Usually the parking lot and walkway leading into the lobby of the Peoria Unified School District Administrative Center is pretty quiet before a school board meeting.
There is no wasted time as attendees move from the cool air of their cars to the cool air of the building, especially when outside temperatures are still peaking way over 100 degrees.
But leading up to the 6 p.m. Aug. 27 school board meeting start time, the parking lot was lined with balloons, as well as students and parents who braved the heat to chalk the tiles in front of the building with a rainbow of colors and positives words. The cheer squad from Ironwood High School led parents in a line dance, and the vibe was more like walking into the state fair rather than what would become a five-hour board meeting.
