In Delaware, school board service is an unpaid elected position with a term of 4 years (5 years for board members elected prior to Dec 2021). School board elections are nonpartisan, and are held on the second Tuesday in May each year. The Cape Henlopen School District serves students in grades PK, K-12 in Milton, Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. Its Board of Directors has seven members, one each from geographic areas A, B, C and D, and three additional members (who may reside anywhere within the school district). The terms are staggered so that normally one or two seats come open each year. All residents 18 or older living within the district may vote for all races.
Neighborhood/area of residence
Lewes-Milton area
Are you currently a school board member? (Y/N)
y
How many school board meetings did you attend last year?
Missed 1
My background is as follows: I have worked in the field of education for almost 50 years, beginning as an Elementary and Jr. High teacher before moving to High School. I would then moved to higher education (College and University) before returning to High School as an administrator. During the above time I have had the experience of helping schools move from being non-effective to becoming effective, including to helping with the raising of test scores, to helping to improve school climate and culture.
I believe that the single most important issue facing our school district is the ability to meet the needs of every student in every class, every day; combined with the lack of each student having an adult supporter. I would address the above by way of continuing to use our multi-tier instruction of support in math, reading, and English, as well as engaging family and the community help with mentoring and tutoring. Also, I would continue to involve, challenge, and ask the district community liaison committee for help.
School Boards should respond to community calls for removing any curriculum topics, subjects, books, and programs by way of referencing Board Policy 110, Section C, which basically allows for an impartial and factual hearing chaired by a committee of school personnel. During the hearing, the material in question will be re-evaluated and ruled upon. Concerned parties may begin this process by contacting the principal.
I would ensure the district's equitable access process for meeting the needs of all students (traditionally under serve student populations, students of color, low-income students, English language learners, and students receiving special education services by way of support through mentoring and tutoring, along with special education and ELL services. Also, I would look for help from non-profits like Pathway to Success.
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
As it relates to the current system of funding, I believe that it is adequate as school districts are basically funded on the number of students that they have in the building, which make up units. Units are a formula for the amount of money a district would receive. For instance, if a unit was $200.00 and there were 40 students then the district would receive $8,000.00. I do wish we would look at and find a way to improve teacher pay.
In order to facilitate student improvement, I would work to ensure that all students feel connected to school by way of having an adult supporter, a tutor if needed and school involvement through mentoring from the community, along with the start of universal Pre-K throughout the state, if our state could fund it.
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