Hamburg Area school directors were asked on July 11 to contribute approximately $90,000 to help fund the second phase of playground expansion at Perry Elementary Dedicated to Esther H. Ludwig.
The request came from members of the elementary school’s parent-teacher organization.
The estimated cost of the expansion is $160,000 and is scheduled for next summer.
Perry PTO plans to raise about $55,000 for equipment, cement and miscellaneous costs.
To date $38,644 has been raised and two fundraisers are planned for the upcoming school year, PTO fundraising Chairwoman Yvonne Stitzel told school directors.
By having community members help with the project through a community-build next summer, an estimated $15,500 will be saved, said school director Andrew Raugh after the meeting.
The district’s donation would include $65,000 for poured rubber as well as costs for excavation, stone and digging.
PTO secretary Ali Haines told school directors that the organization has not had much luck applying for grants for the project.
Some of the reasons for the expansion include reducing overcrowding and providing equipment for special needs and handicapped students.
Many of those students in the district go to Perry Elementary and the new equipment would allow them to interact with other children and have a great time, too, Haines said.
Space was allotted for the expansion when Perry Elementary was built in 2014.
Phase One of the playground project was completed in July 2014. When the expansion is completed the playground will have doubled in size.
Raugh asked school directors to vote on the request at one of the next two meetings.
In other news, school directors were informed that the grading periods at the elementary schools has been expanded to 60 days from 45 which will result in students receiving three report cards a year instead of four.
“This is a developmental time for students,” said Lacie Cucciuffo, Tilden Elementary Center principal. “This will allow more time for instruction. Nine weeks was too short a time to gather data.
“There will be no real change for parents other than three report cards instead of four. Teacher conferences will be held the same time as usual.”
School director Todd Hummel said that teachers will have to do a better job at keeping the Home Access Center up to date. The Home Access Center allows parents to monitor their children’s progress through their home computer.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Superintendent Richard Mextorf said. “My sense is that the teachers are behind it. Raising a grade is not as important as seeing progress at the elementary level.”
The next meeting of school directors is Monday, Aug. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the James A. Gilmartin Community Room.