As First State public schools reopen next week, most students wonât see much difference in the day-to-day workings of the classroom. But thereâs a lot going on in the background. Many districts will be adopting new science and math curriculums designed to help counter the stateâs dismal test scores â and continue the battle against COVID-19 learning loss. More mental …
Faithful Friends: 50% more pets saved in 4 years with new HQ
Faithful Friends Animal Society is hoping to have the capacity to save 25% more animals in the next two years with its new headquarters, its founder said after a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday. âWhen we started Faithful Friends [in 2000], publicly-funded shelters in Delaware had a 90 percent kill rate, and today, Delaware is one of just three no-kill states in …
Indian River to spend $2.8M on science of reading curriculum
Indian River School District will spend $2.8 million on a new science of reading curriculum expected to improve literacy rates and test scores but its school board took a shot at the state for mandating the move without providing money for it. The Sussex County school district serving 10,799 students will invest in a 5-year contract with Core Knowledge Language …
Colonial safety summit stresses importance of communication
Parents have religiously attended school board meetings this year to share concerns about school safety, with incidents like guns in buildings, fights between children and vaping in bathrooms atop their list of worries. The Colonial School District on Tuesday night hosted a safety summit, featuring law enforcement, a constable and the district superintendent. Watch the full video of the summit …
Want school tax exemption in Wilm? All 4 districts must OK it
Brandywine School District exempted a Wilmington church and office building from having to pay school property taxes, even though they are not in the district. Both properties are part of Christina School District, but the stateâs tax code requires Christina, Brandywine, Colonial and Red Clay district school boards all must approve the abatement request in order for the owners to …
Appo to lease weapon detectors amid schoolsâ focus on safety
Appoquinimink School Districtâs vote this week to install weapon detectors is the latest move by Delaware schools to combat violence and the presence of guns. Itâs an issue thatâs plagued schools since fall, with the latest incident occurring Wednesday when a Sussex Central High School student was found with a firearm on school property. The student was taken into custody …
Operation Hair Care: Cuts, training for homeless students
On Tuesday a steady procession of elementary students climbed into chairs at the Paul Mitchell The School and were transformed from apprehensive to glowing. The students were participating in Colonial School Districtâs Operation Hair Care, a program that offers homeless students help with hair and makeup styling. It’s also for students whose families are financially challenged. It involved about 15 …
William Penn eggstra: Ag students provide campus-grown eggs
William Penn staff have one benefit most educators donât: Eggs. Karen Ferrucciâs animal science class harvests eggs from their chickens, giving first choice to the schoolâs nutritional program to feed students, and the second to the schoolâs culinary program. Any extra eggs are sold to school faculty and staff. Last week, Ferrucci and the 150 students involved in her various …
DOE owns lead testing blunder, expects new results by May
A Senate committee hearing Tuesday heard the state Secretary of Education apologize about the way lead testing in schools was handled and that trained pros will handle testing instead of school staff. Through a federal grant, the Department of Education began a sampling initiative in October, 2020 to identify the levels of lead within drinking water at schools. âWhile well-intentioned, …
16-year-old male charged for shooting at William Penn High
A 16-year-old male from Wilmington has been arrested in connection to a shooting at William Penn High School Tuesday that shut the school for the rest of the week. âWe’re all relieved and we’re hoping the school community and the community as a whole can move forward and heal,â said William Penn High School Principal Lisa Brewington. âThis was a …