A bill that would help address the stateâs 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 Stateâs public schools. …
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 …
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. Itâs 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 …
Carbon emissions goals released from Senate committee
A controversial bill setting Delawareâs goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions was released from the Senate Environment and Energy Committee Wednesday and will advance to the Senate floor for a vote. Senate Bill 305, the Delaware Climate Change Solutions Act, would require Delaware to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% before 2030 and by 90% before 2050. Opponents said the …
House votes against overriding Carney’s marijuana veto
An attempt to override Gov. John Carneyâs veto of a bill to legalize marijuana possession failed in the Delaware House of Representatives Tuesday. With the vote, this yearâs endeavor to end marijuana prohibition in Delaware is all but certainly dead. Numerous lawmakers who previously voted to pass House Bill 371 voted against the veto override Tuesday out of an apparent …
Cannabis supporters rally to override Carney’s veto
Lawmakers, activists and citizens gathered in front of Legislative Hall Tuesday to encourage the General Assembly to override Gov. John Carneyâs veto of House Bill 371, the bill to legalize marijuana possession. Carney vetoed the bill in May citing questions about the long-term health and economic impacts of recreational marijuana use. âI respect the Legislative Branchâs role in this process, …
Lawmakers OK state worker pay raises, $500 bonus
The General Assembly’s budget-writing committee on Tuesday approved raises for state workers. Under the governor’s proposed budget, employees on the lower end of the pay scale would get the most significant boost in pay. The Joint Finance Committee approved the increases during its first day of “markup,” a period during which the committee takes the governorâs recommended budget and votes …
Delaware’s top doctor to step down
Dr. Karryl Rattay will leave her post as director of the Delaware Division of Public Health on June 30. Rattay took the job in 2009 during the swine flu pandemic. She is currently the nationâs longest-serving public health director. âIt has been the greatest honor of my lifetime to serve Delawareans in this role,â Rattay said Friday. âI am grateful …
Paid family and medical leave âthe law of the landâ in Delaware
Rep. Debra Heffernan, the bill’s House sponsor, holds SS1 for SB 1 after it was signed by Gov. John Carney Tuesday. (Charlie Megginson/Delaware LIVE News) Delaware has become the 11th state to offer a paid family and medical leave program to new parents, caregivers, and those with serious illnesses. Flanked by lawmakers and activists, Gov. John Carney on Tuesday signed …