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Laurel to go asynchronous due to staff shortages

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Another school district in Delaware is holding an asynchronous learning day due to a large number of staff expected to be absent.  Laurel School District announced Tuesday that “after reviewing staff attendance and considering our capacity to maintain a safe and effective learning environment, the district has made the decision to transition to an asynchronous learning day for both students …

The arrested 13-year-old is not a student at Dover Middle School.

13-year-old arrested for threats towards Dover school

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Police & Fire

A 13-year-old male was arrested Wednesday after making threats towards Dover Middle School in Capital School District. The child, whose name has not been released, is a resident of Seaford, and is not a student at the school. The investigation began at 2:23 p.m. Tuesday when the Dover Police Department received three calls through 911 from the same number.  The …

Thomas Edison Charter School was one of seven to win the grant this year.

7 schools share $2.16 million in grants for out-of-school learning

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A charter school in Wilmington plans on using a new $320,000 grant to fund after-school and summer-school programs focusing on literacy, math, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.  Thomas Edison Charter School is one of seven community education centers receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. Salome Thomas-EL, head of school, said he is …

Shannon Gronau and her students. (All photos courtesy of the Delaware Department of Education)

Get to know Milford’s Shannon Gronau, Behavioral Pro of the Year

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Shannon Gronau from the Milford School District believes the movement behind mental health after the pandemic has shifted the paradigm of society and of public education. The counselor at Mispillion Elementary School was recently named 2024 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year, an award honoring outstanding service by school employees who are health care practitioners or human service providers …

Dover High School was one of three schools confirmed to be remote Friday in the Capital School District.

More Capital schools move to remote learning

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Parents of Capital School District say more schools have gone remote and asynchronous for part of this week, but the district will not comment. Those schools include Dover High School, Dover Middle School and Kent County Community School, which serves about 300 students who have special needs. KCCS, which serves about 300 students who have special needs, went remote Thursday …

Staffing issues led to a Capital's Kent County Community School to move to asynchronous remote learning Thursday and Friday, which was announced less than two days before Thursday's school day.

Parents upset as staffing issues close special needs school

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Some Capital School District parents are upset they had little more than 24 hours notice to make plans for their special needs students when their school closed because of bus and teacher staffing problems. The move left many parents scrambling to find care for their children. First, the parents were notified Monday via an email that district leaders were evaluating …

The task force is meant to examine and make recommendations in part on how to ensure positive student behavior in schools.

School behavior group wants more funding for specialists

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The state task force dedicated to evaluating the ongoing problems with student behavior and school climate acknowledges that there is a real problem in Delaware schools. The 24-member Student Behavior and School Climate Task Force, made of government and educational officials as well as school behavioral specialists and resource officers, got its first taste of official suspension data Monday night. …

The award honors schools for excellence in counseling.

Appo, Capital schools win award for excellence in counseling

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Two Delaware schools have been awarded the Sapphire Award for Excellence in School Counseling. Appoquinimink School District’s Bunker Hill Elementary School and Capital School District’s Kent County Secondary Intensive Learning Center were announced winners Monday in what is the state’s fourth year giving out the recognition. The award honors school counseling programs that are comprehensive, data-informed and designed to serve …

Capital unveiled its new community center Thursday, in partnership with Solid Rock Baptist Church.

Capital Community Center: food, clothes, internet, more

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Health

A partnership between a local church and Capital School District will bring social services and more to district families in Dover.  The Capital Community Center was officially opened Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  Located at 109 North West Street in Dover,  the center will be open and accessible to all Capital School District families in need of services such as …

Teacher absenteeism is affecting different districts in unique ways.

Teacher absenteeism calls for staff flexibility, strategies

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A human resources director for the largest school district in Sussex County shocked a House Education Committee hearing in April when she told them about 300 of its 1,000 educators are off on any given school day. About 800 of those educators are teachers, and their absenteeism rains down problems for the district, said Celeste Bunting, director of human resources …