Great Oaks has already met a handful of the state conditions and is on track to meet the rest.

Great Oaks on track to meet all 16 conditions to stay open

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The State Board of Education Thursday night announced promising progress on conditions placed on a charter school that has been facing a potential closure for two years. In November, Great Oaks Charter School was given one last chance by the state to meet the 16 conditions to keep its doors open. RELATED: Great Oaks Charter likely to get one last …

Natural, eco-friendly methods of burial have become more popular in recent years. (Photo by CBS News)

Delaware 8th state to legalize natural organic reduction

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

A law that would put Delaware in a class with seven other states offering a unique burial method passed the Senate Thursday. House Bill 162, sponsored by Rep. Sean Lynn, D-Dover, opens the doors for cemeteries to begin offering increasingly-popular natural organic reduction after death. Natural organic reduction is the gentle, respectful process that accelerates the decomposition of human remains …

Don Patton resigned from the Wilmington Learning Collaborative Monday.

Don Patton steps away from WLC, group seeks another extension 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

One of the champions of improving education in Delaware is resigning from the Wilmington Learning Collaborative’s governing council. Don Patton, who started both positions in 2022, says he needs to focus on his elected position as president of the Christina School District Board. Also Tuesday night, Laura Burgos, executive director of the collaborative, had some pointed  words about the state …

Freire Charter now has a home facility to host sporting events.

Freire celebrates new athletic facility, home-court advantage

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

It felt like a carnival on 14th Street as Wilmington’s Freire Charter School unveiled its $5.3 million athletic center to the public Wednesday night. Students lined up at the popcorn and cotton candy stands as the school’s band, cheerleaders, basketball team and dancers thundered through the gym to applause from families, education leaders and government officials. Andrea Robinson, a senior …

Three students from Appo High are looking to cash in on their patented golf tee design. (L-R; Brodie Neubauer, Lucas Karpinski, Dylan Everett)

3 Appo High students granted patent for golf tee design 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Economy

Golfing season doesn’t have to be restricted to warm summer days with perfect weather.  A golfing tee designed by three students in the Appoquinimink School District is specially crafted to hold up in cold conditions and not break. The seniors at Appo High –  Dylan Everett, Brodie Neubauer, Lucas Karpinski – who created it were granted a provisional patent this …

The majority of public commenters said they were opposed to the alcohol home delivery bill.

Alcohol delivery bill fails despite data showing support

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

A bill that would allow Delawareans to have alcohol shipped directly to their home had its “part 2” Tuesday after the discussion ran long in a House committee last week. Even though legislators cited overwhelming support for the idea, the backlash from public stakeholders was too much to overcome and the bill was not released by the House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance …

Districts that have had successful referendums are now planning designs, construction bids, and how projects will be phased over the next few years.

Here’s what happens now in districts whose referendums passed

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Now that Colonial, Red Clay and Brandywine have had successful referendums, residents of those school districts may be wondering when they’ll have to pony up finances and when they’ll see new facilities. Delaware school districts that have had a successful referendum typically phase their spending over three years or more.  The concept of the referendum isn’t widespread nationally.  Delaware is …

Career advancement and leadership opportunities for teachers and other educators will be explored by the PECC in the next few months. (Photo by Who is Danny/Adobe Stock)

Teacher pay committee to focus now on career ladders 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The state committee responsible for making recommendations on the pay of educators now turns its focus to creating leadership and career advancement opportunities for teachers. Its last public meeting was in early January, when it presented its suggestions to the General Assembly.  The committee was formed by Senate Bill 100 to make salary suggestions on each educator employee group to …

SALSTHON 2024 has raised $225,124.54 for St. Patrick's Center in Wilmington. SALSTHON 2024 has raised $225,124.54 for St. Patrick's Center in Wilmington. (Photo by Bud Keegan Photography)

SALSTHON raises $225K for St. Patrick’s Center in Wilmington

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Culture

The St. Patrick’s Center in Wilmington had quite the St. Patty’s Day Weekend. The 12th annual SALSTHON was Saturday night, and about a thousand people from three of the city’s Catholic schools – Salesianum, Ursuline and Padua – danced the night away, raising $225,124.54 for the downtown nonprofit. RELATED: SALSTHON keeps $175K goal, will benefit St. Patrick’s Center In back-to-back-years, …

DSU and the University of Belize signed their memorandum of understanding on March 11.

DSU widens global presence with University of Belize alliance

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

  Delaware State University has created a partnership it hopes will lead to future opportunities in Belize, a nation on the eastern coast of Central America. “It opens the door to collaborative activities,” said Carlos Holmes, DSU’s director of news services. “This could range from anything from joint events, joint presentations, joint research, joint studies, it could indeed involve possible …