accountability. Perry didn't become a $14 million problem overnight. That didn't just happen. This was years in the making. Years of decisions. Years where something could have been said. Something could have been done while children and teachers walk through those doors every single day trusting that the adults in charge were taking care of the place they depend on. And somewhere along the way transparency wasn't just lost, it was ignored. You had time to fix this. You had time to bring honest. You had time to bring families into this conversation and you didn't. And then I need to say something that may be hard to hear, but it matters. When a school becomes a $14 million problem, that doesn't just raise questions about a
073building, it raises serious questions about leadership. How did this happen while children are sitting in those classrooms every day? How does this happen without the community being told the truth sooner? Because the truth is schools don't fail overnight. Leadership does. That's slowly over time. We moved here for Perry. We chose this community because of this school, because we believed in it and we believed in the people who were responsible for it. And now we're being told that because of failures we had no part in, our children are the ones expected to carry those consequences. And that's what hurts the most. When you make this decision, I need you to picture real children, not numbers, not projected projections, not budget lines. Picture the child who finally feels safe walking into Perry every morning. The one who
074knows their teacher, their hallway, their routine. The one who has found their place. You are about to take that away. If this decision has already been made, if this is already decided behind closed doors, then I'm asking you as a parent to stop and reconsider because this isn't just disappointing, it's a betrayal of trust. Children who trusted the adults in this room to protect their school, their stability, and their future. So, if you choose to close Perry, I will remember this moment. I will remember every single one of you who had a hand in this decision, and I'll make it my personal mission to ensure this community gets the leadership it deserves, leadership that is honest, transparent, and accountable because our children deserve better than this, and this community deserves leadership that proves it. THANK
075YOU. >> [applause] [applause] [snorts] >> OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND ADDRESS THE PUBLIC? HELLO. Um my name is Chelsea Collette. I have a third grader at Perry. Um we are zoned for Washington school. One of the best decisions I've ever made was to opt out of Washington and send my son to Perry. Um it takes a village to raise child or multiple children. And I can tell you that we have the best village that anybody could ask for. Um there is a group of us we we celebrate holidays together. We have board game nights. We just we enjoy each other's company, and we went from strangers to acquaintances to our kids are friends to us becoming friends, and now they are considered family. Um one thing that I'm
076worried about that Perry closes is my son will end up at Washington. He he doesn't know many kids there. Uh so, what's going to happen to him? I mean, not only am I worried about him, I am worried about every student because what they what Perry has is something so unique. Um I couldn't ask for a better school, for better staff. Um you know, my son is having a bad day or he didn't sleep very good the night before. I can message Mrs. Manali and say, "Hey, handle with care today." I I don't have to explain why, but I always do because I want that open transparency with her, and I want her to know what's going on. And we've done that with all of his teachers. I really couldn't ask for better better staff.
077Um you know, when last year when my son was in baseball, he you know, if he missed a hit, Mr. H would would help encourage him. You know, Lincoln would think, "Oh, I you know, we lost the game because of me." And all I would have to do is kind of look at Mr. H, and he would help encourage him. He's not the only one that does that. When our dog passed away, Miss Mathis gave Lincoln special treatment, and not just her, but he wouldn't he wouldn't have that. Um I'm sorry. I didn't bring my notes up here. So, just please keep Perry open. Um he even said to me 2 days ago, "Mom, what what happens if Perry closes? I don't want to go anywhere else. I want to home school." And honestly, I
078fully support that. Um I I'm sorry. I'm kind of all over the place, but I will have more to say tomorrow. Thank you. THANK YOU. >> [applause] >> OKAY. AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO APPROACH the board? Perry alum, Perry alum, coming through. >> [laughter] [clears throat] >> Hello. My name is Esme Adiano, and I used to go to Perry. I am now in middle school, and I have gone there since kindergarten. And now I have two siblings that go there, and they both whenever I get home tell me how they had such a great day, and they love their school. And I just wanted to say that if it closed, they [clears throat] would be super upset. They love their school. They met most of their friends there. And
079I have met some of my bestest friends at Perry. And if you close it, I feel like everyone would be devastated. So, keeping it open would keep many so many people more happy. And I know there [snorts] might be a struggle with money, but it just need to think about the students. Think about how they would feel if their school closed. That's all I HAVE TO >> [applause] >> I'M SORRY, HONEY. I DID NOT HEAR YOUR NAME. CAN I ask you to repeat it one more time for me, please? Uh it's Esme Adiano. Okay. Esme. E S M E? Okay, thank you. Thank you, Esme. Thank you for your bravery to come up. Okay. Anyone else? Hi. I'm Erin Adiano. My daughter just showed me up. >> [laughter] >> public speaking, I didn't think I
080would be, but thank you. My daughter went to Perry from kindergarten through fifth. She was a part of the fight to keep it open the last time. My biggest goal was seeing her through Perry, and seeing my son have Miss Hirsch as a teacher, which he's in kindergarten this year with Miss Hirsch, the best kindergarten teacher ever. >> [laughter] >> But I also have a third grader, and this school is so much to our family. Oh, I hate this. >> [laughter] >> Um My daughter, Esme, she's such a cool kid. She beats to her own drum. The confidence that she gained going to school at Perry, and the safety she felt to be her true self, you can't replicate that in a larger school. When my daughter, Lucy, my third grader came into the school,
081everyone already knew her name because they recognized her face from her sister, and because her sister would talk about her. Same with my son. It's not just their teachers, it's the whole staff. Knows everybody. We all get together outside of school. It is a commu- a community. We bought our house specifically because of Perry school. I have [clears throat] relatives that grew up here. We knew it was the best one. We knew that's where we wanted to send our kids. My daughter, Lucy, I was so worried about her starting school. She's so shy. She has so much anxiety. She thrives at this school, and she's so scared, and I'm so scared of what will happen to this outspoken, just amazing little girl that has grown so much in this community. I don't know what what's
082going to happen at a larger school, and I just really hope you guys make the right decision here. Perry is so much to us. Thank you. >> [applause] >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO STEP FORWARD AND MAKE public comment tonight? My name is Susan Tolt. I'm a home owner in Belvedere. I have no relatives or never been to Perry school, but it is a beautiful building. It is a historical building. It's part of Belvedere, and um we need to honor the generations that built it, the craftsmanship, take care of it, nurture it. And not only that, but more than the building, nurture all these children, parents, grandparents that are involved in this community. Closing this school is ripping the heart of these people. And so, I would just want to say something.
083I would be challenging the board to think out of the box for fundraisings, and it is a good community here. It's a beautiful community. [clears throat] That's why I moved here a while back. So, please please in your heart consider keeping this building open. We have museums. We have um historical buildings preserved. Why not a beautiful school that absolutely makes the community for the generations in the future to be good, loving citizens. That's what we're looking for. That's what this building is creating with the people there. THANK YOU. >> [applause] >> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD and make public comment at this time? Okay. Seeing none, do I have a motion to adjourn the meeting? I so move. >> [clears throat] >> Second. Okay. Member Hempkey made the motion. Member
084Piggy seconded the motion to adjourn to adjourn the meeting. All those in favor say I. I. Those opposed say nay. Okay. Meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.