Perkins pledges consultation with performing arts teachers, acknowledges counselor staffing is limited

Community members asked how performing arts and counseling services will be represented as the new district organizes its policies and staffing. Dr. Joel Perkins said he will convene performing arts teachers and work with the board to ensure those professionals have needed supports.

"Let's get together with our performing arts teachers and talk about what those needs look like and how can we best support those," Perkins said, adding that he is "a huge fan of the performing arts" and that his son participated in Sky Ridge programs. The question raised a statistic that 85 percent of Alpine students participate in performing arts, with roughly 20 percent in theater; Perkins said those participation levels reinforce the need to involve arts teachers in policy discussions.

On student behavior and mental health support at the elementary level, Perkins said school counselors are a valuable resource and that staffing levels will be part of ongoing board discussions. He characterized current elementary counselor coverage as roughly "one counselor for every two elementary schools," phrasing the figure as an approximate recollection and noting that staffing and supports will be reviewed.

Perkins said he will defer specific personnel hires or titles (for example, a district-level performing arts director) until the board and district leadership complete staffing and policy reviews. Community members were invited to continue conversations at the subsequent meet-and-greet and bucket-list activity.