The Christina School District generated a record turnout yesterday, as voters passed four referenda to ‘save our schools.’
Unofficial reporting form the Delaware Department of Elections says 14,466 people cast votes yesterday, the most in the District’s history.
Voters passed the referenda overwhelmingly, with nearly 70% of the vote in favor of raising nearly $25 million over three years for the struggling school system.
In the short term, the vote effectively restores $10 million to close a budget deficit that would have impacted varsity sports and several extracurricular activities.
After the previous referenda failed on April 30, 2019, the school board announced it would eliminate 136 teaching positions, student clubs and music programs as well as the Chinese immersion program.
Passage of the four capital and operating referenda will cost taxpayers $282 annually over three years. In addition to addressing what the school district says are critical maintenance and facilities improvement needs, passage of the tax hike and bond measures also will allow for the purchase of a new English-Language Arts curriculum.
“I want to thank the voters of the Christina School District for saying “yes” to the 14,000 plus students for whom we are charged with providing quality education,” said Board of Education President Dr. Meredith L. Griffin, Jr.
“The success of this operating and capital referendum ensures that our dedicated professionals can move forward with retaining, rebuilding, and restoring the Christina School District. I also want to thank every single person, too many to name, who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of this referendum,” she said.
