Earlier this month, a storm of political change swept across America to return Republican Donald Trump to the White House. But governing institutions in the First State appear unshaken – at first glance. Democrats, as before, will occupy the state’s congressional office, both Senate seats, its governorship, and both legislative houses. Yet some who participate in Delaware politics see change …
School board members question value of state association
Some Delaware school district boards are questioning what they get from their membership in the Delaware School Boards Association. The cost of joining is not insignificant. In Caesar Rodney School District’s July board meeting, John Marinucci, former executive director of DSBA, said it would cost the district $10,500 per year to be part of the association, That includes a discount …
Apprenticeship programs law aims to combat teacher shortage
The most recent plan to attract teachers to Delaware schools was applauded in the Senate Education Committee Wednesday. House Bill 138, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton and chair of the House Education Committee, addresses the ongoing national teacher shortage. The legislation establishes a new tool to recruit and retain educators through an apprenticeship pilot program. This model will build …
School officers, construction needs focus of House Committee
Bills dealing with school construction, junior ROTC, Department of Education background checks and school resource officers were sent to the House ready list Wednesday by the Education Committee. House Bill 169, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton and committee chair, requires the secretary of education – currently Mark Holodick – to publish and deliver a report to the General Assembly …
School board elections: turnout low, but rising in places
Although last week’s school board elections had extremely low voter turnout, one education group points out this year’s numbers rose in many prominent districts. It has been consistently said that only about 10% of eligible voters hit the polls in school board elections. Of the 11 school districts that had races this year, just one, Delmar, hit that mark, with …
Should 16-year-olds be able to vote in school board races?
A bill that would drop the age to vote in school board elections to 16 is drawing strong opposition from one education group. The voting age now is 18. House Bill 96, sponsored by Rep. Eric Morrison, D-Glasgow, which would lower that voting age for school board races, is set to be heard Wednesday at the 3 p.m. House Education …
Caesar Rodney wants to raise school taxes 27.7%
The Caesar Rodney School District wants to raise district school taxes by 27.7% over three years to help pay for utilities, maintenance, building budgets and staffing. It’s taking that request to voters in a referendum April 22. Caesar Rodney’s last referendum was in 2015. The average taxpayer, who owns a house with an assessed value of $40,300, would have their …
Bill lets districts say no to busing some charter students
A bill giving school districts power to tell charter schools to transport students living within the district passed through the House Education Committee Wednesday. House Bill 81, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Marshallton, the chair of the committee, could force charters to privately contract their own buses to bring students within a district to the schools. Rep. Rich Collins, R-Millsboro, …
Education leaders fight bills adding days off for teachers
Bills that would expand the reasons and days for teachers to take days off from work divided legislators and public commenters in the Senate Education Committee Wednesday. Senate Bill 60, sponsored by Sen. Laura Sturgeon, D-Hockessin, who is chair of the committee, would give teachers and other school employees the same protection to be absent without a loss of pay …
Eds up: School Board candidates must file by March 3
Candidates have 19 days left to file to run in the May 9 school board elections, and education advocates hope to encourage more people to run in those three weeks. “There’s a lot more community members than there are elected people, so if you don’t like the direction that your community is going in, run,” said Laurisa Schutt, executive director …