DelawareLive May 21

DelawareLIVE Weekly Review – May 21, 2023

Sonja FreyDelaware Live, Weekly Review

Click on the image below to view as a PDF This Week’s Top Headlines Include: Headlines Delaware still expects $963.5 surplus for 2024 budget School board elections: turnout low, but rising in places Revamped summer school lets students get ahead, stay active Culture Clifford Brown Jazz Fest releases lineup Darley House envisioned as home for Claymont entrepreneurs New York man …

2023 School board election results.

2023 Delaware school board election results

Jarek RutzEducation, Headlines

The preliminary results for the 2023 Delaware school board elections are in, and here are the winners: New Castle County Appoquinimink School District – Tashiba Graham (4.45% voter turnout) Christina School District – Douglas Manly, Y.F. Lou (2.95% voter turnout) Red Clay Consolidated School District – Jose Matthews, Aje English-Wynn (4.37% voter turnout) Kent County Caesar Rodney School District – …

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 …

Danielle Deinert was the solo participant in the forum Wednesday. 

Milford’s Deinert against banning books, for LGBTQ+ support

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Danielle Deinert, a candidate for Milford School District’s board, fielded questions on key education issues like LGBTQ+ rights, critical race theory and school safety in a forum Wednesday night.  Milford’s forum is one of six hosted by First State Action Fund, a local group aiming to reinvent education in Delaware. The series is intended to help voters understand candidate’s positions …

HB 96 would lower the voting age in school board elections to 16.

Bipartisan attacks kill bill lowering school board voting age

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

A bill that would lower the voting age to vote in school board elections from 18 to 16 drew heavy criticism from both sides of the aisle in the House Education Committee Wednesday. After an hour-and-a-half conversation filled with both Democrats and Republicans opposing the legislation, House Bill 96 was tabled Wednesday. That means the committee will take no further …

Voter guides have been published to help voters make an informed decision.

Voter guides focus on May 9 school board elections

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Several organizations have published voter guides and candidate profiles to help residents make informed choices in Delaware’s May 9 school board elections. There are guides from Citizens for Delaware Schools, the League of Women Voters and the Delaware ACLU. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m on May 9. The Department of Elections website has contact information …

The House voted for a bill that would speed up aspects of school board elections.

Bill aims to rectify school board candidacy delays

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A bill that would eliminate delays to school board candidates’ names appearing on Delaware’s Department of Elections website was passed by the Delaware House Tuesday. House Bill 88, sponsored by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, would require the state to publicly list school board candidates who are waiting for their background checks to be completed as a “provisional candidate.” Due to …

A bill would make 16 the legal age to vote in school board elections.

Should 16-year-olds be able to vote in school board races? 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

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 …

2 Appo school board candidates fielded questions Wednesday.

Only 2 of 4 Appo school board candidates attend board’s Q&A

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Appoquinimink school board candidates answered questions about transgender bathrooms, equity and inclusion, goals for the board and more Wednesday night. The district’s school board hosted a question-and-answer session Wednesday night to allow families in the district to get to know candidates. Two of the four attended: Tim Johns, a pastor, and Ray Petkevis, a realtor. The other two candidates, Madeline …

Although the deadline to file for school board candidacy has passed, the final list of candidates will likely come in a few weeks.

School board candidate listings delayed by background checks

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The deadline for people to file to run for the May 9 school board elections has passed, but it may  take weeks until the final list of candidates is published. The problem: A 2021 law that requires school board candidates to complete a criminal background check and a child registry check.  These must be completed before candidates’ names can be …