Appo will buy metal/weapon detectors for all 3 of its high schools. (Photo from Evolv)

Appo to lease weapon detectors amid schools’ focus on safety

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Appoquinimink School District’s vote this week to install weapon detectors is the latest move by Delaware schools to combat violence and the presence of guns. It’s an issue that’s 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 …

The Wilmington Learning Collaborative hopes to get more candidates for its executive director position. (Unsplash)

Learning Collab extends director application indefinitely

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

With only seven applicants for executive director, the Wilmington Learning Collaborative council voted Thursday to extend the application deadline indefinitely. It was to have ended by March 23, with the post being filled by June 1.  The council also discussed whether to alert the current applicants that the deadline was being extended, whether to post the job ad in Ed …

Wilmington Learning Collaborative officials discussed Friday the next steps for the equity-focused group. (Pexels)

Learning Collab council grapples with leader, meetings

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

In Friday’s first public meeting of the Wilmington Learning Collaborative’s board, members focused on ironing out the specifics on how the organization will move forward. Among the issues they tackled were selecting a temporary secretary to handle organization issues; setting meeting times; and forming committees to tackle the three main goals of the board. The collaborative is designed to improve …

A RED CLAY TASK FORCE IS SUGGESTING ALEXIS I. DUPONT HIGH SCHOOL COULD SOLVE ENROLLMENT WOES BY GOING GREEN AND OFFERING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CLASSES.

2022 Rewind: Interest rises in A.I. du Pont going green to stem enrollment drop

Betsy PriceHeadlines, Education

This story was originally published in November 2022. The leader of a Red Clay task force wants to reinvent Alexis I. du Pont High School as a magnet school with a green campus that offers environmental science classes to prepare students for jobs in the eco-industries. The rebranding move, which has been warmly endorsed by government officials and others, is …

Wilmington's William C. Lewis Elementary School. (Red Clay district website)

Red Clay picks parent rep for Learning Collab

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A Red Clay mom known for community advocacy has been appointed to the Wilmington Learning Collaborative’s governing council as the school district’s parent representative. Jennie Yeow, who has a child at Red Clay Consolidated School District’s William C. Lewis Dual Language Elementary School was chosen for the role, Red Clay Superintendent Dorrell Green said during Wednesday’s monthly board meeting. “She’s …

Red Clay board member pushes transparency for Wilmington Learning Collab.

 Red Clay board member questions Learning Collab’s transparency

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

  A Red Clay Consolidated School District board member is pressing the new Wilmington Learning Collaborative to advertise meetings. Cathy Thompson, the former head of the board, asked Superintendent Dorrell Green to ensure that the newly-created board is as transparent as possible during their Nov. 16 meeting. The Learning Collaborative’s memorandum of understanding was signed Nov. 1 by members of …

The Learning Collab needs to fill out the remaining seats of its governing council and conduct a needs assessment of each school. (Pexels)

Here’s what the Learning Collab will do to get started

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The Wilmington Learning Collaborative already is forming the council that will govern it. Once the council is established, it will order a needs assessment, which will help the council decide where to put or share resources. Those are the starting tasks of the new education group that state, city and district officials hope will help raise learning and test scores …

The four district superintendents watch from the front row as Jon Cooper, director of student services at Colonial, announces the new wellness centers.

New Castle launches 4 elementary wellness centers

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Four New Castle County elementary schools are getting wellness centers that will offer medical, mental health and nutrition services to vulnerable students. Appoquinimink’s Louis L. Redding Middle School – which also serves Silver Lake Elementary – Christina’s Brookside, Colonial’s McCullough, and Red Clay’s Richardson Park elementary schools will receive $250,000 in funding for the next two years, for a total …

A. I. Du Pont Middle School, built in 1894, is the oldest building in Red Clay.

Red Clay seeks $265 million from state for building repair

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Red Clay Consolidated School District is waiting to hear whether the state will fund a request for $265 million to address maintenance costs and improvement needs in 27 buildings.  The district’s school board unanimously voted in its August meeting to submit a certificate of necessity to the Department of Education.  “This certificate of necessity is absolutely needed in our district,” …

Wilmington Learning Collaborative

School boards lay out worries, support for Learning Collaborative

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

    A joint meeting Tuesday of the Brandywine, Christina and Red Clay school districts about the Wilmington Learning Collaborative featured a lively discussion, but still no vote. The 21 board members were joined by Gov. John Carney, Education Secretary Mark Holodick and other key education officials. While no one outright opposed the learning collaborative, some expressed concern about the …