Saratoga dedicates new cafetorium

MORRIS – Saratoga Elementary School held a dedication ceremony over the weekend for its new cafetorium.

The cafetorium will be known as the Jacob R. Perry Performing Arts Center, named for the late son of current Saratoga Superintendent Kathy Perry.

“Jake self-taught himself to play the guitar and piano,” Kathy Perry said. “His favorite song was ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ and that long guitar solo in that song, he could play perfectly. It was a very nice tribute to him. He loved the arts and it’s a great way to honor his memory.”

Jacob Perry, who was the recipient of the American Legion award in eighth grade while attending Saratoga Elementary School, died unexpectedly in 2019 at age 27.

Kathy Perry was not only touched by the gesture of naming the room after her son, but she was also taken entirely by surprise.

“My family went to great lengths to keep it a secret from me,” she said. “I did not know it was happening. Some of my cousins wanted to see the cafetorium, so I took them there. When we got there, they said, ‘Kathy, look up.’ So I looked up and all I saw was ceiling tiles. Then they told me to look over the door, and there was the sign saying ‘Jacob R. Perry Performing Arts Center.’

“We have a church that is using our school for its services, so I thought that the cars in the parking lot were from the church setting up and that the couple of board members I saw were members of the church. Jake’s dad [Mike] and his family came from Texas and Kansas City.”

Saratoga teachers Kim Struck and Stephanie Tedford were the driving forces behind the naming.

“We had been thinking about it for a while,” Struck said. “In about January, we got the ball rolling by contacting [Saratoga athletic director] Vince [Zomboracz] about what he did to get the gym named after Russ Farmer. Then we contacted [Saratoga school board president] Anne [McDonnell], and she brought it to the board with Kathy out of the meeting.

“I just thought that the cafetorium needed a formal name. Kathy is going through her healing process and we thought it would be nice to honor Jake for her. Kathy is a piano player, and Jake played the piano and guitar, so they shared that love of the arts. And Kathy has been so dedicated and put forth so much effort in the several building projects here, including the performing arts center. The school puts a big emphasis on the arts – visual arts, music, drama, theater – that it was fitting to name it for Jake.”

During the ceremony, Jake’s brothers Matt, Tim and Jeff all spoke, as did Mike Perry, Jake’s father. Mike Perry thanked the school and announced a scholarship in Jake’s name that will be awarded starting next year to a Morris Community High School student who plans to major or minor in music in college. Former Saratoga students Regan McDaniel, Kenzie Puckett and Emma Knudson all performed, and Zomboracz presented Jake’s basketball jersey in a frame.

Tedford said that the hardest part of the whole ceremony was keeping it a secret from Kathy Perry. Luckily, they had a little help on the inside.

“There were only about five people at the school who knew about it,” Tedford said. “Kathy’s sister Sandy Kruegel also works at the school, so she was able to contact the family and keep it quiet.

“I just felt that after all that Kathy has done for the Saratoga that it would be nice to show some appreciation, and this felt like a good way to do it.”