Christina School District has opened its search for a permanent superintendent.

Christina opens search for permanent superintendent, asking the public for priorities

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The search for a new head of the third largest school district in Delaware is underway. Christina School District has announced the search for its new superintendent has begun, after about a year of fights, firings, and frustration among the school board. RELATED: Christina school board puts Superintendent Shelton on leave Christina’s leadership changes Last July, the board voted after …

Christina School District will not have a referendum this year.

Christina cancels referendum in midst of statewide reassessments

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

NEWARK – The Christina School District Board of Education has voted to cancel its March 26 referendum, which would increase the local taxes of the district’s residents. What would have been its first referendum in five years, the board decided to push it off due to ongoing statewide property reassessments that haven’t been done in decades and should be completed …

Dan Shelton's contract was not renewed by the board with a vote of 4-3 over the summer. Shelton pictured on the left, Thomas Neuberger on the right.

Ousted Christina Superintendent Dan Shelton sues district, 4 board members

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Ousted Christina School District Superintendent Dan Shelton is suing the district, Board President Don Patton, and the three other board members who voted in July to remove him from his position.  Shelton, represented by Thomas S. Neuberger of The Neuberger Firm, is suing for $2,768,994 for “destroying his good name, and violating his Due Process and contract rights.” RELATED: Christina …

Fixing the state's underperforming school districts is not unlike pushing a boulder up a hill.

Educators agree high absenteeism drives poor performance in 4 northern NCCo districts 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Delaware’s four most northern schools  – which make up four of the six largest districts in the state – have data metrics that can tell a number of stories, all of which keep parents, teachers, administrators, and even students awake at night. One story is about absenteeism. Another is about resources, another about the challenges of special student populations, and …

The WLC will need to have its amended $16 million budget approved. (Photo by billiondigital/Depositphotos)

Here’s how the WLC plans to spend $16 million this year

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The Wilmington Learning Collaborative is making the final touches to its nearly $16 million budget for this 2024-2025 school year. After already getting the budget approved, the group voted for amendments Tuesday night in three line items: expanded learning time, professional development and school leader recruitment and retention.  Funds were decreased in the first two buckets and moved to school …

The tension of Wednesday night's Christina board meeting came from a debate to remove Naveed Baqir from the board. (Photo by Tzido/iStock Getty Images)

Christina board fights over residency concerns of Baqir

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Another month, another chaotic meeting from Christina School District’s board of education.  Wednesday night’s September board meeting had Naveed Baqir in the middle of drama, with a hefty discussion on if he should be removed from his position on the board. Board member Doug Manley made three different motions: one to refer Baqir’s residency to the Department of Elections to …

DelawareLive Aug 25

DelawareLIVE Weekly Review – August 25, 2024

Sonja FreyDelaware Live, Weekly Review

This Week’s Review Includes: Private tutoring: high demand; can raise scores, confidence Historical marker for Industrial School for Colored Girls unveiled Incyte named 2024 Pete du Pont Freedom Award winner Maryland woman tries to pose as nurse in Delaware Bryan Allen Stevenson School, third charter in Sussex, opens  Click on the image below to read these articles and more! Sonja …

Maurice Pritchett, Sr. Academy opened Friday to a huge, lively crowd. (All photos from Jarek Rutz/Delaware LIVE News)

Pritchett Academy opening rocks Wilmington with celebration

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Hundreds of Wilmingtonians screamed the last name of a local legend in a “call and response” rhythm on the corner of East 7th and North Lombard streets Friday afternoon. Speakers screamed “Maur-ice” as the crowd howled “Pritch-ett” back to celebrate the opening of the first school in the city of Wilmington in five decades. Longtime Wilmington educator Maurice Pritchett Sr., …

Several reading-specific metrics improved in 4 WLC schools this summer. (Photo from iStock Getty Images)

WLC summer program yields reading growth in 4 schools

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A coalition of city of Wilmington elementary schools can tout growth in reading over the summer.  In the Wilmington Learning Collaborative’s monthly meeting Tuesday night, Executive Director Laura Burgos presented the academic progress as a result of summer programming. The group contracted Reading Assist, a group contracted by the WLC that focuses on improving literacy rates, to help tutor students. …

Dan Shelton, left, has hired Thomas Neuberger, right, to represent him in the aftermath of his removal as the superintendent of Christina School District.

Lawyer for Christina’s Shelton says board violating rights

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Dan Shelton, the ousted superintendent of the Christina School District – which has a divided and chaotic board – has lawyered up.  Shelton has hired the Neuberger Firm to represent him after the board voted 4-3 in July to not renew his contract for the 2024-2025 school year, and then affirmed that in an August meeting. That July meeting lasted …