Red Clay and Colonial school districts were the biggest funding beneficiaries of this year's certificate of necessity approvals.

Colonial, Red Clay biggest winners in state funding requests

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The state Department of Education has made some school districts very happy by deeming their requests for state funding necessary to fulfill building projects. For fiscal year 2025, the Department of Education approved 50 certificate of necessity requests, 44 of which involved state funding. They were concentrated in six districts. Districts submit certificates of necessity each year to the department, …

Photo courtesy of United Way of Delaware.

1st Latinos student summit to celebrate culture, voice

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

An upcoming Latinos Unidos Student Summit is designed to bring those students together to empower them and to celebrate their culture and student voice. The Saturday, Sept. 16 event, sponsored by the United Way of Delaware, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hodgson Vo-Tech High School in Newark. The summit is meant to prepare, train, re-fuel …

Red Clay hasn't had a certificate of necessity approved by the state in over a decade.

Red Clay again to seek $289M from state for capital projects

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Red Clay Consolidated School District will once again ask the Department of Education for $289 million for maintenance and programs. The district has not been successful in having its request, called a certificate of necessity, filled for the past 11 years. In its board meeting Wednesday night, Superintendent Dorrell Green recommended asking for $289 million, and the board voted to …

Red Clay's first cohort at WilmU will be in the fall.

Red Clay, Wilm U partner for program to create more teachers

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Red Clay Consolidated School District is joining forces with Wilmington University to combat the ongoing teacher shortage. District superintendent Dorrell Green told the board an exclusive partnership with Wilm U will create alternate paths for Red Clay workers to get their teacher certification.  The program will start this fall.  “As we know, again, the teacher and educator shortage tends to …

School board elections are Tuesday with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

School board elections: polls open until 8 p.m. Tuesday

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

Today’s the day: after nine weeks of campaigning, 40 Delawareans will compete for 23 school board seats in Tuesday’s school board elections.  “Over the last couple of months, our campaign has had the opportunity to connect with thousands of voters who’ve shared their stories, hopes, and aspiration for Red Clay and its future,” said Jose Matthews, an incumbent board member …

Several school districts removed the virtual option for board meetings. (Unsplash)

5 school districts drop virtual option for board meetings

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Five of Delaware’s 19 school districts no longer livestream their board meetings.  Caesar Rodney, Delmar, Laurel, Smyrna and Woodbridge school districts removed the virtual option this years as students and faculty return to an in-person environment with pandemic restrictions diminishing. John Marinucci, the executive director of the Delaware School Boards Association, said the organization pushed for legislation that allowed, but …

JUUL Labs will pay out about $8 million to the First State as past of a national lawsuit settlement. (Pixabay)

New Castle Vo-Tech to get $113,016 from JUUL lawsuit

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

New Castle County Vocational Technical District will receive $113,016 as part of Delaware’s $8 million share of the settlement of a national lawsuit against JUUL Labs, an electric cigarette company.  Delaware school districts in recent months have been holding executive meetings to discuss the settlement, but declining to say anything about it in public. The suit was settled in September …

A. I. Du Pont Middle School, which was built in 1894, is the districts oldest building. (Red Clay Consolidated School District)

State rejects Red Clay’s $265 million request

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Delaware’s Department of Education has denied Red Clay Consolidated School District’s request for $265 million to address maintenance costs and improvement needs in 27 buildings.  “With anticipated available funding, the focus of the public education capital budget for Fiscal Year 2024 is funding previously authorized projects, including market pressure funding for increased construction costs and statewide minor capital improvements and …

Jose Matthews, left, has filed a complaint against Martin Wilson, accusing him of wrongfully serving constituents in a district he does not live in.

Red Clay board member accused of not living in district

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Jose Matthews, a member of the Red Clay School Board, is calling for fellow board member Martin Wilson to be removed.  In a complaint filed with the Public Integrity Commission Wednesday morning, Matthews alleges Wilson’s actions on the board are not only unethical, but unlawful. “I want people to know that some of the poorest and most devastating communities within …

A. I. Du Pont Middle School, built in 1894, is the oldest building in Red Clay.

Red Clay seeks $265 million from state for building repair

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Red Clay Consolidated School District is waiting to hear whether the state will fund a request for $265 million to address maintenance costs and improvement needs in 27 buildings.  The district’s school board unanimously voted in its August meeting to submit a certificate of necessity to the Department of Education.  “This certificate of necessity is absolutely needed in our district,” …