Kelvin Addy needed a push to make it into William Penn’s 2014 graduating class. Now he’s working for one of the organizations that helped him get his diploma, helping today’s students succeed and closing a circle that began with Colonial School District’s novel dropout prevention program. Since the program’s implementation in 2012, graduation rates have spiked and dropouts have plummeted. …
Appoquinimink Library opens with focus on green energy
After decades of dealing with a teensy library stuffed inside a multi-use building, Middletown on Friday celebrated the opening of Appoquinimink Library, a new 28,000 square foot library and digital center. A small crowd gathered to watch officials cut the ribbon at 651 North Broad St. County Executive Matt Meyer called it a tremendous day for residents in south New …
Bill to block 5-mile radius charter preference rule draws heat
A bill that would bar charter schools from giving preference in student admissions to those living within a 5-mile radius of the school faced a lot of scrutiny in the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday. House Bill 238 was passed by the House on May 5, although it faced concerns in the House hearings as well. Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha, D-Wilmington, said …
More legislation in the works to address teacher shortage
A bill that would help address the state’s lingering concern over a teacher shortage was unanimously released by the Senate Education Committee Wednesday. House Bill 430, now headed to the Senate floor, would encourage schools to begin a Grow Your Own Educator Program, which supporters believe will improve recruitment, retention and diversity of teachers in the First State’s public schools. …
Bill OKing medical marijuana patients owning guns heads to Senate floor
A bill that would allow medical marijuana patients to obtain a firearm will head to the Senate floor. The bill, which passed the House on June 14, continued to draw strong public support before it was passed 6-0 by the Senate Health and Social Services Committee Wednesday. Under House Bill 276, a patient registered in Delaware’s medical marijuana program would …
Wilmington Learning Collaborative: Executive director by fall
Wilmington Learning Collaborative organizers say they hope to have an executive director in place by early fall. That was one of the new details about their operating draft agreement that came out Tuesday in a community meeting at Warner Elementary School in Wilmington. It was the second meeting since the collaborative published its draft agreement outlining the roles and responsibilities …
Kenny, Wright named Monday Club 2022 men of the year
Wilmington businessman Chris Kenny and longshoreman Venter Wright were each named “Man of the Year” by the Monday Club. That organization was created in 1876 to give Black men a place to gather, socialize and support one another and the community. “I’m truly humbled and honored to receive this award from such a historic organization and distinguished group of gentlemen,” …
State Ed. officials plug Wilmington Learning Collaborative agreement
The Wilmington Learning Collaborative will hold its second community meeting since it released its draft agreement on on Tuesday, June 21. The event will be at Warner Elementary School in Wilmington from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. It’s billed as an opportunity for people to learn more about the agreement that will guide the efforts of the state and the …
Delaware schools pushed to declare Diwali a holiday
A Hindu activist last week praised Brandywine School District as the first in Delaware to close so students could celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of light. Students will be off, but only because that is a day the district designated for parent-teacher conferences. Staff members will be working. In 2023, Diwali falls on a Sunday. But the system has not …
Two Appoquinimink teachers inch closer to Grammy
Two Delaware music teachers have a shot at doing something that Queen, Jimi Hendrix and Tupac Shakur never did in their illustrious careers: win a Grammy award. Appoquinimink School District’s Ryan Moseley and John Gordon have been named as quarterfinalists for the 2023 Music Educator Award, which is given by the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum. The pool of …