The Learning Collab council wants more planning time in order to effectively make changes to city schools.

Learning Collab seeks permission to extend planning period

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The council of the Wilmington Learning Collaborative will ask the three participating districts to amend their memorandum of understanding to extend the council’s planning period.  “We’ve got one shot at this,” said councilman Lincoln Hohler, who is Brandywine School District’s superintendent. “We can’t come back to the community with another failed initiative and say we want to reboot, we get …

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 …

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 …

Learning Collab officials are hoping to get all districts to vote on their involvement in their October board meetings.

Learning Collab officials want deal signed before November

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Wilmington Learning Collaborative officials are asking its member districts for a definitive vote by the end of October.  “We have asked for a vote in October because we really need to get the board appointed, get the executive director hired, and that’s going to take some time,” said Jon Sheehan, chief of policy and senior advisor to the governor, during …

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 …

Dress code

Red Clay students lead charge on dress code changes 

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Red Clay Consolidated School District seems on track to adopt a new dress code this summer after months of student-led discussions criticizing the current rules as outdated, racist and objectifying, especially because they are largely enforced by male administrators. “Students feel like the dress code was only used as a way to get kids in trouble,” said Eileena Mathews, an …

Red Clay to bring up Wilmington Charter review again in May

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

The Red Clay School District Board’s motion to review the Charter School of Wilmington did not pass last week, but is expected to return in May. Photo by Getty Images   The Red Clay Consolidated School District Board did not have enough votes last week to initiate a review of the Charter School of Wilmington. While the board seemed to …

Red Clay board votes on compliance review of Wilmington Charter

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

The Red Clay move follows months of complaints from parents about Wilmington Charter. Photo by Pixabay.   UPDATE: The motion to do a compliance review did not pass because board rules require at least 4 yes votes, board chair Cathy Thompson said Monday.  One board member was absent. She expects the issue to come up again in May when all …

Democrats to run former councilman Bud Freel in special election

Charlie MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

The Democratic Party has selected former Wilmington City Councilman and transportation department spokesman Bud Freel to serve as the Democratic nominee in the upcoming special election to fill the vacancy left by Rep. Gerald Brady. The Delaware Republican Party has not yet announced a nominee. The election is scheduled for Saturday, March 5, 2022.  The 4th District includes the Highlands …

Amid great tumult, Red Clay passes transgender policy 4-3

Charlie MegginsonEducation, Headlines

Under Red Clay’s policy, trans students will be able to play on intramural school teams for the gender with which they identify, but will have to follow DIAA trans rules for games with other schools. PHOTO BY CAROL THACKER/GETTY IMAGES SIGNATURE. Red Clay School District on Wednesday night narrowly approved a policy that reaffirms transgender and gender diverse students’ ability …