Mob rule? Or B.S.? A weeks-long debate over Wilmington residency requirements for non-elected city employees has deteriorated into what might generously be described as “frosty” exchanges between Mayor Mike Purzycki and a pair of Wilmington City Council members. After a month of bitter debate, the 13-member council on Nov. 16 passed a five-year residency law for new hires that will …
A special election to fill the now-vacant 37th Delaware House of Republicans seat in will take place Dec. 21. The seat represents Georgetown and Millsboro in Sussex County. The former occupant of that seat, former Rep. Ruth Briggs King, resigned last week after receiving a certificate of occupancy for a house she was building just over the district line. Briggs …
One of the biggest challenges this year for Jimmy Strusowski of Seiberlich Trane Energy Services has been the company- and industry-wide crisis of getting parts and materials. Coping with that and other challenges helped him earn the Young Professional of the Year award last week at the Associated Builders & Contractors, Delaware Chapter’s annual Excellence in Construction Awards dinner. “I …
As First State public schools reopen next week, most students won’t see much difference in the day-to-day workings of the classroom. But there’s a lot going on in the background. Many districts will be adopting new science and math curriculums designed to help counter the state’s dismal test scores – and continue the battle against COVID-19 learning loss. More mental …
For Ellie Alexander Poorman, attending Wilmington Friends School means much more than just education – it means family, and generations of it. The historic school, founded in 1748, is older than the country. Friends will start celebrating its 275th anniversary Sept. 5 when it opens its doors for the 2023-2024 school year. Poorman, 88, sent all four of her children …
Julia Keleher, a Pennsylvania educational leader who once was sent to prision on fraud charges, has been named the new executive director of First State Educate and First State Action Fund, two linked nonprofits devoted to improving education in the Delaware. She succeeds Laurisa Schutt, who helped found the organiztions. Schutt will remain on the boards but is pursuing other …
With the 2023 General Assembly session ending in June, educational advocates are cheering the legislature’s action on early education, mental health support and transparency relating to school boards. One leader, though, would like to see bills that focus on letting parents know clearly and precisely what’s happening in the classroom, starting with easy to find proficiency ratings. About 60 bills …
On Friday, speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, choked up several times as he announced that he would be stepping down and that Rep. Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, will succeed him as the new speaker. It will be the first time a woman has been elected the speaker of the House in Delaware. With Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long presiding …
With only a week left in this year’s legislative session, a Seaford Republican plans to introduce a bill that would only allow trans athletes to participate in sports against players who match their biological sex. Sen. Bryant Richardson said he filed Senate Bill 191, which he dubbed the Fairness in Girls’ Sports Act, because it is unfair to allow transgender …
Several bills that have been making their way through the legislature are still in limbo despite being passed by committees and either the Delaware Senate or House of Representatives earlier in the session. House Bill 80, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, D-New Castle, would require doula services to be covered by Medicaid starting Jan. 1, 2024. A doula provides support …
