Construction concerns cause student speculation on campus

Over fall break, a construction site has replaced the once empty lot behind the bus barn. Many students have been speculating what is to be built on this lot with rumors swirling from things students want the construction to be, such as a new parking lot or a Dutch Bros., to what it actually is.

The construction site will be home to an assisted living facility that will provide different levels of care, ranging from a full assisted living to independent living apartments. In the same plot, there will also be a Valero convenience store and gas station.

These additional buildings come along with additional parking lots, and with Perry’s lack of parking, Principal Dan Serrano shares concern, “I think that a student who doesn’t want to pay is going to end up parking over there and then we’ll probably have more issues.”

The hunt has been on for new land to solve the parking issue and Serrano said, “I’m hoping we have the land [for a new parking lot] purchased and we have that ready to go for next school year.”  

Of course, the impact of the new construction on Perry and the surrounding community will not be officially revealed until it is completed, but, as Serrano said, “I would imagine this forming some relationships with [the assisted living and Perry] and involving them with a lot of things in the school.”

I would imagine this forming some relationships with [the assisted living and Perry] and involving them with a lot of things in the school.

— Principal Dan Serrano

Some believe that having an assisted living facility right across from a high school would not work well but, this assisted living facility could promote relationships with MedPro students, as well as theatre, psychology, and even the sports teams. Having an assisted living right across the street from a high school can give the people living there some activity, such as attending games, productions, or helping with class research.

The new construction holds plenty of possibilities for Perry, its students, and the surrounding community for years to come.